Grand Rapids to Detroit rail meeting

Participants were asked were asked to plot their current travels along the Grand Rapids to Detroit corridor for the Michigan Environmental Council. The group is studying potential ridership for new passenger rail service.

(Andrew Krietz | MLive.com)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- It's arguable Michigan once had a better passenger rail system than it does today.

A coast-to-coast line connected Grand Rapids to Detroit before 1971 and, since then, there have been pushes to unite the cities once again. Amtrak currently serves those cities -- and points in between -- but a direct link no longer exists without a convoluted journey.

The latest effort to link Michigan's most populous destinations drew about 30 people to the Michigan Environmental Council's first Grand Rapids public meeting Monday evening at The Rapid Central Station.

Liz Treutel, who leads the study with Michigan By Rail for the nonprofit organization, said the first of several statewide public meetings are underway to examine ridership demand along the Holland, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Detroit corridor. At this point in the process, project feedback is crucial.

"It's still pretty early on, but we need to understand what people are looking for in rail service," Treutel said.

Related: Early plans for passenger rail service from Detroit to Grand Rapids include 3 possible routes

The group says infrastructure for service largely is in place but what still remains are several questions, including train amenities, schedules, finalized routes, costs and more.

Even if prospects are rosy now and demand is present, it still will take at least five years before service begins.

The feasibility study, made possible by an $80,000 federal grant awarded to the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority and $20,000 in matching contributions from statewide groups, is on track to be completed by December, Treutel said. From there, environmental impacts will be analyzed, followed by engineering and design work.

Here are some comments about the project from Monday's meeting:

• Celeste Kessler, 22, of Grand Rapids:

"I'm wondering if this will be accessible to people with limited means, not just geared toward business executives or people going out for entertainment. We really need to consider the people who don't have cars ... and figure out where they go after they get to their destination."

• Ed Hekman, 69, of Coopersville:

(Identified as a past member of the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers)

"I've taken the train all over the country, to Seattle, D.C., New Orleans. I'm definitely a proponent. I feel this is just a nicer way to travel, with the scenery and the number of people you meet on the train."

• Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell:

"It took 11 years -- 11 years -- from start to finish on the Silver Line. Here, we're talking five, six, seven years, so the project looks close and is promising. The big hurdle, though, is going to be funding for it. Absent state funding, the federal administration, at least right now, is big on rail (funding) But you don't really know what's coming next. It could be bus rapid transit, commuter rail, nothing, we don't know."

• Adam Erber, 32, of Grand Rapids:

"Working everyday in Lansing, it would be great to have rail line. It's very early on in the process, so I'm looking to seeing what they have to say. ... Given minimal delays and it runs on a set schedule, I see myself using it more than once a week."

• Sonia Bergers, 79, of Grand Rapids:

"I already take Amtrak to Chicago for some Tigers games, have used it a couple of times. I've been to Detroit several times before, but it would be nice to take the train straight to the city to watch the Tigers play at home. ... I'd like to have service going right now if it could."

Andrew Krietz covers breaking, politics and transportation news for MLive and The Grand Rapids Press. Email him at akrietz@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter.