A2TC Supporters
A2TC | February 16, 2016 | By James Bruckbauer
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.
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
Traverse City Downtown Development Authority
Traverse City Tourism
Traverse CONNECT
United States Senator Gary Peters