21 replies to this topic

[CNJRoss]

mLive 1/18:
 

Ann Arbor council votes 8-3 to move ahead with train station design

 

 

ANN ARBOR, MI - The city of Ann Arbor could have a preliminary design for a new Amtrak station in hand by this summer.

 

The City Council voted 8-3 Tuesday night, Jan. 17, to approve a $2.14 million contract with Neumann/Smith Architecture for preliminary design and engineering services, as well as continuation of public engagement efforts.

 

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[KevinKorell]

mlive.com   3/21/17:

 

 

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Design work for new Amtrak station in Ann Arbor delayed by feds

 

It's been more than two months since the Ann Arbor City Council voted to move forward with the next phase of work on planning for a new Amtrak station either on Depot Street or in Fuller Park.

 

But the city's consultant hasn't been able to get started on the preliminary station designs due to delays in getting the Federal Railroad Administration to complete its review of a draft environmental assessment report the city submitted to the FRA, the city's staff told City Council members Monday night, March 20.

Update

[CNJRoss]

The Michigan Daily, Ann Arbor, MI 3/27;
 

Future of new Amtrak station uncertain

 

 

Ann Arbor might lose access to the funding required to move to the next phase of the building of a new Amtrak station. 

 

Though Ann Arbor officials have been trying for months to expedite the Amtrak process, they have yet to obtain the sign off on an environmental assessment from the Federal Railroad Administration required to continue the process. Officials are concerned the approval will come after the expiration of the federal grant funds allocated toward the project.

 

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[KevinKorell]

mlive.com  6/6/17:

 

Ann Arbor's long search for new Amtrak site finds 'no clear winner' yet

 

Ann Arbor has decided to try to finish an environmental assessment for a new Amtrak station and simultaneously move forward with preliminary engineering designs for multiple possible sites.

 

Update

[KevinKorell]

mlive.com   9/12/17:

 

 

$80M cost estimate for Ann Arbor train station project questioned

 

The city has been exploring options for a new Amtrak train station to replace the one on Depot Street for more than a decade, and the city is still going through an environmental assessment process with the state and federal government to determine the best location -- either on Depot Street or along Fuller Road in Fuller Park in front of the University of Michigan Hospital.

 

Further update

[CNJRoss]

Mlive.com 9/18/17:
 

Ann Arbor park chosen as preferred site for $81M train station

 

 

ANN ARBOR, MI - With clearance from the Federal Railroad Administration, the city of Ann Arbor has released a long-awaited report examining options for a new Amtrak station.

 

The report identifies Fuller Park as the preferred location for a new train station and related facilities, including parking.

 

The 212-page draft environmental assessment report was made public and posted to the city's website Monday afternoon, Sept. 18, after several months of private discussions between the city and FRA.

 

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[Sloan]

 

 

If commuter rail is implemented:

I'm assuming this comment refers to the planned WALLY line (Ann Arbor to Howell).  Dithering on this project has been going on since 2010.

 

There's also a downtown streetcar project under consideration since 2016.  That should work well in this college town, IMHO.  Sloan

Edited by Sloan, 19 September 2017 - 02:18 PM.

[KevinKorell]

Sloan, I think the commuter rail reference here is related to Ann Arbor-Detroit along the existing route used by Amtrak, not Ann Arbor-Howell WALLY.  They mention a platform "on the south side of the tracks", which infers that the tracks are running in an east-west direction.   WALLY would run north-south.

 

Ideally though, should Ann Arbor-Howell and Ann Arbor-Detroit both come to fruition, a perfect location would be a "Union Station" of sorts to allow for easy transfers between those two properties and Amtrak trains so that each could provide a feed to the other.

[Sloan]

Yes, you're right, Kevin.  Thanks for the correction.    Sloan

[KevinKorell]

Michigan Daily, 9/20/17:

 

 

Fuller Park emerges as preferred location of new Amtrak station

 

 

A new Amtrak station may be coming to a University hospital near you.

 

The city of Ann Arbor released a draft environmental assessment report on Monday detailing options for the new Amtrak station, which has been mired in more than a decade of delays.

 

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