WINTER 2015 Volume 42, Number 1 Constitutional amendment could boost train funding BY LARRY SOBCZAK lected for transportation. estimated $112 million increase Passenger train and mass In a December lame-duck to the Comprehensive Transpor- transit programs in the state may session, lawmakers tation Fund (CTF) which funds Michigan Association see an estimated $112 million in- approved plans for a statewide programs such as passenger of Railroad Passengers crease annually if voters approve ballot proposal and an 11-bill trains, transit programs, intercity www.marp.org an amendment to the state con- package that could yield $1.2 bus and freight rail. stitution raising the sales tax and billion a year in new funding for The $112 million fi gure for restructuring how taxes are col- roads and bridges as well as the (See FUNDING, page 6) WHAT’S INSIDE…

Amtrak sets revenue record in 2014 See Page 3

Meet new MARP Board members See Page 4

All aboard the Michigan Flyer See Page 5

On-time performance & the Supreme Court See Page 7 DOUBLE TRACK. Crews deliv- ered rails on Dec. 23 in Dearborn just west of the new train station for a second mainline. Workers will install a second track from PAID 44870 Monroe Street in Dearborn to U.S. POSTAGE U.S. PRESORT STD. PRESORT the diamond at Wayne Junction PERMIT NO. 10 PERMIT NO. SANDUSKEY, OH SANDUSKEY, this spring. This means tracks 1 and 2 will run from Town Line (Greenfi eld Avenue in Dearborn) to CP Ypsilanti, just east of De- pot Town. The upgrade is funded by part of a $240 million federal grant awarded in 2010 to up- grade passenger service to 110 mph between and Chi- cago. (Photos by Steve Sobel.) Wrong timing idles commuter cars BY LARRY SOBCZAK MDOT was spending $1.9 mil- time it takes to order passenger rail The public and Michigan lion annually in leasing fees to cars from the manufacturer and lawmakers are asking how the Federated Rail to essentially store the unexpected changes in rail- Michigan Department of Trans- 23 commuter railcars in Owosso. road ownership as well as funding portation (MDOT) ended up The article prompted the while MDOT was waiting for the with nearly two dozen commuter Michigan House of Representa- railcar order to be fi lled. railcars sitting in a rail yard in- tives’ Transportation Committee “It’s not like ordering a stead of providing service to Ann to convene Feb. 10 to get an- brand new automobile,” MDOT Arbor as originally intended. swers from MDOT Director Kirk Spokesman Michael Frezell The questions arose from an Steudle on the matter. said. “They are not sitting around article published in the Detroit The answer to how the situa- in a factory waiting for custom-

MARP 510842 PO Box MI 48151-6842 LIVONIA Free Press Feb. 1 that revealed tion developed is in the long lead (See COMMUTER, page 3) Page 2 Th e Michigan Passenger Winter 2015

Michigan Association of Railroad Th e Michigan Passenger Passengers, Inc. is published four times annually by the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, Inc. OFFICERS Copyright © 2015 Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, Inc.

Chair All articles not originated by MARP are copyrighted by their Larry Krieg respective originators. All rights reserved. Articles used in 734-347-2179 accordance with the Fair Use Clause of the United States [email protected] Constitution. Vice Chair The Michigan Passenger welcomes submissions on passenger rail Jim Wallington 517-303-6038 issues for publication. Material sent for publication should be sent [email protected] to our Editor at: [email protected].

Secretary Clippings from newspapers and magazines must include the Position open. publication’s name and date. Photos sent in by e-mail should be in Interested? [email protected] JPEG format. We reserve the right to edit all submissions.To subscribe to this Treasurer Jeanie Merckel publication, join MARP by fi lling out the application below. All 734-717-0326 MARP members receive a copy of this publication sent to their [email protected] home or business. Michigan Passenger Editor & MARP Webmaster: REGIONAL CHAIRS Larry Sobczak, [email protected] Metro Detroit Robert Patterson 586-781-6891 313-836-3736 [email protected] Contributors: Kay Chase East/Central Michigan Steve Vagnozzi John DeLora 517-349-4889 Hugh Gurney [email protected] Jerry Huddleston Steve Sobel West Michigan Warren Fritz 269-998-4308 [email protected] About MARP… Northern Michigan Don Monteith The Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, Inc. (MARP) 231-675-1026 was established in 1973 as a consumer advocacy group to improve [email protected] intercity rail and bus service, improve local transit and encourage the preservation of historic railroad stations. AT-LARGE EXECUTIVES MARP is not affi liated with , the railroads, governments or John D. Langdon any political party. MARP is incorporated as a Michigan non-profi t 616-218-9009 [email protected] organization and is exempt from federal income tax under the IRS code, 501( c )(3) as a charitable educational organization. Dues and Kay M. Chase donations to MARP may be tax-deductible in accordance with the 269-388-3777 IRS code. [email protected]

Kathleen Newell MARP is an all-volunteer organization. Its membership consists of 310-740-0421 passengers and citizens who want a viable, balanced transportation [email protected] system in Michigan. We can all use the help we can get!

Don Westcott http://www.marp.org [email protected] [email protected] 810-234-1427 http://www.facebook.com/pages/michigan-association-of-railroad-passengers http://twitter.com/michrailpass JOIN MARP TODAY!

It’s easy. Just fi ll out and return this form! PO BOX 510842 LIVONIA MI 48151-6842 Winter 2015 Th e Michigan Passenger Page 3

continuous double track segment A new feasibility study was refurbished bi-level stainless COMMUTER between Dearborn and Ypsilanti needed for WALLY and the steel commuter cars from the (Continued from and replacing antiquated signals study is a necessary component 1950s and 1960s versus purchas- dating back to the 1930s. to receiving federal grants and ing brand new cars. page 1) “We can’t run a commuter funding for the project. The cost to refurbish the rail- ers to buy them. As a matter of service along that section of track Frezell said that while the cars was approximately $450,000 fact, there is a shortage of com- until the work is complete,” said cars were being refurbished, the apiece, whereas purchasing new muter rail cars in some parts of Tim Hoeffner, who is Director of source of funding for the com- railcars would have cost between the country so we are lucky to MDOT’s Offi ce of Rail. muter services at the federal lev- $2 million and $3 million apiece. have them now.” The work is expected to be el had switched from the Federal At that rate, MDOT would The 23 refurbished commut- completed after the 2016 con- Highway Administration to the have had to pay lease fees on er cars were ordered by MDOT struction season. Federal Transit Administration the refurbished cars in the in 2010 at a cost of $10.3 million Meanwhile, the Ann Arbor and the Federal Railroad Admin- Owosso yard for decades be- for commuter service between Railroad was sold to Watco in istration causing problems for fore the cost exceeded that of Ann Arbor and Detroit as well as 2013, affecting the Ann Arbor to grant applications. brand-new cars. Ann Arbor and Howell. Howell service which is known Hoeffner said that the com- Despite the savings, Hoef- In 2013, MDOT became the as the Washtenaw and Livings- muter projects were on a fast track fner said that if he could have new owner of the segment of the ton Line or WALLY. to completion in the late 2000s anticipated the unexpected which In a break from the old own- when the railcar order was placed changes in funding and own- the Ann Arbor to Detroit commut- ers, Watco said it was interested and that it would have been unac- ership, he would have delayed er service is slated to run along. in allowing the commuter ser- ceptable to have funding but no the order. vice to use their tracks. The state is now in the pro- cars to operate the service. “Obviously we would like cess of rehabilitating that seg- “It really changed the nature of the project,” Frezell said. He said the state saved con- to have those cars in service,” ment of the track, creating a siderable money by leasing the he said. Amtrak sets revenue record in fi scal year 2014 Amtrak generated record they said. continues, Amtrak offi cials said. Boardman and Amtrak Chair- revenue of $3.2 billion during “Our efforts to operate a more In recent years, the railroad has man Tony Coscia said. fi scal-year 2014 and recorded fi nancially sound railroad for our expanded state-supported servic- “Our fi nancial performance the lowest operating loss since stakeholders continues to exceed es, introduced Wi-Fi and eTick- over the past year is the clear- 1973 at $227 million. expectations,” Amtrak President eting technologies, procured new est indication yet that Amtrak’s During the 2014 fi scal year, and Executive Offi cer Jo- equipment for the Northeast Cor- investments, operating effi cien- which ended Sept. 30, Amtrak seph Boardman said. “Amtrak’s ridor and long-distance services, cies and focus on its customers covered 93 percent of its oper- customer value proposition im- implemented a major planning is paying off,” Coscia said. “As ating costs with ticket sales and proves each year as seen by our effort for next-generation high- we continue to make improve- other revenue, up from 89 per- continued ridership and revenue speed rail and installed positive ments in our operating and fi nan- cent the year before. The un- growth for the better part of the train control equipment. cial performance, we call upon audited operating loss of $227 past decade.” To meet future passenger de- the federal government and our million represented a 37 per- Amtrak offi cials attributed mands, increased levels of feder- stakeholders to support the capi- cent decrease from the 2013 fi s- the improved fi nancial perfor- al capital investment are needed tal investments necessary to keep cal year’s operating loss and 52 mance to an ongoing corporate to improve, expand and replace moving Amtrak forward.” percent drop from the 2007 fi s- restructuring program that fea- the aging infrastructure that sup- cal year’s mark, Amtrak offi cials tures increased fi nancial trans- ports intercity passenger rail, said in a press release. parency, a de-leveraged balance As a result of the railroad’s sheet, an emphasis on improved Amtrak revenue byby routeroute strong performance, long-term service and increasing ridership. Service namename FY 20132013 FY 20142014 ChangeChange Wolverine:Wolverine: $19,398,853$19,398,853 $18,900,614$18,900,614 -2.6%-2.6% debt reductions of 61 percent The railroad also is develop- BlueBlue Water:Water: $6,228,730$6,228,730 $6,487,869$6,487,869 +4.2%+4.2% over the past seven years and ing the infrastructure and organi- Pere Marquete:Marquete: $3,152,828$3,152,828 $3,101,530$3,101,530 -1.6%-1.6% other factors, Moody’s Investor zation, and employing the equip- MichiganMichigan ServicesServices total:total: $28,780,411$28,780,411 $28,490,013$28,490,013 -1.1%-1.1% AmtrAmtrakak nnationalational total:total: $2,105,007,664$2,105,007,664 $2,188,654,846$2,188,654,846 +4.0%+4.0% Service confi rmed Amtrak’s A1/ ment needed to ensure its growth Stable debt rating as of Nov. 12, Source:Source: AmtraAmtrakk Port Huron area explores future station option BY LARRY SOBCZAK Port Huron Township Down- ten blocks from the current loca- cess to Interstates 69 and 94 as The Amtrak station in Port town Development Authority. tion,” he said. well as the Bridge. Huron has become a victim of its “The current station has Canadian National Railway The proposed station is near own success in recent years. very, very tight quarters,” Max- is selling about 120 acres of land an existing bike trail which Both the station and the train well said at the MARP Novem- at that location. would link the station to down- that serves it, Amtrak’s Blue Wa- ber meeting in Port Huron. The proposed location would town Port Huron by non-motor- ter, set ridership records in 2014. Maxwell said that he is cau- allow for an adequately sized ized means. Other complements tiously trying to assemble a co- parking lot and a new station. to the station could include a small The station is so popular that hotel and a family-style restaurant. at train times people crowd into alition of stakeholders to deal The new building could in- the so-called temporary modu- with the dilemma. clude intermodal facilities for “We see this as an econom- lar building erected in 1974 and One strong proposal which is taxis, city buses and intercity ic engine for the entire region,” fi ll the parking lot beyond ca- under investigation is the reloca- buses. Maxwell said. pacity with many people park- tion of the Amtrak station from Trains at the 24th Street loca- Maxwell said the fi rst step ing their vehicles on the lawn the southeast corner of Canadian tion would have access to tracks towards relocating the Port Hu- and on 10th Street, which is a National’s Tunnel Yard to the leading towards Canada, Detroit ron station is to secure funding tow away zone. northwest corner. and via East Lansing for a $100,000 feasibility study. The overcrowding problems “We would like to relocate without much trouble. Maxwell said it could be as have caught the attention of Paul the Port Huron Station to a loca- For automobile travelers, the long as fi ve years before a new Maxwell, who is director of the tion on 24th Street, about eight to proposed location has easy ac- station is built. Page 4 Th e Michigan Passenger Winter 2015 From the boardroom: Meet the newest MARP board members BY KAY CHASE Flint and the Friends of McFarlan Veteran’s based programs. The MARP executive committee has Memorial Park, for which he is spearhead- Warren “decided to have my mid-life recently named three new members, all of ing a $350,000 fund raising campaign. crisis early and start a bike shop somewhere whom have a wide range of experience and In his “spare” time, he likes to relax with in SW Michigan”. With his analytical bent, interests that they bring to the organization. woodworking and modeling. he poured over the 1970 census records and I’d like to introduce them to you. Don sees his involvement in MARP as determined that Kalamazoo was a commu- Don Westcott was appointed to one of a way to raise awareness about passenger nity with a lot of advantages. Having moved the four at-large positions on the MARP ex- trains and encourage people to use this form six times in two years, he and Marti made ecutive board, with responsibility for plan- of transportation. the plunge and now have lived in the same ning and coordinating the monthly member I fi rst met Warren Fritz house in Kalamazoo for 41 years. meetings. Warren Fritz has fi lled the long and his wife Marti when the The bicycle shop, too, became vacant position of West Region chair, while three of us were answering a reality: New World Bicycles Steve Vagnozzi has assumed the equivalent phones for the local pub- on the corner of Lover’s Lane in position for the East-Central region. lic radio spring fund drive. Portage. Don Westcott is a kind of “renaissance” Between calls, Warren was Involved since college in man of railroading, having been involved regaling us with tales of their “useful non-profi ts that do good a wide variety of rail-related activities. He adventures sailing their 38 ft. things”, Warren has more recently has been President of the Board of Durand vessel “Jubilate” on a ten- worked with Colleagues Interna- Union Station, Inc. He currently serves as week, 1600 mile journey on tional and has served as Board the Superintendent of the North-Central Lakes Michigan and Huron. Warren Fritz President for Habitat for Human- Region of the National Model Railroad When Warren paused to ity in Kalamazoo. One of his asso- Association and is a past-president of the take a breath, I chimed in that, personally, ciates as he pursued these interests planted Mid-Michigan Railway Historical Society. I preferred traveling by train. Warren piped the idea of getting into fi nancial services. He is a part-time conductor on the Huckle- up “Oh, do you know about this rail pas- Warren took the bait, establishing his own berry Railroad and, along with Barbara, his senger organization?” Warren has long been fi rm. He’s now been at it for 31 years. wife of 46 years, devotes countless volun- in the habit of picking up each new issue of He returned to school around 2000 for a teer hours to the railroad and to Crossroads The Michigan Passenger at the station and degree in Library Science from Wayne State Village. had seen that MARP was looking for a West University, where he found archival work Region chair. He wondered what to do next. “fascinating” as he organized the papers of Don grew up in Durand (is Well, I suggested he contact it any wonder he has trains in Malcolm Pirney, an early leader at the W.K. John Langdon and, being a man Kellogg Biological Station. his blood?). He started draw- of action, Warren did just that ing at age seven, a talent rec- – and he has been busy ever Asked what he brings to MARP, Warren ognized and fostered by his par- since! says ““my best suit – outreach”, building on ents and which eventually led his varied experience to connect with indi- to a degree in industrial design Warren was born in Chi- viduals and organizations that can advance from Michigan State Univer- cago, but spent most of his passenger trains. sity in 1968. Don told me that growing up years in Skokie. He earned a degree in accoun- Warren and Marti (who recently retired industrial design includes a Don Westcott from Kalamazoo Public Library) have three wide gamut of possible career tancy from Bradley University in Peoria, . Fresh out of college, he grown sons. When they manage to fi nd choices and his life certainly illustrates this some spare time, they like to go sailing and, point. joined the Peace Corps and spent two life- changing years teaching in Addis Ababa, of course, they look for opportunities for He began his professional life as a and later in a nearby village, during an train trips. draftsman and was soon designing furniture interesting time in the reign of Ethiopian Steve Vagnozzi has had a lifelong inter- for Herman-Miller where he worked for Emperor Haile Selassie. est in train travel. His dad, Aldo Vagnozzi 15 years. He has worked at three different Returning to the U.S. in (who was a big Amtrak supporter while architectural fi rms and was a principal in serving in the Michigan House of setting up GM’s Hydromatic plant in Three 1965, Warren took a job as an accountant with Price Water- Representatives), took him on a Rivers in the early 80’s. Before his recent Detroit streetcar ride just before retirement, Don had spent twenty years at house in Detroit, but soon de- cided that accounting wasn’t that service ended. His fi rst train Harada & Associates, a general contracting ride was from Grand Rapids to fi rm offering design services and custom really what he wanted to do with his life. He enrolled at Plymouth on the C & O railroad. home remodeling, rising to President of the He remembers watching the soup company. Michigan State University and earned a degree in Inter- slosh while eating in the dining He continues to do consulting work national Education & African car. while pursuing his current career of “pro- Studies with the hope of go- Steve’s fi rst Amtrak trip was fessional volunteer.” Appearing somewhat ing back to Africa. Although Steve Vagnozzi from Detroit to New York City frazzled at the executive committee retreat that move is still on the in 1974 or 1975 when the equip- in mid-December, he confessed to having , Warren says the degree has served ment was in pretty rough shape. In 1979 put in 174 volunteer hours since Thanksgiv- him well for its emphasis on a philosophy he bought a USA rail pass and traveled to ing! of education that has informed much of his San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles. In point of fact, Don has done signifi - work since. The return trip was memorable because the cant volunteer work throughout his life- His next jobs were in the public sector, train was full of people who were grounded time. With no children of their own, Don running a Head Start program in Hillsdale, due to an airline strike. He remembers the and Barb have worked with children in a and then developing a Day Care Center in train crew throwing an inebriated passenger number of roles, including a shepherding a a church on Mt. Hope in Lansing (where off the train at Barstow, CA in the middle of group of teenagers on a European trip and he met Marti). From there, he took a job as the night. In 1982 he rode the Denver and guiding another group on a visit to a Colo- Director of Mental Health for seven coun- Rio Grande from Salt Lake City to Denver. rado dude ranch. Other organizations that ties surrounding Alpena just at the time the He and his wife traveled to Toronto on the have benefi tted from his energy and enthu- state was closing its mental hospitals and International in the 1980s. siasm are the First Presbyterian Church in transferring responsibility to community- (See BOARDROOM, page 6) Winter 2015 Th e Michigan Passenger Page 5 All Aboard! Now departing–The Michigan Flyer BY HUGH GURNEY Even some of us die hard rail fans must fl y on occasion. Twice in the past two years, my wife, daughter and I have used Michigan Flyer/Air Ride to get to and from Detroit Metro Air- port. I am a real fan. Michigan Flyer/Air Ride operates 12 round trips daily between East Lansing and Detroit Metro Airport, the fi rst bus leaving East Lansing at 2:45 a.m. and the last at 5:05 p.m. From Detroit Metro, the fi rst bus departs at 6:10 a.m. and the last at 10:15 p.m. All buses stop twice in Ann Arbor, at the Blake Transit Center downtown and at the Kensington Court Hotel near The Michigan Flyer/Air Ride connects East Lansing to Metro Airport via Ann Arbor. (Photo courtesy the junction of State Street and Michigan Flyer/Air Ride, Indian Trails) I-94. A thirteenth bus operates Within minutes the boarding the signs marked Ground Trans- a law suit by a paralyzed veteran daily, Ann Arbor-Detroit Metro. passes for the bus and a parking portation and quickly found the and a blind East Lansing resi- permit to place on the dashboard Indian Trails/Air Ride bus stop. dent, the Wayne County Airport The trip takes two hours of the car arrived by e-mail. Authority has agreed to provide between East Lansing and De- As it was cold and windy, we a comfortable, climate con- troit Metro, 40 minutes between Because we both have decided to wait until the sched- trolled indoor waiting area in the downtown Ann Arbor and 30 AAATA Senior Passes, my wife uled departure time in a heated, Ground Transportation Center minutes between the Kensington and I were charged the senior enclosed area near the elevators. with accessible phones, rest- Court Hotel and the airport. On rate. Round trip transportation Within fi ve minutes, we rooms, drinking fountains and time performance stands at 98 for three plus parking for twelve were approached by an em- other amenities nearby by June percent, something Amtrak fans days came to just $68.00. ployee of Prospect Airport 15, 2015 at the latest. MARP, can only dream about. On the day of our departure, Services. Confi rming that we among others, will be tracking Long term parking is avail- we arrived at the Kensington were Michigan Flyer/Air Ride these promised improvements to able at each of the three depar- Court Hotel around 6 a.m., customers, he asked us to wait assure that the Airport Authority ture points, in downtown East unloaded our luggage near the in the heated waiting room lives up to its agreement. Lansing, downtown Ann Arbor restaurant door (according to until he gave the word that the If planning to travel by and the Kensington Court Hotel instructions) and parked the car bus was approaching. Michigan Flyer/Air Ride, al- in Ann Arbor. in the designated area. A few minutes later, he The bus arrived as scheduled. ways check www.michiganfl yer. Thanks to a cooperative announced that the bus was We gave our names to the com or phone 517-333-0400 agreement with the Ann Arbor arriving and led us to the des- driver who verifi ed that we had to confi rm schedules and make Area Transportation Authority, ignated stop. The bus departed reservations on his hand held reservations. All transactions parking costs just $2 per day at as scheduled at 3:45 p.m. and computer and boarded the bus. are done through the web site or the Ann Arbor locations. we were back in Ann Arbor at by phone. Promptly at 6:50 a.m., the 4:15 p.m. and in our car headed Passengers 65 years-old and bus arrived at the McNamara home by 4:20 p.m. It is possible to book travel older ride at half fare between Terminal. between East Lansing and Ann Ann Arbor and Detroit Metro The clean, comfortable bus- Arbor or reverse on Michigan The driver directed us to with an AAATA Senior Pass. es were about ¾ full each way, Flyer/Air Ride. an elevator and we were soon All seniors qualify for the an indication that the service is Michigan Flyer/Air Ride is checking in at the Delta counter. AAATA Senior Pass, not just well patronized. Most passen- a subsidiary of Indian Trails, We had ample time for breakfast Ann Arbor residents. Call 734- gers probably did not qualify for which operates most of the Am- at the National Coney Island on trak Thruway service in Michi- 973-6500 for details. the senior pass. the boarding concourse. gan. Indian Trials has a strong In mid-November 2014, my Returning 11 days later, we Due to protests by MARP commitment to public transpor- family and I fl ew from Detroit picked up our luggage, followed and other passenger groups and tation in Michigan. Metro to Ft. Lauderdale, depar- ture point of a Holland America New fl eet of Michigan Flyer buses hit roads Caribbean cruise. Michigan Flyer put a brand ther reducing air pollution and As for comfort, the new About two weeks before new fl eet of seven luxury motor- traffi c congestion according to coaches offer deluxe, ergonomic departure I called the Michigan coaches on the road in Novem- an Indian Trails press release. seating with leather headrests Flyer offi ce to book passage ber, representing a $3.8 million and ample leg room; individ- from the Kensington Court Ho- Safety features include an investment by parent company, electronic stability system that ual climate controls, reading tel in Ann Arbor to the McNa- Indian Trails. lamps and cup holders; tinted, mara Terminal at Detroit Metro. enables drivers to avoid danger The new fl eet―all state- on slippery roads; an engine fi re- panoramic side windows; 110- I was told that I could save of-the-art 2015 Prevost H3-45 detection and suppression sys- volt AC outlets at each seat for $2 if I booked online but I coaches―is equipped with tech- tem; two GPS systems; and a tire charging mobile devices; free elected to proceed with arrange- nology that reduces exhaust pol- pressure monitoring system. All WiFi; on-board lavatories, and ments by phone. lutants to near zero. In addition, the coaches are equipped with enclosed, overhead parcel racks. We wanted to have plenty motorcoaches like these achieve three-point retractable seatbelts The Michigan Flyer has car- of time before our fl ight depart- about 206 passenger miles per for passengers; ADA-compliant ried nearly 700,000 passengers ed at 10:15 a.m. so we decided gallon on average, and have the wheelchair lifts, and a large un- since its inaugural trips in No- to take the 6:20 a.m. bus from potential to remove 50-55 auto- der-fl oor luggage compartment. vember 2006. Ann Arbor. mobiles from the highway, fur- Page 6 Th e Michigan Passenger Winter 2015 MARP is indeed fortunate to have the • Raise $1.3 billion for transportation, BOARDROOM talents and experience that Don, Warren with $1.2 billion a year going to roads and (Continued from page 4) and Steve bring to our organization. Please about $112 million going to transit. There was a gap in his train trips until welcome them and when they come knock- • Remove the sales tax from fuel sales. his son, Justin, joined him on a trip from ing on your door, I hope you will join me in helping them succeed in their endeavors. • Convert the existing 19-cent per gallon East Lansing to Glenwood Springs, CO. gasoline and 15-cent per gallon diesel tax- Justin was seven and suffered terrible ear Kay Chase is Communications Coordi- es to a wholesale version. Gas taxes could pain when he fl ew, so Amtrak was a good nator and editor of MARP’s monthly e-bul- top 41 cents by October 2015, but there alternative. That trip was the beginning of letin. When she is not in front of a computer, would be no additional sales tax, and all almost annual trips on Amtrak long distance she likes to be out-of-doors. resulting revenue would go to transporta- trains. In 2005, Steve and Justin were lucky tion. enough to travel on the just FUNDING after its equipment had completed a major (Continued from page 1) • Increase the fuel taxes that Snyder said refurbishment. This trip evolved into a will result in about a 3-cent-a-gallon in- quest for Justin to travel to or through all 50 the CTF was announced by Michigan Gov- crease from the average fuel price in 2013. states before he started college. As part of ernor Rick Snyder at a Dec. 18 press confer- • Increases of $45 million in vehicle reg- this quest, the traveling duo rode every long ence. istration fees and $50 million in fees for distance route that travels south or west Actual funding levels for each program heavy trucks. A spokeswoman for the from Chicago. They have also traveled in the CTF are subject to future legislative Senate Majority Leader said registration from Boston to Toledo on the debate and appropriation bills. fees for cars and light trucks won’t go up, Limited. The 50th state, Alaska, was vis- but the 10% discounts new car buyers re- The revenue generated for the CTF also ited in July 2013 just before Justin started ceive for each of the fi rst three years they will depend on fuel prices and other factors. classes at Western Michigan University. own their cars will be eliminated. The cornerstone of the package, a pro- They traveled from Anchorage to Fairbanks • Pay down MDOT debt from 1990s-era posed constitutional amendment to increase on the Alaska Railroad. projects. the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 per- Steve and Justin’s next big adventure -- cent, passed the House in a 94-16 vote. It ini- • Restore the Earned Income Tax Credit, Burbank to San Francisco and back to Chi- tially stalled in the Senate but was successful which was slashed in 2011, to its full 20% cago -- will pick up routes that Justin hasn’t in a second vote, 26-12. of the federal EITC level. Offi cials said been on before. Steve is excited to travel in that could put another $300 per year in the A ballot proposal wasn’t the fi rst choice the opposite direction from his 1979 trip and pockets of low-income families. is eagerly anticipating some beautiful snow for Snyder, who had previously supported a • Protect funding for schools and local scenery on this early spring trip through the Senate plan that relied primarily on increase governments, which receive much of the Sierras and the Colorado Rockies. . fuel taxes. The governor and legislative lead- ers met throughout the last week of the 2013- money that was formerly raised from Steve retired from the State of Michi- 2014 legislative session to fi nalize a deal. the sales tax on fuel sales. Offi cials said gan in 2002, spending his last 15 years as the plan would actually increase school Supermajority support from both cham- the IT systems manager for occupational funding by $300 million a year. Universi- bers means the proposed constitutional and health licensing. He has been a self- ties could no longer be funded from the amendment will go to the statewide ballot in employed IT consultant since then. His School Aid Fund, though community col- a May 2015 election, where voters will de- primary customer for the last 10 years is a leges could be. Maryland software company that provides cide the ultimate fate of the transit and road • Raise registration fees for commercial licensing and regulatory software for state funding package. trucks while also hiking the cost of reg- licensing boards. He has attended MARP The ballot proposal would also exempt istration for hybrid and electric vehicles meetings when able to fi t them into a busy motor fuel from the sales tax and ensure that between $25 and $200. schedule (especially busy on Saturdays the School Aid Fund is not used to supple- during the college football season). Steve ment higher education budgets. The increase in transit funding would be fi nished a four year term on the Okemos the fi rst increase since 1987. Approval of the ballot proposal will trig- school board in December. As a result, he is ger these funding changes: Compiled from numerous press reports now in a position to devote the needed time throughout the state. to be the MARP Central Region Chair. Steve is looking forward to celebrating Coscia suggests a trust fund for Amtrak the opening of the new East Lansing sta- Amtrak Board of Directors Chairman vestments in intercity rail service, Congress tion and working to promote Amtrak travel Anthony R. Coscia said Congress should “should focus on . . . providing predictable, to millennials and college students. He is consider approving the creation of a Trans- dedicated funding to develop and implement particularly interested in working to add a portation Trust Fund that recognizes the capital investments for the Northeast Corri- second round trip to the Blue Water route, importance of intercity passenger rail in the dor (NEC) and other rail corridors between as well as facilitating tours of rolling stock nation’s transportation landscape, along with America’s major metropolitan areas,” Cos- used on Michigan services. other modes of transportation. cia said Dec. 10, 2014 before a U.S. Senate In order to fund long-term capital in- committee. Corrections and clarifi cations Upcoming MARP meetings CORRECTION: An article in the Sum- MARP meetings are held in various places around the state in order to give everyone mer 2014 edition about the Midwest Inter- a chance to participate. state Passenger Rail Commission at bottom of page 4, end of column 1 continuing into We post meetings announcements on the web with agenda information and travel information. We have archived meeting minutes so you can have a look at past next column, should have read: topics covered. Joe Shacter, Illinois Department of Check our website at: Transportation Director of Public and Inter- www.marp.org modal Transportation, said that 30 minutes will be shaved from the Chicago to St. Louis Check our Facebook page at: route by the end of 2015 and that by 2017, facebook.com/pages/Michigan-Association-of-Railroad-Passengers/ travel time between the two cities will be cut MARP members also frequently set up a booth at festivals, train shows and other to 4-1/2 hours as speeds approach 110 m.p.h. events to spread the word about passenger rail in Michigan. Contact Chuck Merckel along the entire route [email protected] , to volunteer for the next show. Winter 2015 Th e Michigan Passenger Page 7 What to do with Amtrak’s Lakeshore Limited? BY HUGH GURNEY the next morning in Cleveland, I never had a chance to ride a 2:55 a.m. arrival in Toledo and the Twentieth Century Limited a 6:45 a.m. arrival in Chicago. in its glory days. Watching Those wishing a later departure Cary Grant and Eva Saint Marie from New York City to points aboard that fabled train in the west of Albany could connect A Lake Shore with the Boston section in Al- move North By Northwest, I Limited train back- bany by taking know that the Lake Shore Lim- ing into Chicago ited is a poor substitute. Union Station. The #235 at 2:20 p.m., Monday- Friday; the Yet the Willis Tower (for- merly known as at 3:15 p.m. Saturday-Thursday is a vital link in the Amtrak the Sears Tower) is or Empire Service #237, depart- system, linking two of our na- visible in the back- ing NYC at 4:40 p.m. Monday- tion’s largest cities, New York ground. (Photo by Friday. and Chicago, to many not so Jerry Huddleston) small communities such as The expense of splitting the Toledo, Cleveland, Erie, Buf- Boston section and running it as falo, Rochester, Syracuse and a separate train all the way from Albany. Boston, Worcester and Chicago to Boston should be far Springfi eld are linked by the less than operating a totally new Boston section. The train serves train. The New York section 171 city- pairs according to the would require the addition of a Midwest High Speed Rail As- together between Chicago and or Empire Service #238 for the café car and possibly a second sociation. Albany. Because of its length, trip down the Hudson. Our locomotive, Chicago-Albany. it must make two stops at many train would reach Springfi eld, The Boston section would Decidedly not glamorous require a diner, an additional and often dubbed the Late Shore stations to board and discharge MA, in time to connect with the passengers. for points in Vermont sleeping car and at least two Limited, the train is well patron- more coaches. ized, transporting 27,036 pas- I suggest splitting the train and arrive in Boston by 4 p.m. sengers in a recent month, sixth now, with the Boston section For the westbound trip, I Individuals far more skilled in ridership among Amtrak’s running independently all the suggest that the Boston sec- than I would have to work with long distance trains. The Na- way from Chicago to Boston. tion follow its current schedule, these suggestions to come up tional Association of Railroad Assuming that the eastbound departing Boston at 11:55 a.m., with totally realistic schedules. Passengers and the Midwest New York section continues to thus maintaining the connection With a Chicago-New York, High Speed Rail Association are depart Chicago at its current with the northbound Vermonter a Chicago-Boston and a Chica- currently co-sponsoring a study time of 9:30 p.m., why not have at Springfi eld. With fewer go-Washington train in place, aimed at increasing its frequen- the Boston section depart at 4:30 double stops, it is possible the Michigan should insist that one cy to four daily. p.m. ? That would put it into Al- train would arrive in Chicago by of these trains serve Michigan, An article by Fred W. bany by 10 a.m. the next morn- 9 a.m. the next morning. as recommended by MARP’s Frailey in the January, 2015 ing, permitting a connection For the New York section, Route Enhancement Commit- issue of Trains suggests to me a to the Montreal bound Adiron- I suggest the Lake Shore Lim- tee. Michigan has been a strong fi rst step. One reason the train dack. Those headed south to ited depart New York City three Amtrak supporter from the very loses so much time is that it New York City could transfer to hours earlier, at 12:45 p.m., beginning and deserves better is currently two trains hooked either the Ethan Allen Express providing a 12:30 a.m. arrival rail service to the East Coast. Supreme Court hears about on-time performance On Dec. 8 the U.S. Supreme ration and that Congress did not Association of Railroad Pas- which leads to whether Amtrak Court heard oral arguments on have the power to allow one pri- senger (NARP), the Environ- is a private company or gov- the lawsuit between the Asso- vate company to set regulations mental Law and Policy Center, ernment agency, and whether ciation of American Railroads for other private companies. All Aboard Ohio, Virginians for the standards developed under (AAR) and Amtrak over the per- The DOJ argued that Amtrak High Speed Rail, and Emory PRIIA were government regula- formance standards developed was a government entity, and Law School professor Alex tions. The delegatory powers as a result of the therefore does Volokh. arguments are far too compli- 2008 Passenger have that power. First, in this case, Amtrak cated to go into here. The DOJ Rail Investment The National spoke for roughly 30 minutes, said the PRIIA standards were and Improvement Limited The U.S. not regulations, but only a “trig- District Court followed by the AAR for the Act (PRIIA). same amount of time. ger” which would bring a case in Washington before the Surface Transporta- That act D.C. agreed with Most people, upon reading required Amtrak tion Board and then only after a Amtrak, and, as or hearing the arguments, are complaint had been fi led. and the Federal noted in the oral struck by the members of the Railroad Admin- arguments, on- Court continually interrupting Environrmental Law and istration (FRA) time performance the parties and peppering them Policy Center attorney, Karen to jointly develop went up after the with questions. One can only be Torrent, who wrote the brief for standards and decision was ren- impressed with the knowledge NARP, was present and said af- metrics for mea- dered. However, and ability of the attorneys on terwards that the decision could suring adequate go either way. A decision on the By John DeLora the D.C. Court of each side to quote from memory, passenger train Appeals, over- extensively on decisions from case is expected sometime in service. Amtrak’s turned that rul- prior court decisions even while the late spring. side was argued ing entirely, and they are being constantly inter- The transcript of the argu- by the Department of Justice on-time performance dropped rupted by the justices. ments can be found on the Su- (DOJ). markedly. The issues most prominent preme Court website; It runs 63 The AAR’s contention is Friend of the Court briefs in the oral arguments were the pages, it’s a critical issue and it’s that Amtrak was a private corpo- were submitted by the National delegatory powers of Congress, a guaranteed cure for insomnia. Page 8 Th e Michigan Passenger Winter 2015

The top photo shows the John Dingell Transit Center in Dearborn from the Michigan Avenue side. In the middle left photo, Amtrak train no. 351 is the fi rst train to arrive at the transit center on Dec. 10. Passengers in the middle right photo wait inside the station. Debbie Dingell, bottom left, poses next to an artist’s rendition of the transit center which is named in honor of her husband. Rep. John Dingell, for whom the station is named, was unable to attend the ribbon-cutting due to an accident suffered the previous week. Dingell, a strong proponent of Amtrak, retired in December as the longest serving member of Congress. Amtrak train no. 353 leaves the station platform on Dec. 26 in the bottom right photo. (Photos by Steve Sobel.) New transit center opens in Dearborn BY JOHN DeLORA trak, Dearborn and MDOT hit the ball out have not yet been installed. For now, all Amtrak service began at Dearborn’s new of the park. The station was funded through trains stop on the north track next to the sta- John D. Dingell Transit Center on Dec.10. a 2009 federal stimulus grant. (Remember tion. Out on the platform, bus-type shelters those?) have been installed with radiant heaters The imposing $28.1 million, 16,000 which make them comfortable even in the square-foot building is becoming known as Parking is ample, as demonstrated over the Christmas holiday travel period. coldest weather. The platforms have been “The Cathedral” due to its imposing silhou- built at 15” above top of rail so that they ette. The station is an instant landmark and For once, planners designed a station with ample seating and capability for easy expan- will be fully compliant with ADA regula- dominates an uncluttered site near Michigan tions when the new Talgo and Midwest Ave. and Oakwood Blvd. in west Dearborn. sion. Even at peak holiday periods, it has plenty of room to handle the crowds. bi-level equipment go into service later this Named after the longest-serving Con- year and next. gressman in U.S. history, and a strong In addition to the main waiting area, there is a room on the west end which can SMART buses will serve the station us- proponent of Amtrak, Dingell unfortunately ing a with a stop directly in front of the suffered an accident and was unable to at- be used for special displays, events or for overfl ow seating. The interior of the main main entrance. Service is expected to begin tend the ribbon cutting and open house on in early January. Dec. 15 ceremony. His wife and successor waiting area has a bright, open feeling due to his Congressional seat, Debbie Dingell to use of natural light and light brick and The station was also built to allow for stood in for him at the reception. stone interior colors. access to Greenfi eld Village, immediately to A second track has been laid on the the south. A gate has been installed, but will Usually, I am the fi rst one to criticize only be used in the short term for groups. new station designs, but in this case, Am- south side of the right-of-way, but switches