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Grand Traverse Humanists, Groundwork Center Discuss Future Of Passenger Rail Service

People in Grand Traverse County had the chance to ask questions about a proposed passenger rail service that would connect Traverse City to Ann Arbor.

We have been following this plan since 2015 when it was first discussed.

The route would run from Ann Arbor to Traverse City making several stops along the way using existing tracks.

The Groundwork Center in Traverse City launched the plan and they now have the money for a feasibility study starting this summer.

"It will be exciting, all the questions that will be uncovered, all the answers will be exciting," said Jim Bruckbauer, deputy director for Groundwork Center.

This summer, the feasibility study will look at how passenger rail service could start rolling on these tracks.

“It’s going to look at what improvements need to be made to get trains going 50, 60 miles per hour along the corridor, what we need to do to the tracks, how many people will potentially ride a train if it stops in certain places at certain times and it’s going to help us look at an operating structure,” said Bruckbauer.

Monday night the Groundwork Center presented the plan to the Grand Traverse Humanists.

Most said they are were on board with the idea, and ready to see what this could mean for Northern Michigan.

“We are train travelers so we are familiar with it,” said Karla Stretten, member of Grand Traverse Humanists. “I support train travel and I think this is a wonderful idea. It will be good for Cadillac, Alma and Mount Pleasant and I can see it as a real boom in the area.”

“I would be hopeful that that would be a viable option. I would certainly like to use it, I support public transportation,” said Mark Elliott, president of Grand Traverse Humanists. “I make that long commute quite often and so the ability to go to Ann Arbor and to go to the University of Michigan would be helpful.”

The Groundwork Center will have many ways for people to engage and provide feedback during the study.

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