In recent weeks a new era of modern train travel that will connect Traverse City to Ann Arbor with passenger rail has been a hot topic among Michiganders. Spearheading the Northern Michigan campaign also known as A2TC is the Michigan Land Use Institute, a Traverse City based nonprofit advocacy organization that “believes that bringing passenger rail service back to northern Michigan is possible in less than a decade…”. Why wouldn’t people exchange the stresses of fluctuating gas prices and uncertain driving weather for a ticket to unwind and enjoy the scenery of Michigan from a railcar? We checked in with Policy Specialist Jim Bruckbauer to learn how the campaign is unfolding.
Jim, why do you think train travel is making a comeback—is it a response to a need, or more a mode of leisurely transportation? Or both?
JB: It’s making a comeback because people are driving much less and people want more transportation options, including trains.
In fact, while per-person driving in Michigan has dropped almost 7 percent since 2005, transit ridership is at its highest level since 1956. Over one-third of Michiganders are too young, too old, or are just physically or financially unable to drive. And a 2014 Rockefeller Foundation study showed that 86 percent of young people are looking for cities with public transportation—including rail—when looking for a place to live.
People are riding Amtrak trains in record numbers, especially between Chicago and Detroit, where trains are traveling 110 miles per hour on some stretches.
I’d say train travel is a trend that’s going to continue, especially as technology and mobility improve and people become less dependent on owning their own car.
Recently, MLUI hosted an inspiring event at the State Theatre to showcase the campaign. How is MLUI planning to lead this campaign, and what’s next?
JB: This is a unique opportunity because the state still owns the tracks between Traverse City and Ann Arbor and the tracks are in pretty good shape. In fact, about 90 percent of the tracks are ready for passenger service.
So we’re working with our partners around the state to build support from civic and business leaders in the cities along the line, while gathering feedback from the communities. The campaign will likely include journalism, public meetings, videography, and hopefully some demonstration train trips for special events.
MLUI’s initiative talks about boosting economic development along the corridor. More specifically how do you envision economies benefitting?
JB: The tracks between Traverse City and Ann Arbor run through some of Michigan’s greatest downtown’s like Cadillac, Mt. Pleasant, Alma, Durand and Owosso.
A 2009 Grand Valley State University study showed that Michigan towns with rail service—even just once-a-day service—had anywhere from a $7 million to $45 million boost to their local economies because of that service.
Rail would allow the residents and college students in these towns to have another option for traveling to other wonderful Michigan cities and, because it intersects with two Amtrak lines, they’ll have access to major metropolitan areas around the country.
How will this affect the tourism industry in Northern Michigan?
JB: A train connection would give visitors another option for traveling to major Michigan destinations and many wonderful cities. Imagine taking a train to the Alma Highland Festival or the Mt. Pleasant Craft Beer Festival. By the way, you can find some of Michigan’s best microbreweries within walking distance to these tracks.
What can we learn from history about how rail transportation transforms communities?
JB: Most of Michigan’s downtown’s were developed around rivers and around the railroads. Back then, the downtown’s had a mix of apartments, homes, shops, and places to work, all within walking distance to each other and the train station.
Now that cities are reinvesting in their downtown’s and their waterways, it makes sense to also reinvest in our existing rail system too. More and more people of all ages, from retirees to recent grads, want to live in walkable places again.
Now that trains are being talked about in Traverse City, what can people do to help this campaign move forward and become a reality?
JB: Our project was chosen by Patagonia and Moosejaw for a fundraising contest, so for the next two weeks, we’re competing against several other nonprofits to raise money through a crowdfunding campaign.
What a great concept and I and many others I brought this up to, materializes. It would do well, with such heavy traffic from Metro Detroit, to greater Traverse City Region.
I go to school in NYC and it would be so nice to have this option for travel. Adding that extra plane flight from Detroit to Traverse City can get expensive, but asking my parents to pick me up from Detroit is not always feasible, in terms of money or time. Yay for trains!
This is very exciting, and I hope it materializes. I would love to ride the train again.
A word of caution: Do not make this an appeal for government subsidies. We need to make this happen on its merits, not another millstone around the necks of Michigan taxpayers.
This is so very exciting. I moved to the Traverse City area from Lansing in 2005, I cannot tell you how many times I wished there was train service between these two cities as well as to Ypsilanti. This is a great opportunity for many who would prefer not to make the 3 hour drive. I am excited to see the downtown areas grow as the train runs through them. May all your endeavors be successful.
At long Michigan is doing what the east coast of the United States has been doing for decades. I haven’t owned a car in years thanks to living and working in New York City where public transportation rules. I now live in Traverse City and I’ve survived without a car thanks to biking, walking, and the BATA bus system. Great news that people will be able to depend on the marvelous train to get them around the state of Michigan. Train travel is very popular in Europe and it will most certainly be the same in Michigan.
Awesome Idea – the stress of driving I75 and the perpetual construction, which will get worse once something gets passed to catchup fixing our neglected roads makes this extremely exciting!!
My husband and I ride Amtrak to Grand Rapids then Chicago to Colorado and/or California exclusively. I would like to see a route to Grand Rapids as well as Detroit.
People who criticize the idea of rail travel have never ridden a train for any real distance. It is a wonderful way to travel and I believe if this plan grows to fruition, it will be successful. We can expect a few years of losses, though, before it becomes profitable or breaks even.