NORTHERN MICHIGAN RAIL RIDERSHIP FEASIBILITY AND COST ESTIMATE STUDY PREPARED FOR: The Groundwork Center For Resilient Communities Grant Fiduciary: Bay Area Transportation Authority PREPARED BY: Transportation Economics & Management Systems, Inc. OCTOBER 2018 FINAL REPORT This page intentionally left blank NORTHERN MICHIGAN RAIL RIDERSHIP FEASIBILITY AND COST ESTIMATE STUDY About the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities The Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities works with people to build a thriving local farm and food economy; to make Michigan towns and villages stronger, more walkable, bike-able, and transit- friendly; and to develop local, clean energy. They seek to achieve on-the-ground results in northwest Michigan and leverage them to support other communities and improvements to state policy. All of this is designed to strengthen the local economy, protect the environment, and build community. Re-establishing passenger rail service between Ann Arbor, Petoskey, and Traverse City—homes to growing technology industries—will link the growing northwest with population centers in the southeast and universities along the way. Civic and business leaders believe this effort will help our state attract the next generation workforce that wants to live and thrive in Michigan without depending on a car. Groundwork believes that bringing passenger rail service back to northern Michigan is possible in less than a decade with a focused campaign of public engagement, technical analysis, and support from community, state and federal agencies. For More Information Groundwork center 148 E. Front Street, Suite 301 Traverse City, MI 49684-5725 (231) 941-6584
[email protected] Introduction October 2018 Page i NORTHERN MICHIGAN RAIL RIDERSHIP FEASIBILITY AND COST ESTIMATE STUDY This page intentionally left blank Introduction October 2018 Page ii NORTHERN MICHIGAN RAIL RIDERSHIP FEASIBILITY AND COST ESTIMATE STUDY Acknowledgements This study was prepared by Transportation Economics & Management Systems, Inc.