Category Archives: Announcements

Announcements, Meetings, Press Releases

* Special Meeting to Preserve Amtrak Trains in MI‏*

* Special Meeting to Preserve Amtrak Trains in MI‏*

We Need Your Attendance
 Meeting Notice  

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee, Department of Transportation

Members of the Subcommittee are:

Senators Hardiman, Bill – Kentwood (C) Cropsey, Alan L. – DeWitt (VC) and Anderson, Glenn S. – Westland (MVC)

 

Date: Friday, February 27, 2009

Time: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Place: Kent County Road Commission, 300 Monroe NW, Room 310, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503
Link to Map: http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result.php?q1=300+Monroe+NW%2C+49503

Agenda:
• FY 2009-10 Department of Transportation Budget

• Road Funding Formula

• Amtrak

• And any other business to come properly before the Subcommittee

MARP will be testifying that the FY 2010 budget ($5.667 million) will leave Michigan standing at the station if it’s not increased to cover increases in capacity & frequency i.e. the second daily roundtrip between Chicago and Grand Rapids arriving before noon, departing back to Chicago in the evening and adding at least one more passenger car to the Blue Water train.

Joe Boardman, President and CEO states “As part of the stimulus bill signed by the president last week, we will receive $1.3 billion to make significant strides on capital programs, among other things, we’ll return to service 100 cars that are currently sidelined” (AMTRAK This Week Feb.23, 2009)

Michigan needs these cars which should be available at no cost to the state, for returning these cars to service. But if our legislators don’t act now what will the capital cost be in the future.

Please advise John Langdon at john-langdon@sbcglobal.net if you plan to attend.

Announcements

SEEKING REGIONAL CHAIR for EAST/CENTRAL REGION

The Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, Inc. (MARP) is looking for a new Regional Chair for its East/Central region. The regional chair tracks issues along Amtrak’s Blue Water route from Battle Creek east through East Lansing, Durand, Flint, Lapeer and Port Huron and attempts to resolve them, either directly or by reporting them to MARP’s Executive Committee, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) or Amtrak.

Issues may include on-time performance of passenger trains, cleanliness of passenger trains and stations, and promotion of Amtrak’s Blue Water train service. The regional chair also serves on the committee that determines the best way to expand Amtrak’s Blue Water promotion funds allotted by MDOT and coordinates distribution of MARP’s quarterly published newsletter The Michigan Passenger in the East/Central region of the state. The regional chair also serves on the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers Executive Committee.

Like all MARP positions, this is a volunteer position. Serving in such a role is an ideal way to help the state of Michigan rebuild its passenger rail and connecting intercity motorcoach network.

If you are interested, please contact MARP Chairman John DeLora at: jdelora@wowway.com or (313) 575-6608.

Announcements, Meetings

Detroit Transit in 2008 at TRU’s Annual Meeting at TRU’s Annual Meeting on Monday, January 28 at 6:30pm.

Key regional leaders will provide updates on the status of transit efforts in greater Detroit, the exciting progress anticipated in 2008 and how individuals can get involved in the solutions.  Speakers will include:

  • Rep. Marie Donigan, Chair of the Michigan House Public Transit Subcommittee
  • John Hertel, CEO of Detroit Regional Mass Transit
  • Hayes Jones, new General Manager of SMART
  • and others tba. 

The event will be Monday, January 28, 2008 at 6:30pm at the Boll Family YMCA’s Marlene Boll Theater (at 1401 Broadway in downtown Detroit, two blocks southeast of Grand Circus Park).

 

A donation of $5 for members and $10 for non-members is requested to cover meeting expenses.  A light dinner will be provided. 

 

Please RSVP to TRUmember@DetroitTransit.org. 

Learn more about TRU and Detroit transit issues at www.DetroitTransit.org. 

Get regular updates on key transit issues by signing up for our email list at www.DetroitTransit.org/lists.php.
                 Megan Owens

                TRU Director
Announcements

Winter sale on Amtrak’s Michigan Services

Click for the ad (pdf)
Link to deal at Amtrak.com

Amtrak’s Michigan Services is offering a 20% discount off the regular (full) adult rail fare between Jan. 21 and March 31, 2008.

Up to two children between the ages of 2 and 15 years old may accompany each adult at half the regular (full) adult rate.

This offer is valid for the Blue Water, Pere Marquette and Wolverine train services for travel between all cities on these selected trains. Seating is limited and seats may not be available on all trains at all times.

The offer is valid on coach seats. Upgrade to business class is allowed upon full payment of applicable accomodations charges.

Refer to discount code V664 when making reservations.

Blackouts apply on Feb. 15, Feb. 18, March 21 and March 24, 2008.

This offer is subject to any restrictions, blackouts and refund rules that apply to the type of fare purchased and upon which the discount is based.

The offer cannot be combined with any other discount offer. Other restrictions may apply.

Amtrak, Blue Water, Pere Marquette and Wolverine are registered service marks of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation.

Announcements, Meetings

9th MICHIGAN RAILROAD HISTORY CONFERENCE

 

Owosso, Michigan

     Saturday, November 10, 2007

 

Location: Memorial Healthcare Hospital Auditorium, 826 King St., Owosso, MI 48867,

 one-quarter of a mile west of M-52 and three-quarters of a mile north of M-21.

  Parking is the on North side of the auditorium on the East side of hospital.

 

CONFERENCE PRESENTATION SCHEDULE ($40.00 prepaid each early, $45.00 on/after October 1):

 

  8:00 am…..Registration: Pick up your prepaid conference packets and enjoy coffee and conversation.

  8:40 am…..Introductions by Chairperson, Greg Degowski, and Honorary Chairperson, Pat Hackett.

  9:00 am…..”Copper Country Railroads”—George Anderson

  9:40 am…..”Ann Arbor Railroad Yards”—T.J. Gaffney and Andy VanderMolen.

10:20 am…..Break.

10:35 am…..”Development of the Standard Boxcar in the U.S.”—Vince Robinson.

11:15 am….. “Railroads in the Thumb of Michigan”—Darwin Simonaitis.

11:55 am….. Buffet Lunch.

12:35 pm….. Keynote Presentation: “Preservation of Michigan Railroad Depots”—Ron Campbell and                              Jackie Hoist.

  1:15 pm….. “Railroads and Industries of Milwaukee Junction”—Bob Cosgrove.

  1:55 pm….. “Northern Division of Michigan Railway Company”—Norm Krentel.

  2:35 pm….. Break.

  2:50 pm….. “Building of the Detroit and Pontiac”—Paul Trap

  3:30 pm….. “History of Amtrak”—John DeLora.

  4:10 pm….. “Pere Marquette N-1 class 2-8-4’s”—Rod Crawford.

  4:50 pm…. Closing Remarks

  5:00 pm….. End of the formal conference program.  Drive to public parking on Washington St. at                                     Comstock St. on the north side of Shiawassee River opposite the Steam Railroading Institute.                        Walk along Washington St. over bridge to SRI entrance and display MRHC name tag/pass.                           Handicapper parking is available in SRI lot.

 

 TOUR OF STEAM RAILROADING INSTITUTE and AFTERGLOW RECEPTION ($12.00 prepaid):

 

  5:30 pm….. Tour of Steam Railroading Institute yard and engine facility.

  6:30 pm….. Afterglow reception in Steam Railroading Institute display building.

  8:00 pm….. End of Conference afterglow reception.

 

*******************************************************************************************

Conference updates and registration forms will be posted at www.MichiganRailroadHistory.org and in the Calendar of Events of www.MichiganRailroads.com .  For more information and registration forms, send to the 9th Michigan Railroad History Conference, P.O. Box 852, Royal Oak, MI 48068-0852 or contact Greg Degowski, MRHC chairperson, at gjdegowski@comcast.net, or at 248-547-4783. Feel free to bring appropriate organization information brochures, etc., to share with other attendees.  A limited number of attendee vendor tables will be available at $10.00 each for railroad history items only.  See website for vendor registration forms.