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:
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 |
Category Archives: Meetings
MARP Member Meeting January 12, 2008
MARP Members:
I would like to welcome MARP members to the kick-off of 2008 activities by attending the first member meeting of the New Year. The meeting will be in Lansing at 10am, Saturday, January 12, at the Lansing Public Library, corner of Capital and Kalamazoo Streets downtown. Parking on the street is free on Saturday.
This year is already shaping up to be a good one for public transportation. The President just signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008, which provides an all-time record high amount of funding for transit. Amtrak’s funding is secure for another year while efforts continue in Congress to get a multi-year Amtrak funding package approved. Congress has also released a national passenger rail expansion plan recently that indicates, at long last, that our elected leaders understand the need for efficient and effective passenger rail service as a national priority. Here in Michigan, our leaders are supporting MARP in our vision to expand service beginning with a second Pere Marquette train.
This is a great time to get more involved with passenger rail’s resurgence. I especially invite our younger members to attend and participate in the future that will be yours to inherit.
Our member meetings are always casual dress. We typically follow the meetings with an informal trip to a local restaurant for lunch for those interested (Dutch treat). When in Lansing, we usually eat at Clara’s in the old passenger coach.
The agenda is posted on the MARP website, click here. We have some new additions and continuous updates to the website, so visit often.
Michael Whims
Executive Director
Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers
marprail@yahoo.com
MARP Member Meeting November 17, 2007
MARP Members:
Please join us at the next MARP member meeting, to be held in Howell at 10am, Saturday, November 17, 2007. After the meeting, the historic Ann Arbor Railroad station in Howell, on trackage now operated by Great Lakes Central Railroad, will be specially opened for us to tour the museum that now resides inside. As you may know, Howell is to be the northern terminus of the proposed commuter rail line from Ann Arbor, which has received state funding commitments and is moving forward.
Our guest speaker will be Gordon Mackay, president of Indian Trails Bus Lines, who has agreed to speak about improving service for intercity passengers and increasing overall business through better interconnectivity between buses and trains. The regular business meeting will follow the presentation. Check the MARP website for the agenda prior to the meeting.
The meeting will start at 10am at the Howell Carnegie Public Library, 314 West Grand River, Howell, MI 48843. Please use the Clinton Street entrance. MARP meetings are free and the dress code is casual. No RSVP is required. Please attend and support Michigan intercity passenger transportation.
Action Needed
The state budget is still unsettled. Let your elected officials know that you want them to keep public transportation fully funded next year. If you ride the trains, intercity buses or transit, let them know. Find your Senator and Representative at www.legislature.michigan.gov and click on “Find your Senator/Representative.” Call soon.
Michael Whims
Executive Director
marprail@yahoo.com
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.
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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.
MARP Member Meeting October 13, 2007
MARP Members:
Please join us at the next MARP member meeting, to be held in Kalamazoo at 11am, Saturday, October 13, 2007. The meeting is sponsored by Kalamazoo Metro Transit, who is donating the meeting space in their offices at 530 North Rose St., just a block or two from the train station. The later start time for the meeting accommodates those coming in by the Blue Water or Wolverine trains.Our invited guest speaker is State Senator Mark H. Schauer, representing the Jackson-Calhoun County area. Senator Schauer has been actively participating in the recent Michigan Central Railways proceeding before the federal Surface Transportation Board.
As always, we will have a full business meeting agenda with much to discuss. The agenda will be posted at the MARP website prior to the meeting. For those who have not seen the revamped Kalamazoo Transportation Center (train station), there will be an opportunity to do so after the meeting. Lunch is on your own, and we will likely walk as a group to one the many nearby restaurants.
MARP meetings are free and the dress code is casual. Please plan to attend and support Michigan intercity passenger transportation.
Michael Whims
Executive Director
marprail@yahoo.com