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Support grows for Traverse City trains

February 16, 2016 |

During a 2011 statewide rail planning process, communities all over Michigan named Traverse City as the number one destination they would travel to by passenger rail.

The letters of support keep coming in. City after city, from Ann Arbor to Petoskey, is making it clear to state and federal officials that they support passenger trains.

The benefits are clear to these cities: Passenger train service along the state’s existing railroad line not only provides another way for travelers to get around, it will have a major boost to some of the state’s best downtowns. In fact, studies show that rail, even just once-a-day service, provides a major economic boost to areas around the train stops.

Train service, though, doesn’t just appear out of thin air. It takes a comprehensive effort to align support from a cross-section of local, state, and federal agencies; technical analysis; and long-term capital and operations planning.  

The next big step may be right around the corner. We’re working with state officials to advance a study that would begin to answer questions about the existing railroad corridor: track conditions, potential costs, economic impact, ridership, and more. That study could begin this year.

We recently partnered with the Bay Area Transportation Authority to apply for a federal transit planning program grant that would pay for a good portion of the study. Now we’re compiling a list of organizations that support our effort to keep this project moving forward.

If you’d like to join the growing list of supporters, please fill out this form below and we’ll add your organization’s name to the list.

A2TC Supporters

CURRENT A2TC SUPPORTERS

Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority

Bay Area Transportation Authority

Boyne City Main Street

Boyne Valley Township

City of Alma

City of Mt. Pleasant

City of Petoskey

City of Traverse City

Evangeline Township

Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers

Michigan Environmental Council

Michigan Representative Gretchen Driskell

Michigan Representative Jeff Irwin

Michigan Representative Larry Inman

Mt. Pleasant Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau

Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce

Traverse Area Association of REALTORS

Traverse City Downtown Development Authority

Traverse City Tourism

Traverse CONNECT

United States Senator Gary Peters

Washtenaw County

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