A nonprofit working on a long-term plan to create a passenger rail line that would run from Petoskey to Detroit is seeking additional public input on the idea.
On Tuesday, Jan. 7, the nonprofit backing the project, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, announced an online public survey to gather community insight that could advance the idea first proposed in 2009.
“We want to hear directly from the people who would use this service,” Groundwork’s Transportation Program Manager Carolyn Ulstad said in a Jan. 7 release. “Your feedback will guide our planning decisions and help us design a rail service that serves the region effectively.”
According to the proposal, one day in the future, Detroit and Ann Arbor residents could hop on a train to Traverse City or Petoskey. The proposal, known as the North + South Passenger Rail Project, is part of the Michigan Mobility 2045 Plan.
The idea was introduced in 2009 and has gained community support and $2.3 million in state and federal grants from the state’s Labor and Economic Opportunity, in 2021, and the US Department of Transportation, in 2022.
“The route would link Michigan’s dynamic regions with an efficient, comfortable alternative to driving,” the North + South Passenger Rail Project says on its website. “This project represents a major opportunity to create a more connected, inclusive, and sustainable transportation system that makes Michigan a more attractive and competitive place to live, work, and do business.”
Here’s more on the North + South Passenger Rail Project in Michigan:
What is the North + South passenger rail project?
The North + South Passenger Rail Project is a potential train line connecting southeast and mid-Michigan cities to northwest Michigan cities. Most recently, in 2025-26, the project group plans to complete another planning study initiated by Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities to provide more insight on the potential route, track conditions, service options, costs and an implementation plan.
Would the proposed line connect with Amtrak?
Yes, the line would connect with Amtrak lines in Michigan at locations in Durand, Ann Arbor and Detroit.
There are three different Amtrak lines running through Michigan.
Where can I fill out the North + South passenger rail project survey?
To learn more about the possible new train in Michigan, residents are encouraged to fill out the online survey, found on the project’s official website.
In addition, the website collects the public’s questions or ideas via its contact page.
What are the possible stations for Michigan’s North + South passenger rail?
The North + South passenger rail’s potential stops include Detroit, Ann Arbor, Howell, Durand, Owosso, Alma, Mt. Pleasant, Clare, Cadillac, Traverse City, Kalkaska and Petoskey.
The rail line would run mostly on existing state-owned rail corridor, according to the project’s website, so new construction would be limited.
What are the next steps to the passenger rail?
After the most recent planning study and public survey, “the project team plans to apply for the next round of the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor ID Program, which is a national effort to move promising passenger rail projects closer to becoming reality,” the project said.
How fast would the train travel?
The train is expected to have an average speed of 80 mph. Under the current design, traveling from Detroit to Traverse City would take 4 hours and 30 minutes, according to the project’s website.
When would the North + South rail service begin?
The project has not set a date of finalization on its timeline, saying it is too early in the process.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Will Michigan get a north-south passenger train line? Where the idea stands
Reporting by Sarah Moore, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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