Support Affirmed For Pere Marquette Line

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As the Michigan Department of Transportation works on a long-term plan for rail service around the state, the Twin Cities Area Transportation Study, or TwinCATS, wants to make sure the Pere Marquette rail line isn’t left in the dust. Southwest Michigan Planning Commission associate planner Ryan Fellows tells WSJM News the TwinCATS committee this month approved a resolution to that end.

“Support continues for the existing passenger rail network, and so the resolution was approved by TwinCATS, the Twin Cities Area Transportation Study, on Monday stating their continued support for railroad service along those existing stations, and indeed they also passed a second resolution in support of a study for a rail connection in New Buffalo which would allow for an increased level of service with an additional train stop in New Buffalo,” Fellows said.

Fellows tells us a 2004 transportation study from a multi-state coalition of transportation agencies floated the idea of a Chicago to Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids train line, which could have put into question the need for the Pere Marquette line. Last year, another report from the same coalition sent rail questions in the state back to MDOT. Fellows says TwinCats wanted to send out a message that rail service through St. Joe, Bangor, and Holland should be maintained. He tells us one way to make it better would be that Pere Marquette New Buffalo rail connection supported by the resolution. The same resolution may soon be considered by a transportation agency in the Holland area and by the Bangor City Council.