A study into the introduction of a passenger train service between Detroit and Grand Rapids, Mich., has found that the economic benefits and number of passengers anticipated justifies taking the project forward.
“Business leaders, economic developers, local governments and college students have all told us they support the idea of knitting together our cities, cultural centers and other institutions by rail,” says Liz Treutel Callin, project manager of the Coast-to-Coast Passenger Rail Ridership and Cost Estimate Study. “Now we have an in-depth report showing that the Coast-to-Coast passenger rail project is one worth pursuing, with significant potential benefits for Michigan’s economy and quality of life. This study puts us one important step closer to the exciting possibility of reconnecting our coasts by rail.”
Grand Rapids is near the eastern shore (“coast”) of Lake Michigan; Detroit is near the westernmost shore of lake Erie.
The study, conducted by Transportation Economics and Management Systems Inc., examined three potential routes from Detroit via Lansing and Grand Rapids to Holland, Mich., that could be established by upgrading existing railways. One route passes through Ann Arbor and Jackson, another through Ann Arbor and Howell, while a third route bypasses Ann Arbor, heading from Wayne to Howell.
The study considered several journey frequency scenarios: two daily round-trips at 79 mph; four round-trips a day at 79 or 110 mph (higher-speed or “high-performance” rail), and eight daily round-trips at 110 mph. Key findings are that both of the proposed routes that pass through Ann Arbor are viable options that deserve further study, while the third route does not merit further study, since it bypasses the large ridership demand in Ann Arbor.
While the route through Jackson showed the greatest potential ridership and revenue, the route through Ann Arbor and Howell promised the greatest return on investment. By 2040, the latter could provide up to 1.59 million trips per year with eight daily round trips at 110 mph.
Establishing a 79-mph service on the 187-mile route through Ann Arbor and Howell would require an annual subsidy of about $3 million, and an upfront investment of $130 million. Although establishing a 110-mph service would require greater capital investment, it would yield higher ridership that could allow the service to generate an annual operating profit of $12 million on the route through Ann Arbor and Howell.
The next step toward establishing the service is a full feasibility study including environmental impact analyses, an implementation plan and a review of public-private partnership options.
A PDF of the complete study can be downloaded fby clicking HERE.