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| SWMPC Executive Director K. John Egelhaaf giving introductions |
ST. JOSEPH CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS - At a gathering of around 60 people this Wednesday February 24th at 10:00, Tim Hoeffner from the Michigan Department of Transportation had a chance to dialogue with the communities of Southwest Michigan about the future of their passenger rail service. Mr. Hoeffner is the Administrator of High Speed Rail and Innovative Project Advancement at MDOT.
Mr. Hoeffner explained that the State of Michigan will most likely be able to provide the state subsidy for the Pere Marquette line for the rest of fiscal year 2010, but he doesn't know what will happen in 2011. The State budget is completely renogotiated in every fiscal year. He also explained that the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative, which includes a realignment of the Pere Marquette line through Kalamazoo and away from St. Joseph and Bangor in Phase 5, will be reopened for further study. He mentioned that the bulk of the studies related to high-speed rail were completed in the late 1990s, and MDOT has since adopted more refined strategies for stakeholder input. He stated that the "door is still open to conversation," but that MDOT is focusing on maintaining the operating subsidy for the line before "putting any more money into any more studies." Mr. Hoeffner was asked about the recently awarded federal stimulus funding for high speed rail. He explained that the State of Michigan was awarded $40 million to upgrade signal crossings and stations along the Detroit-Chicago corridor in Michigan. The State of Indiana was given a grant for improving infrastructure around Porter to clear the "rail bottleneck" to Chicago. This will automatically reduce travel time for all rail lines going to Chicago through Indiana. Below are links to news stories regarding rail in Southwest Michigan. Fears of Losing Pere Marquette Line Increase From WHTC (Holland) Proos joins fight to retain Pere Marquette From South Bend Tribune
Study estimates benefit to Niles from having depot at $5 million From DOA Study estimates benefit to Niles from having depot at $5 million From NLS Local Amtrak service and you From SJM Turmoil on the tracks From SJM Local legislators to MDOT: Spare our Amtrak route From HOM MDOT Officials Discuss Pere Marquette Line In Saint Joe From SJM GENETSKI TO FIGHT FOR PERE MARQUETTE From His Web Site | 
