Enthusiasm from the current crop of Michigan lawmakers for passenger rail improvements could free up some state spending as well.
The state Senate budget proposal includes $100 million for grants to “encourage high-speed rail development” by providing matching funds that local governments need to qualify for federal money.
Sen. Darrin Camilleri, D-Trenton, recently told Bridge that Senate Democrats “want to see the state of Michigan investing in larger rail infrastructure, particularly public transit, to help us be in a position to compete.”
“It’s one way that we can address climate change, alleviate some of our transportation issues and actually help us compete for talent across the country as we’re dealing with economic development,” he continued.
The Michigan Transportation Department has eight active federal grants open along the state’s three passenger rail routes, including projects to replace railroad ties and bridges, prevent trespassing on train tracks, even out curves to allow trains to run up to 110 mph and fix Detroit’s New Center station.
The state’s Office of Rail has also submitted federal applications for competitive grants to improve and increase service on all three existing routes, as well as a possible extension of the Detroit line into Canada.
Separately, a northern Michigan passenger rail group in 2022 received $2.3 million in state and federal funding to research a new route connecting metro Detroit to northern Michigan cities including Traverse City and Petoskey.
