Traverse City to Ann Arbor Train

[Saturnalia]

Traverse City: commuter and intercity rail a reality? Can I get a flying pig with that, too?

[TC Man]

Well yes it is! Now that it's the year 2024, all of us that said this would never happen feel pretty bad. At least people like me, AARR, others are now living in senior communities in Florida....But I took this pic on this sunny day in 2014:

[NYCMan]

And there is the name for MDOT's new Ann Arbor to Traverse City passenger service: The Flying Pig Unlimited!

[59caddy]

Perhaps someone should go to the meeting and report back. Then we'll actually have some material to discuss. Until then, we really don't know what we're talking about. You never know, they might show in the meeting that said train is more viable than we think

[trainerd]

They could put in a twice daily run and call it "The Gambler" as it would go by the casino in Mt Pleasant. Or some others, like Traverse City Hold 'Em....., Ante Up....,

[ConrailMan5]

And there is the name for MDOT's new Ann Arbor to Traverse City passenger service: The Flying Pig Unlimited!

It's not MDOT...

[Typhoon]

And there is the name for MDOT's new Ann Arbor to Traverse City passenger service: The Flying Pig Unlimited!

It's not MDOT...

Are you sure about that?

http://www.midwesthsr.org/michigan

"The Michigan Department of Transportation recommends refurbishing an existing rail line in order to connect Traverse City by passenger train with the south of the state. A link between Ann Arbor and Traverse City is estimate to cost $250 million."


http://www.northernexpress.com/michigan ... train.html

"A rail link to Traverse City has already been identified as important by the state.

When the State Rail Plan Final Report of 2011 was developed by MDOT, a rail connection to Traverse City emerged as a top priority."

While MDOT may not be putting on the dog and pony show on the 16th, they sure seem interested in this folly...

[Saturnalia]

So RDD, how many miles of interstate can you lay new concrete for with $250 Million?

[ConrailMan5]

A report from 2011 and an article where the only quotes are from the Michigan Land Use Institue will not sway me. Looked through the report, very little said about a TC train considering its being touted as a "top priority". And what the did mention was TC-GR-DET...

[Ypsi]

It's not MDOT...

Are you sure about that?

Yes the article/ poster in the original post has nothing to do with MDOT it is a separate group.. as for the other stuff sure. But the OP is not MDOT.

Its the Michigan Land Use Institute which is based in Traverse City: http://www.mlui.org/

I will not deny that the Traverse City train is supposed to be the "highest" discussed train according to those links, but the OP is the Michigan Land Use Institute not MDOT. I will also say I think we are reading way too far deep into this as the sites assumption of a rail line is based on well assumptions

Michigan has been accelerating rail projects at a pace it hasn’t seen since the 19th century. And someday, we may see trains to Traverse City.

Those are pretty indefinite terms

[Typhoon]

It's not MDOT...

Are you sure about that?

Yes the article/ poster in the original post has nothing to do with MDOT it is a separate group.. as for the other stuff sure. But the OP is not MDOT.

Funny, I think I said the same thing in my post.....

While MDOT may not be putting on the dog and pony show on the 16th, they sure seem interested in this folly...

[Ypsi]

Funny, I think I said the same thing in my post.....

While MDOT may not be putting on the dog and pony show on the 16th, they sure seem interested in this folly...

Well looky there, glad were on the same page then. I apologize as I missed that (The wording didn't register in my head the first time I read that )

[J T]

Roundabouts and three lane pavement should be relegated to the trashbin of history.

I'll take a traffic circle ANY day over a stupid "Michigan left turn."

[Saturnalia]

Roundabouts and three lane pavement should be relegated to the trashbin of history.

I'll take a traffic circle ANY day over a stupid "Michigan left turn."

The only thing that screws up Traffic Circles are the people that use them. Same goes with just about everything else on the road. When I drive, I pay attention to things. I know when my phase is coming when I'm in "pole position", etc. At those nasty lights that only last a few seconds, the leader getting off the line quickly by know ing when green is coming can get a couple more cars through. But too often, they're not paying attention and the light is yellow before they've gotten their foot off the brake.

I've been screwed over by that almost every single time at 28th and Kalamazoo...light from hell.

</traffic rant>

[NYCMan]

The problem with drivers are the idiots who have their cell phones glued to their ears and are paying no attention to what is going on. I've done a few informal surveys, and it seems like every other driver has a cell phone glued to their ear. Saw a woman the other day who was playing Solitaire or some sort of card game on her iPad or some sort of flat screen computer that she had on her steering wheel. Texting and Driving is illegal, but Tapping on a Laptop apparently is perfectly legal! Of course, even as to the texters, there is never a cop there when you need one!

[intocable83]

If you've ever attempted to ride Indian Trails bus to any point north of Lansing its a major issue for so many reasons. Not everyone drives and most on here against passenger rail up to Traverse City tend to forget about the ones who NEED this service. There is the college up in Mount Pleasant for example that would generate quite a few riders and don't forget the large populations of Amish in northern Michigan who would use this service if provided and for those unaware, that large Amish population in Northern Michigan is continuing to grown. One important stop for many of these Amish would be Cadillac and if a stop was added to Marion, many would ride this over the bus. Amtrak already lists Cadillac as a stop on their station list but currently its only by bus.

[J T]

Well, there you have it. Get that passenger train running ASAP for Jacob and the boys! They need it to pick up supplies in the big city.

[Typhoon]

If you've ever attempted to ride Indian Trails bus to any point north of Lansing its a major issue for so many reasons. Not everyone drives and most on here against passenger rail up to Traverse City tend to forget about the ones who NEED this service. There is the college up in Mount Pleasant for example that would generate quite a few riders and don't forget the large populations of Amish in northern Michigan who would use this service if provided and for those unaware, that large Amish population in Northern Michigan is continuing to grown. One important stop for many of these Amish would be Cadillac and if a stop was added to Marion, many would ride this over the bus. Amtrak already lists Cadillac as a stop on their station list but currently its only by bus.

If the bus is already providing the service, and all the train is going to do is steal passengers from the bus, why should the state start the train? It seems the bus is providing the service for those that "NEED" the service. So, other than providing a train for foamers to get excited over, what would be the point?

[GTW6401]

There is the college up in Mount Pleasant for example that would generate quite a few riders.

I graduated from CMU and I can guarantee that there is very little to no demand for public transportation from students. They only use the local transit buses to campus because the apartments pay for the service.

Most students have a car on campus. In fact, Central makes a killing on charging for a parking pass each semester. It was one of the many perks of my education. Even the freshman could park, but they were in no-mans land behind Kelly-Shorts.

There was also a ride board in the student center so you had options to get home even if you didn't have a vehicle in Mount Pleasant.