Are Resilient Rail Commuter Lines Through Rural Michigan Sustainable?

[XLFD]

A Feb 1 Detroit Freep article tells us in its headline that "MDOT pays $1.1M a year for rail cars it can't use", leading off with "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.

The 1950s and '60s-era double-decker cars are sitting in a rail yard in Owosso, where they are expected to remain for the indefinite future."

Shortly after this we get a campaign from the Michigan Land Use Institute (MLUI), an organization from the Traverse City area who for all intents and purposes are just like the Land Information and Access Association (LIAA) in methods and philosophy wanting to make a commuter rail line between Traverse City and Ann Arbor going through Owosso. 

Admittedly, most of the infrastructure is in place and reportedly in fair shape as far as track, but can such a commuter rail line be feasible to maintain without sucking up massive amounts of subsidies from Federal and State agencies.

A map of the A2TC route shows the train would stop in Cadillac (pop. 10K), Mount Pleasant (pop. 26K), Alma (pop. 9K), Owosso (pop. 15K) and Howell (pop. 10K) on its way from Traverse City (pop. 15K) to Ann Arbor, with the option of continuing to Detroit from Ann Arbor.  Not counting Ann Arbor the population of the cities the train would stop at is 85,000, if you add Petoskey that jumps to 91,000. 

With cheap gas and rail travel a bit of an anachronism for the motor state, do you believe this is a good idea as far as feasibility?  Do you think that a large amount of the investments will come from government grants, perhaps even at the expense of funds that could go for improving the roads?  Can this be in any way sustainable at this juncture in time?   Here is the fantastic story being told from Mlive:

The Michigan Land Use Institute has officially launched its A2TC campaign in support of passenger rail service between Ann Arbor and Traverse City.

The Traverse City-based group is hoping the 240-mile route, which would take advantage of existing freight rails, will be a reality by 2025, according to published reports out of Monday night's campaign kickoff forum held in Traverse City.

"Big ideas like this happen when hundreds and thousands of people come together and believe in it," Hans Voss, MLUI executive director, told 9and10news.com.

A map of the A2TC route shows the train would stop in Cadillac, Mount Pleasant, Alma, Owosso and Howell on its way from Traverse City to Ann Arbor, with the option of continuing to Detroit or Chicago from Ann Arbor.

The MLUI notes there was considerable interest in the idea when the Michigan Department of Transportation created the State Rail Plan in 2011. A spokesperson for MDOT couldn't be reached for comment on Tuesday.

The report from 9and10news.com indicates there are talks of a pilot run from Ann Arbor to Traverse City next summer, and then MDOT is expected to conduct a formal feasibility study for the service next year, though it's unclear if that's funded yet.

Michael Benham, strategic planner with the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority, notes the southern 26 miles of the A2TC route are the same as the route for WALLY, a proposed commuter rail line between Ann Arbor and Howell.

Commenting on the controversy last week that MDOT has spent millions on commuter train cars that are sitting idle, Benham told The Detroit News:

"The trains have given us an ability to show people exactly what it is that they'd be getting for their money. Without those cars, it's a PowerPoint presentation up on a screen, and it's kind of abstract."

Benham also acknowledged there isn't complete buy-in from communities along the proposed WALLY route to fund commuter train operations.

http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2015/02/passenger_tra...

[Dave]

I'm a big fan of train travel but with that said, I doubt rail travel would be anywhere near profitable in this day and age. 50 years ago it would of been enjoyable but I just don't see a big enough group of people willing to spend probably to much money to take a ride on a train that will probably take forever as it has to make continual stops in several towns down the track. There has been some talk of high speed rail travel coming to this side of the state as well and again, I just don't think its financially feasible. Its to bad really, been way to long since the last time I got the opportunity to ride a train and would like to do it again.

[Willy]

I also love trains but this idea is going to cost a lot of tax dollars we don't have. If riders fares would cover the cost then I would think it would be a good idea but I don't want to pay for someone else's train ride. If anyone has ever taken a long train ride you know that it makes a lot of stops before it reaches the final destination unless it is an express. The City of Detroit had been trying for years to build a light rail system from downtown to the suburbs on Woodward Ave. It was planned to open this year but it hasn't matrialized.

[XLFD]

Everybody to some extent loves trains, but I think the problem with most long range commuter rails is that your options are typically limited once you get to your destination.  If you want to have any sort of experience or family vacation, you then almost have to rent a car, and then you need to wonder why you just didn't bring your own car and save yourself a ton of money. 

If America wasn't car-centric and these projects weren't just for greenies out for your greenbacks these plans might be feasible.  They just don't get me excited unless a sane private investor is willing to take the risk and the only thing the federal state and local agencies do is get out of the way of regulating it to death, drowning the effort in bureaucratic hoops, and offering their nonsensical input that will surely doom the project.

And good video, I remember seeing that a little while ago.

[XLFD]

News from MDOT about those expensive rail cars languishing in Owosso:  The Michigan Department of Transportation is considering plans to sublease rail cars or cut its losses after spending millions preparing for commuter rail lines that have yet to materialize... As of May 2014, MDOT had spent $9.5 million to lease and refurbish the seven cab and 16 coach cars and is still on the hook for another $2.7 million, according to the audit. Planned restroom upgrades for some of the cars could cost an additional $3.7 million.

[Willy]

This is just a tiny example of how Government wastes our money. It never ends.

[XLFD]

A mix of federal and local money (from city coffers along the route) is going into a feasibility study worth $120,000 for this project, with additional help from MDOT and BATA conducted through the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, a non-profit group.  This large sum won't be the end of your tax money going into a project where private money refuses to go. 

http://www.record-eagle.com/news/business/passenger-rail-study-fund...

[jfc123]

Sad that could go a long way to clean the PM Bayou?

[stump]

Who in their right mind would get on a train to somewhere, get there and have to walk from where ever to town or to the attraction you traveled to see. Most rail tracks a not close, maybe a rental car? taxi? My as well drive your own car. As stated, more government waste.

[Willy]

stump. Good logic on how most people travel. What to do and how to get around when you arrive at your destination. You put your finger on the real problem. Associating "right mind" with the Government. Of course we all know most Government agencies are left minded and usually have mental breakdowns when trying to be "right minded". You know the old saying, "nothing good ever comes from going left".

[shinblind]

It might be feasible if they make it a Casino run to Mt Pleasant, Traverse City and Petoskey. Tack on a bar car and it might not be a bad way to travel.  Maybe the casino's would be willing to subsidize them to a certain extent or at least offer different package deals.

It might also be profitable with the slat rats going to ski resorts in the winter along with people traveling to the summer festivals. It also might work if they make accommodations for carrying  bicycles.

As long as it is not subsidized with tax payer funding I don't see any reason why not.

 

[XLFD]

The subsidization by local, state and federal dollars is guaranteed, you only have to note that they are all involved with the $120,000 feasibility study.  All three units will continue to be connived for their cash until it becomes too much of a financial burden to maintain the system, and/or an economic downturn comes into play. 

With $2 gas on the market, I can give them an answer for their feasibility study that would save everyone $120,000-- but it does not reflect the answer they want.