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Proposed WALLY commuter rail


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#31 Sloan

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Posted 01 February 2015 - 09:54 AM

 

 

MDOT pays $1.1M a year for rail cars it can't use

 

OWOSSO – The State of Michigan is paying $1.1 million a year to lease 23 passenger rail cars it can't use — and likely won't use for at least another two years — as the taxpayer tab for the troubled project approaches $12 million and counting.

http://www.freep.com...-cars/22655363/

 

These two initiatives (WALLY and Ann Arbor) are moving at the speed of Pennsylvania DoT and New Jersey Transit's Hoboken to Scranton passenger train restoration project.  :huh:

 

Sloan



#32 KevinKorell

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Posted 01 February 2015 - 12:31 PM

The WALLY and Ann Arbor projects might be more attractive and successful if they are treated together and a common "Union Station" transfer point is built where they cross.  I can see how some might see how WALLY is hard to justify despite the benefit of traffic mitigation it would bring -- but paired up with commuter rail service to Detroit and other locations, more may jump on its bandwagon.  And then there is Detroit, known to be bankrupt and cutting city services.  Perhaps in a better financial climate this would have made more sense and been easier to sell to the public.



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#33 Sloan

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Posted 11 February 2015 - 10:45 AM

 

 

MDOT defends lease for unused commuter rail cars, says it's reviewing contract as costs near $12 million

 

LANSING, MI - Michigan's top transportation official on Tuesday said the state is reviewing a costly lease for rail cars it isn't using, but warned that terminating the contract could set back commuter rail projects by at least five years.

http://www.mlive.com...head_defen.html



#34 CNJRoss

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Posted 21 February 2015 - 04:33 PM

WKAR Public Media - Michigan State University, 2/17:

 
MI rail supporter responds to MDOT "debacle"

Commuter rail plans in southeast Michigan are drawing fire from state legislators and other officials. The criticism stems from millions of dollars being spent on unused rail cars. Those rail cars await completion of projects between Ann Arbor and Detroit and between Ann Arbor and Howell. The Detroit Free Press, reporting on what it describes as “a $12-million debacle”, says the costs are to lease and refurbish 23 used rail cars MDOT acquired from a Chicago rail  system. 

 

Michigan Department of Transportation Director Kirk Steudle says MDOT is considering various options, including cancellation of the contract to lease the cars. Steudle also said last week that it’s easy to criticize the plan in hindsight. The plan was given the green light in 2010 by Governor Jennifer Granholm and the legislature.

 

Current State speaks with Carmine Polombo, deputy executive director of SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. He’s been at work on the two projects for which the rail cars were originally purchased.

 

Radio report here.



#35 Sloan

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Posted 12 March 2015 - 09:31 AM

 

 

Commuter rail between Ann Arbor and Howell topic of upcoming meetings

A full-scale feasibility study of commuter rail service between Ann Arbor and Howell is now underway and community meetings are planned to discuss what's to come in the next 15 months.

The first meeting will be held from 7-9 p.m. Thursday at the Brighton Community Center, 555 Brighton St., in Brighton.

http://www.mlive.com..._rail_betw.html



#36 CNJRoss

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Posted 23 April 2015 - 06:32 AM

Detroit Free Press, 4/22:
 

Report: MDOT's idle railcars won't be in service until '19

 

A report sent to lawmakers says the costly railcars likely won't be used for commuter services in southeast Michigan until 2019, two years later than earlier estimates.

 

LANSING – The Michigan Department of Transportation is negotiating a lower lease rate for 23 passenger railcars now costing taxpayers $3,000 a day to sit idle. But the length of time the state could have to lease the cars before it can use them has doubled from two years to four years, according to a report sent to state lawmakers.

 

At the current lease rates, that means MDOT would have to sink about another $4.4 million into lease charges before it is able to put the cars into service.

 

The Free Press on Feb. 1 broke the news of the idle railcars, which are intended for two proposed commuter services in southeast Michigan and so far have cost the state about $12 million in refurbishment, consulting and leasing costs since 2010.

 

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#37 Sloan

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Posted 04 July 2015 - 11:47 AM

 

 

Second Livingston passenger railroad proposed County

Discussion has begun on a proposed passenger railroad linking Detroit and western Michigan, though a decision on WALLY, the proposed Washtenaw and Livingston railway, remains pending.

 

http://www.livingsto...tings/29676255/

 

Boy, Michigan sure has a bad case of "studyitis."  The WALLY project has been going on since 2007.  Jeez Louise! :huh:

 

Sloan


Edited by Sloan, 04 July 2015 - 11:49 AM.


#38 Sloan

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Posted 17 April 2016 - 09:43 AM

 

 

Commuter rail, bus rapid transit keys to RTA plan

 

Video here:

 

http://www.freep.com...04/16/83090936/



#39 KevinKorell

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Posted 15 November 2016 - 06:20 PM

Ann Arbor, MI News, 11/15/16:


Howell-to-Ann Arbor commuter rail could cost more than $122M to start

 

At least a few different options are being considered for a commuter rail service between Ann Arbor and points north, and the estimated capital startup costs range from $21.9 million to $122.3 million.

Update



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#40 CNJRoss

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Posted 23 March 2017 - 10:03 AM

Livingston Daily Press & Argus, Howell, MI 3/21/17:
 

Two price tags, potential tax hikes surface for Howell to Ann Arbor train service

 

 

If you are among the thousands of Livingston County residents who commute to Ann Arbor, would you ditch your drive for a ride on a commuter train?

 

The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority has been studying the feasibility of constructing and funding WALLY, a proposed commuter rail service along existing state-owned Great Lakes Central Railroad-operated freight rails between Howell and Ann Arbor.

 

WALLY officials are focusing on two options to alleviate congestion on U.S. 23, spark economic development, create jobs and reduce emissions.

 

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