Passenger rail

[Bob1]

Passenger rail could be coming to traverse city one day! https://twitter.com/michiganbyrail/stat ... 04/photo/1

[TrainWatcher]

Is it just me, or does that show certain Talgo sets as their background?

[Bob1]

Is it just me, or does that show certain Talgo sets as their background?

I want to say yes and yeah!

[J T]

That would be most excellent. I hope they can make it happen.

[TC Man]

That would be most excellent. I hope they can make it happen.

Sorry, but it's not going to happen. Never. There is no demand/population for it up here. They have these meetings and studies to give business to the people who do studies. I've love to see it like the next guy, but let's put our reality hats on here. :<)

[PatAzo]

MDOT's 2011 rail plan had a study of passenger service to Traverse City to occur in 2016-2017 (assuming someone funds it) and track rehabilitation of $400M in 2010 dollars occurring between 2018-2030 (again if it were funded). Where the Wally train can argue its service would allow MDOT to avoid a $500M expansion of US23 there isn't the same case for service to Traverse City.

[Bob1]

MDOT's 2011 rail plan had a study of passenger service to Traverse City to occur in 2016-2017 (assuming someone funds it) and track rehabilitation of $400M in 2010 dollars occurring between 2018-2030 (again if it were funded). Where the Wally train can argue its service would allow MDOT to avoid a $500M expansion of US23 there isn't the same case for service to Traverse City.

I believe the casino would fund it up here! And traffic is already a problem up here anyways. I think rail could bounce back maybe with the cherry growers and hillshire farms. Clearly the population is growing around traverse city so i can see them putting a small passenger train up here.

[Standard Railfan]

The short haul passenger rail idea for the Traverse City area was broached by the Michigan Land Use Institute. The MLUI has introduced a number of ideas in the TC area that are labeled as "green." I believe a significant portion of MLUI income is in the form of grants to provide studies.

From my prior 10 residency in the area and my recent three year stint, I have developed a good understanding of transportation issues in the area.

I think that passenger rail in TC as a commuter system is a great idea. The remaining trackage is very well placed to provide commuter service with the exception of the line into Leelanau County that was removed. The large service industry in the area produces a population of young, transit accepting workers. MDOT has continued to maintain the track network in the area for a reason. There has been public discussion of long distance (SE Michigan to TVC) rail service to the Casino, funded by the Tribal Government.

With that being said, will this happen any time soon? Probably not. I would expect to see this happen by 2040.

[Saturnalia]

...as long as MDOT isn't funding it, I'm okay with it. MDOT needs to stick with the practical big stuff like the three existing routes. Don't need them taking more gas tax money for trains.

[Bob1]

I think we need to go back in using trains because our road system cannot handle the pressures of heavy equipment and trucks. We need to keep funding trains and highways if that means using some funding from M.D.O.T to do it then yes. Besides that's one reason for M.D.O.T's reasons for it being called Michigan Department of Transportation because they handle multiple modes of transportation including rail.

[ns8401]

...as long as MDOT isn't funding it, I'm okay with it. MDOT needs to stick with the practical big stuff like the three existing routes. Don't need them taking more gas tax money for trains.

Uhhhh.... you do know its MDOT and not MDOR right? Plus the gas taxes are not the only thing that funds MDOT and lots of the projects are using Federal money.

[Saturnalia]

...as long as MDOT isn't funding it, I'm okay with it. MDOT needs to stick with the practical big stuff like the three existing routes. Don't need them taking more gas tax money for trains.

Uhhhh.... you do know its MDOT and not MDOR right? Plus the gas taxes are not the only thing that funds MDOT and lots of the projects are using Federal money.

I didn't typo that...

I know gas taxes aren't the full equation, but if we do get this increase, it needs to go to ROADs and not other marginally beneficial projects. Fix the roads...the reason we pay gas taxes!

[ns8401]

...as long as MDOT isn't funding it, I'm okay with it. MDOT needs to stick with the practical big stuff like the three existing routes. Don't need them taking more gas tax money for trains.

Uhhhh.... you do know its MDOT and not MDOR right? Plus the gas taxes are not the only thing that funds MDOT and lots of the projects are using Federal money.

I didn't typo that...

I know gas taxes aren't the full equation, but if we do get this increase, it needs to go to ROADs and not other marginally beneficial projects. Fix the roads...the reason we pay gas taxes!

The funding is very structured in how it's distributed. What is allocated for the roads cannot go for other things. But again roads is only part of the budget.

[hoborich]

I'd be quite appreciative if MDOT would just fix our roads and bridges and stop squandering our road tax money on everything but the roads, and then telling us there is no money to fix the roads!

Most of the traffic around traverse City is tourists, and they like their cars to get around. How would they haul their popup campers, four wheelers, boats, jet skis and other toys to Traverse city. You arrive in Traverse City on a train, in a vacation area, with no toys? Not gonna happen! The area surrounding Traverse City is rural and forest. Where would commuter trains run to, or from? And aside from a few skiers, traffic around Traverse City slows way down after the fall colors end.

[Bob1]

I'd be quite appreciative if MDOT would just fix our roads and bridges and stop squandering our road tax money on everything but the roads, and then telling us there is no money to fix the roads!

Most of the traffic around traverse City is tourists, and they like their cars to get around. How would they haul their popup campers, four wheelers, boats, jet skis and other toys to Traverse city. You arrive in Traverse City on a train, in a vacation area, with no toys? Not gonna happen! The area surrounding Traverse City is rural and forest. Where would commuter trains run to, or from? And aside from a few skiers, traffic around Traverse City slows way down after the fall colors end.

So what about public transit! That's part of M.D.O.Ts budget and i use public transit,but are you saying don't spend any money on public transit. Just because i don't have a car it means not to help more unfortunate people. How about all of those people who use the hotels on resort row i think rail would work up here!

[J T]

...as long as MDOT isn't funding it, I'm okay with it. MDOT needs to stick with the practical big stuff like the three existing routes.

Uhhhh.... you do know its MDOT and not MDOR right?

I didn't typo that...

And then...

The funding is very structured in how it's distributed. What is allocated for the roads cannot go for other things. But again roads is only part of the budget.

So, what is "MDOR" and where did you see that posted in this thread?

[J T]

Where would commuter trains run to, or from?

Wait, is this about commuter trains in the TC area or about a passenger train from somewhere in lower Michigan (Detroit area?) to TC?

[TC Man]

I have lived in TC all of my 43 years. Traffic is not any worse than say Grand Rapids (I go there a lot, and just got back from 4 days there last night). Commuter trains will NEVER work there. Bob, have you looked at the public transit buses (BATA)? Never more than a few people in all those buses. And they hit all the hotels and casino. Nobody is going to commute from Grawn (you do realize the economic group that is 90% of Grawn?), or Williamsburg. Even if they upgrade to 25-30MPH, it's a 10 minute drive from Grawn to TC or Williamsburg to TC on one highway (US 31).

so, the only thing I ever see happening is an ocassional tourist train from say Ann Arbor or Mt. Pleasant maybe, during the Cherry Festival. If they could to a ski/snowmbbile train a couple weekends in the winter (come up Friday, head south Sunday) with cars that could hold ski equipment and/or snomobilies (flat cars?).

[Standard Railfan]

Most of the traffic around traverse City is tourists, and they like their cars to get around.

Where would commuter trains run to, or from? And aside from a few skiers, traffic around Traverse City slows way down after the fall colors end.

And no one flies into TC for vacation?

A commuter system could serve to move people between the outlying towns and TC. There is a substantial commuter population that moves between Grawn, Williamsburg, Acme, Kingsley, Traverse City, and points in between.

[Saturnalia]

COMMUTERS? Are they nuts?

Not even Detroit has commuter trains...or GR...or Lansing. So why would they work in the tiny (I wouldn't even call it metro) Traverse City?