Dearborn, Mich. Mayor Mohn B. O'Reilly, Jr. presided at ceremonies Monday, Dec. 15, 2014 marking the debut of the city's new intermodal passenger rail station, the John D. Dingell Transit Center.
Named for Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), who is retiring from Congress, the center replaces an "Amshack" installed by Amtrak in 1979 as a temporary measure. The new $28.2 million station was funded by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program. Amtrak began operating within the new structure on Dec. 10.
Six daily Wolverine Service trains sponsored by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) run daily through Dearborn. The station also is expected to serve any commuter rail service established linking Ann Arbor, Mich., and Detroit, should plans by MDOT and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) take hold. Numerous bus services also will serve the station.
The station also is adjacent to The Henry Ford Museum, a major tourist attraction that draws 1.6 million visitors per year.
The John D. Dingell Transit Center achieved a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification, owing to sustainable features including a metal roof with solar collectors, energy-efficient lighting, and geothermal heating and cooling.