MINUTES
MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS
MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP MEETING
CHICAGO UNION STATION, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
NOVEMBER 2, 2013

Members Present:  Hugh Gurney, Gerry Callison, Kathleen Newell, Jim Wallington, Martha Benedict, Barb Spaulding-Westcott, Steve T. Sobel, Melanie Ehrhart, Chuck Merckel, Jeanie Merckel, Shane Nodurft, Rosemary Horvath, Kaz Fujita, Dave Vander Bee, Barry Adonis, Clark Charnetski, Jim Hinkins, Dan Platz, Don Heydens, Dennis Schumaker, Pat Schumaker, George Dines, Michael Frezell, Charles Shong, Richard Pekarek, J. P. DesCamps, John Langdon, Cathy Hart, Ken Hart, Rick Burn

Also Present, Sidney Burkett, Amtrak, Joy Smith, Amtrak, Rick Rogers, Amtrak, Dave Rasmussen, WisARP, Rick Harnish, MHSRA, Tom O’Malley, Mark Weitenbeck, WisARP, Tess Craven, Bob Johnson, Trains Magazine, Doug Yerkeson, Hoosiers for Passenger Rail

Call to Order:  Vice Chairman Larry Krieg called the meeting to order at 11:40 a.m.  All present were asked to introduce themselves and their place of residence.  Steve Sobel was appointed time keeper.

Track Work in Michigan:  While waiting for all to arrive and for the buffet lunch to be set up, Steve Sobel gave a power point presentation on current construction projects along the Wolverine line.  The Troy Transportation Center is complete, but opening is yet to be scheduled because of legal issues.  Construction on the Dearborn Transportation Center is moving along nicely and should be complete sometime in 2014.  A significant amount of work has been done on the tracks between Dearborn and Kalamazoo, with work currently focusing on the stretch between Battle Creek and Kalamazoo.  Norfolk Southern crews, under MDOT and Amtrak supervision, are concentrating on the worst sections during 2013 with the goal of getting operating speeds up to 80 mph between Dearborn and Kalamazoo.  The elevation on some curves is being increased.  A number of crossings are being upgraded.  New signals are being installed.

Travel has been disrupted, with through trains operating earlier in the morning and later in the evening, and bus bridges put in place from Kalamazoo east during the middle of the day.  Construction will wind up on November 21, so Amtrak can run full service during Thanksgiving week.

Construction will continue during 2014 and 2015 with the goal of increasing speeds on most of the line to 110 mph when complete.  New equipment is scheduled to arrive in late 2016 or early 2017. 

At the present time, the City of Albion has a 25 mph speed limit.  MDOT hopes to get that raised to 50 mph.  The speed limit through Michigan City is currently 50 mph.

MDOT is very interested in retaining present freight business and attracting more customers.  The grain elevator in Augusta is a major customer.

Western Region:  Krieg announced that Dave Vander Bee would be hosting a meeting of Western Region MARP members at Osgood Brewing in Grandville.  All are welcome.

Amtrak Reorganization:  After lunch on site, Joy Smith, Superintendent, Passenger Services, Central Division, walked us through Amtrak’s recent reorganization.  Each of the fifteen long distance trains was to have their own manager who would supervise both on train staff and staff at stations along the route.  Because of the 2013 sequester, managers are in fact each overseeing several long distance trains. All state supported trains, including those operating in Michigan, will have a manager based in Oakland, California, with a deputy located in Chicago.  Moe Savoy, as Deputy General Manager, Long Distance Business Line, will remain in Chicago and will assure that all trains dispatched from Chicago are in tip top operating condition. This includes food service.  Savoy will also be in charge of operations at Chicago Union Station itself.

CrossRail Chicago:  Rick Harnish, CEO of the Midwest High Speed Rail Association, briefed the group on CrossRail Chicago, his vision for linking O’Hare International Airport with Chicago Union Station and McCormick Place using electrified express trains.  Existing Metra lines would be upgraded as a step in developing high speed rail service throughout the Midwest.  Eventual electrification of the proposed South of the Lake right of way would be another step. 

Chicago Union Station Passenger Action Taskforce: Larry Krieg reviewed the status of the Chicago Union Station Passenger Action Taskforce.  Over the past year, the taskforce has been observing, interviewing and analyzing.  They have shadowed managers, talked with front line staff, surveyed passengers and observed twenty five choke points where passengers get confused.  Clear signage, located at these key confusion points, would help significantly.  The taskforce is recommending replacing the present artistic but hard to read lettering with standard Amtrak signage and using  international symbols throughout.   Putting signage in the most effective locations will require elimination of some advertising.  Train status monitors could be larger, paid for with advertising along one border.

The taskforce recommends returning the Great Hall to its original purpose as the main waiting room.  Approximately 45 minutes before train time, passengers would be called up and given boarding passes to enter the current coach waiting room, which becomes strictly a boarding lounge.

With the reorganization complete, Krieg hopes to get station people and train people talking to one another.

Krieg recommends gentle pressure to encourage change.  Letters to Mayor Emmanuel would help, noted Chuck Merckel.  The city wants people to come to Chicago and spend their money.  Now that the state Departments of Transportation are paying the full freight for trains running in their respective states, they should have more clout.

Tours: The group was then divided into two groups, with Group A going first on a Behind the Scenes Tour with Sidney Burkett and then to the Dispatch Center with Dick Rogers, Terminal Trainmaster for Equipment Planning.  The Behind the Scenes Tour including visits to several large unused spaces adjacent to the Great Hall, including a museum of train related photographs, the original ladies powder room with its elegant murals, and the former Fred Harvey Restaurant, closed since a fire in 1977.  Most significantly, the group was shown an unused area near the current Metra ticket windows, slated to become the new Metropolitan Lounge in 2014.  This would permit the current coach waiting lounge to be expanded significantly.

In the Dispatch Center, the group watched a number of graphics showing available open tracks in and around Chicago Union Station, along the Amtrak owned section of the Wolverine line, and an area around the terminal in New Orleans.  There were also videos of Metra and Amtrak trains arriving and departing.  Amtrak monitors all tracks into and out of Chicago Union Station for several miles to the north and to the south.  It was particularly interesting to watch the progress of Train #352 as it moved eastward across western Michigan.

Group B visited the Dispatch Center first, then did the Behind the Scenes Tour.

Adjournment:  The meeting adjourned at the close of the tours, around 3:30 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted:                                                          Accepted:

Hugh D. Gurney                                                                     Robert Tischbein

Secretary                                                                                 Chair

MINUTES
MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
CHICAGO UNION STATION, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
NOVEMBER 2, 2013

Members Present:  Larry Krieg, Hugh Gurney, Kathleen Newell, Jim Wallington, John Langdon, Jim Hinkins

Also Present:  Gerry Callison, Dave Rasmussen, Rick Harnish, Martha Benedict, Barb Spaulding-Westcott, Steve T. Sobel, Joy Smith, Melanie Ehrhart, Tom O’Malley, Sid Burkett, Cathy Hart, Ken Hart, Bob Johnson, Rick Burn, Doug Yerkeson, Chuck Merckel, Jeanie Merckel, Shane Nodurft, Kaz Fujita, Dave Vander Bee, Rich Vavra-Musser, Barry Adonis, Mark Weitenbeck, Dan Platz, Clark Charnetski, Tess Craven, Don Heydens, Dennis Schumaker,  Pat Schumaker, Michael Frezell, George Dines, Charles Shong, Richard F. Pekarek, J.P. DesCamp

Call to Order:  Vice Chairman Larry Krieg called the meeting to order at 11:30 a.m.  After roll call, it was determined that a quorum was present.

Approval of the Agenda:  Langdon moved approval of the agenda.  This was seconded by Horvath and approved by the members of the Executive Committee present.

Future Meetings:  Wallington reported that he was hard at work on the schedule.  We are changing our focus somewhat to have at least some meetings at or close to colleges and universities in an attempt to involve younger people.  The January meeting will be in the Lansing area, possibly at the newly restored Grand Trunk station.  Gurney suggested the Cadillac Center in Detroit, and the Troy, Dearborn and Grand Rapids stations when complete. 

Host for the Day:  Wallington introduced Sid Burkett, Amtrak Superintendent of Customer Services, who is our host for the day.  Wallington thanked Burkett for arranging for the conference room and the extensive tours planned.

Minutes of the Executive Committee meeting held in Bangor on October 12 were reviewed.  Langdon moved approval.  Newell seconded the motion and it was approved by the members of the Executive Committee present.

Amtrak Discounts:  Vander Bee asked the Executive Committee to push for better Amtrak discounts.

 

Adjournment:  The meeting adjourned at 11:40 a.m.

 

Respectfully Submitted:                                                         Accepted:

 Hugh D. Gurney                                                                     Robert Tischbein

Secretary                                                                                 Chair

MINUTES
MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS
MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP MEETING
BANGOR AMTRAK STATION, BANGOR
OCTOBER 12, 2013

 Members Present:  Steve T. Sobel, Hugh Gurney, Marilyn Guidinger, John Guidinger, Dave Vander Bee, Jim Hinkins, Doug Wilson, Christine Ballard, Bob Tischbein, Jack Kessler, Chuck Merckel, Jeanie Merckel, Clark Charnetski, Dan Platz, Jim Wallington, J. P. DesCamp, Ron Leatz, Don Westcott, Barb Spaulding-Westcott, Kay Chase, Ken Ratzlaff, Dianne Patterson, Robert Patterson, Rosemary Horvath

Call to Order:  There being no quorum for the Executive Committee Meeting, Chairman Tischbein called the Monthly Membership Meeting to order at 11:05 a.m.  All present introduced themselves.

Speaker:  Tischbein then introduced Ken Radzlaff, owner of the Bangor Amtrak Station, who welcomed the group to Bangor. The current station, built in 1926, is the city’s second on the site.  Through the 1930’s, large numbers of apples and other produce were shipped from Bangor by rail.  Well into the 1950’s, thousands of vacationers passed through the station on their way to and from South Haven and other Lake Michigan resorts.  But like so many other communities, rail traffic declined in the 1960’s and the last passenger train stopped in Bangor in 1971.  The station was closed and began to deteriorate.  CSX made plans to demolish it.

Fortunately, the City of Bangor purchased the structure in 2001.  Grants from the Great American Station Foundation and the Bangor Downtown Development Authority funded a historical, structural and reuse analysis.  This resulted in the purchase of the structure by Ratzlaff’s Beacon Specialized Living Services for $22,000.  Since its purchase, Ratzlaff has invested over $250,000 to make the structure a community landmark.  Today, the building houses an Amtrak waiting area, the Coffee Depot cafe, and the offices of Beacon Specialized Living Services, a statewide operation.  The MARP meeting was held in Beacon’s well appointed conference room. 

A grant from MDOT funded the current platform, built to current FRA standards.  Amtrak pays CSX for the lease of the platform area and for snow removal, but nothing for the use of the waiting area inside the station.  With a coffee shop adjacent for morning passengers and a dedicated volunteer who meets evening trains, Bangor appears to be and ideal spot for both departures and arrivals.  To enhance freight business, MDOT recently helped fund a siding to a local pickle factory.

Vander Bee noted that, back in 1984, just before Pere Marquette service began, the Western Chapter held a meeting at the Bangor Depot.  At that time, the building was being used by Kalamazoo Toy Trains, to manufacture One gage, or G gage toy trains.  

Resident Agent:  Tischbein reported that he had sent the papers to Lansing indicating that Secretary Hugh Gurney would now be MARP’s Resident Agent, as had been decided at the June meeting.

Wally:  Gurney announced that today Vice Chair Krieg was presenting a workshop on public involvement for the Friends of Wally, the recently formed support group for the proposed Howell to Ann Arbor commuter rail line.  Rain held down attendance at the September 21 showing in Hamburg of one of the rail cars to be used on this line.  However, those who did attend were favorably impressed.  The presence of the Hamburg Township Supervisor was a good omen. 

Options for the location of the downtown Ann Arbor Wally station were presented at a public meeting in Ann Arbor on October 8 by AAATA Project Manager Michael Benham and Neil Billetdeaux of consultant firm Smith Group JJR.  The fact that the rail line follows the route of a submerged creek limits options, as the station cannot be built in a flood zone.  A site near West Washington Street would be the closest to downtown Ann Arbor and the Blake Transportation Center. 

South of the Lake:  On September 24, Gurney and a number of other MARP members attended a public meeting in Dearborn to hear a progress report on the South of the Lake Environmental Impact Study.  After a year of sorting through all possible ways to route passenger trains between Porter, Indiana, and Chicago Union Station, consultants HNBT have narrowed the options to four, MDOT spokesman Mohammed Alghurabi and HNBT

Spokesman Matt Webb reported.  All meet the basic requirements of the study – two parallel tracks exclusively for passenger trains, accommodating up to 56 trains per day at speeds of up to 110 mph.  Over the next year, HNBT will select a preferred alternative and develop both a Tier I Environmental Impact Statement on that route and a Service Development Plan covering such factors as likely ridership and sources of funding.  Comments on the four options presented are due by October 28, 2013.

Annual Meeting Follow Up:  Chase noted that, at the Annual Meeting in September, she had failed to read a congratulatory letter from Harry Gow of Canada’s Transport 2000.  The full letter will be in the next issue of The Michigan Passenger.

 Michigan Odyssey:  Chase passed around photos as she discussed the Michigan Odyssey sponsored by Transportation for Michigan.  The group traveled by Indian Trails bus from Traverse City to Grand Rapids, where they spent the night.  They then continued by Indian Trails bus to Kalamazoo, where the boarded Amtrak for Ann Arbor.  From Ann Arbor, they took an Air Ride/Michigan Flyer bus to the Detroit Metro Airport.  They then boarded a SMART bus, which took them to the Detroit City line.  A DDOT bus then transported them to downtown Detroit, the end of the Odyssey.  Those participating in the Odyssey said that the Amtrak segment was the most enjoyable of the journey.

Michigan Interstate Passenger Rail Commission: Chase next reported on the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission Meeting on October 7-8, which she and Don Monteith attended.  The Commission is made up of representatives from nine Midwest states plus North Dakota. Each state has four representatives, one appointed by the governor, one by the Majority Leader of the state senate, one by the Speaker of the state senate, and one from the private sector.  Former Michigan Senate Leader and Congressman Joe Schwarz is Michigan’s private sector representative, Wayne Schmidt is the House of Representatives appointee, Mike Kowall  the Senate appointee and Director of the MDOT Office of Rail Tim Hoeffner is the governor’s appointee.  Hoeffner is the new chair of the organization.

The group has formed a team to develop advocates for passenger rail among young people.  Chase and Dan Sommerville from the Michigan Environmental Council signed up to help in this effort.  It was pointed out that half the student body at Southern Illinois University lives along Amtrak’s Saluki route.

Readiness is another goal.  Because the Midwest states were ready back in 2009, they wound up getting at least a fair share of the federal funding provided for rail projects in recent years.  They want to be ready for the next round of funding, whenever that occurs.

Chase lamented the failure of either of Michigan’s legislative appointees to appear.  In some states, legislators appear to be much more active.  For example, an Illinois legislator has headed MIPRC for the past four years.  Missouri does a federal legislative day and a Missouri state legislator is the prime mover in quarterly meetings of all the cities along the rail line in that state.

PRIIA renewal is coming up.  There will be an effort to apply PRIIA 209 to long distance trains, requiring the states through which each long distance train passes to pay at least some of the expenses of that train.

Michigan Environmental Council Meeting:  Chase next reported on the October 9-10 Annual Meeting of the Michigan Environmental Council near Valhalla, Michigan.  Horvath also attended.  Participation helps keep the value of rail on the radar of main line environmentalists, who may know nothing about passenger rail.  At a previous meeting, Ron DeCook made a presentation on what motivates people to ride trains.  Horvath noted the networking opportunities as well as gaining a better understanding of MEC structure and programs.

Outreach:   Chuck Merckel reported on an excellent outreach event at Western Michigan University.  Tischbein did a similar event at Kalamazoo College and Langdon passed out materials at Grand Valley State University.  Merckel is scheduled to speak at the Livonia Senior Center in the near future.  This will be a trial balloon as to approaching seniors about rail travel.

Merckel is working on a flyer and a letter encouraging people to join MARP.  It will list many of the organization’s activities.  Chase agreed that literature needed to be developed for different audiences, one for seniors, one for young people, etc.  Tischbein called attention to the upcoming show at the Washtenaw County Fair Grounds on December 1.  It has been added to the spread sheet.

Meetings: Wallington urged all to attend the MARP meeting at Chicago Union Station on Saturday, November 2.  Included will be a full tour of both public and behind the scenes areas of the station and a briefing by Larry Krieg on the recommendations the Chicago Union Station Task Force has suggested.

Next year’s meeting schedule will include visits to several colleges and universities.  One meeting will be at the former Grand Trunk station in Lansing.

Regional Chapter Reports:

            Western Michigan:  Ron Leatz expressed disappointment that a TIGER grant proposal to double track the Amtrak line between Dowagiac and Niles did not make the cut line.  He is also likewise dismayed that the historic Dowagiac depot was not included in Historic Railroad Stations by Michael Hodges.  The Dowagiac Area Museum will open on November 16 – picking up the slack when Southwest Michigan College decided to eliminate its museum on local history.

            Detroit Metro:  Hinkins reported that the Regional Transportation Authority’s Citizen Advisory Committee will be expanded from 30 to 50 with the hopes of better representation from Washtenaw and Macomb counties.  Review of Bus Rapid Transit routes will be a major topic in the coming months.  An important issue is whether the RTA will favor Bus Rapid Transit or commuter rail for service between Ann Arbor and Detroit.  In fact, rail lines parallel many of the proposed BRT routes.  Gurney noted the 2003 Report on potential commuter rail corridors by John Guidinger.  Patterson pointed out that BRT may be the best way to connect points in Oakland County to points in Washtenaw County. Charnetski observed that Grand Rapids is currently building a BRT route.

 A top priority of the new RTA CEO John Hertel will be to merge SMART and DDOT, with the former SMART covering the main corridors into Detroit and the former DDOT handling cross city routes.

Charnetski reported that Ann Arbor is now served by the AAATA, the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority, since both the City of Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township have jointed the authority.  Pittsfield Township has purchased AAATA services for a period of five years.                                                                   

            East/Central:  Wallington has seen no activity at the site of the new East Lansing Transportation Center.  After serious flaws were noted, the consultants are redrafting plans.  

Don Westcott is working to revive the Blue Water Coalition and expand it beyond the Convention and Visitor Bureaus to the Chambers of Commerce and the business community.  Hopefully, MDOT will be willing to fund promotion of the Blue Water as a means to get between points within Michigan.    The group is concerned about the many stations along the route that are closed and dark at train time in the evening.

Community Conversations:  Horvath has been a subscriber to the Center for Michigan’s Online Magazine, which she believes is a very effective tool of communication.  One of the Center’s programs is called “Community Conversations”, which brings people from a particular community come together to focus on such issues as prosperity, quality of life, investment in infrastructure, and public transportation.  Horvath thinks MARP could sponsor a Community Conversation focusing on transportation.  Possibly we could partner with another organization such as Central Michigan University. 

Chase has made inquiries with the Center for Michigan.  The forum could be just for MARP members or partner with others. 

Robert Patterson has participated in a forum and would be very favorable to MARP’s involvement.

Rail Passenger Survey:  Horvath turned a copy of a 2006 survey of rail passengers over to Secretary Gurney to keep in his files.

Jackson Depot Rehabilitation: Restoration of the Jackson Amtrak station continues, John Guidinger reported.  The foundations have been stabilized and rebuilt, drainage around the station and the express building upgraded, sidewalks on the west and street sides rebuilt to ADA standards, and the roofs of the track canopy and the front entrance replaced.  The eaves and the eave soffits have been reconstructed and many downspouts replaced.   Yet to be done are the full roof, additional exterior pointing and paving of the parking lot.  Additional funding will be required to accomplish these projects.

Current Track Work:  Steve Sobel briefed the group on the status of the track work on the Wolverine line.  Five Norfolk Southern work gangs are working ten hour days, Monday-Thursday, in an attempt to get as much done as possible before the snow flies.  Rails are being replaced on the worst curves first.  Old rail is being color coded as it is removed, with the best to be used on secondary lines and the worst to be scrapped.  Numerous grade crossings are being rebuilt. New fiber optics are being laid between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek.  Much of this year’s work has been done from Dearborn to Jackson, so the focus will be on the Jackson to Kalamazoo section in the coming weeks.

Public Transportation Issues:  Platz noted the excellent article about Amtrak in Michigan in the October 6 issue of the Detroit Free Press.  He also mentioned an article in the October 2 issue of USA Today reporting that young Millennium generation people prefer public transportation.  Wallington indicated that Governor Snyder supports rail because young people want trains.

Westcott expressed frustration that motor coach and rail connections are not published at all or not as clearly as they should be.  Patterson noted the need for more North-South routes.  Wallington expressed fear that the state may cease supporting the Indian Trails bus route along Lake Huron.  He would like to see an additional route along Lake Michigan.  Gurney sensed an opportunity to add a second frequency from Central Michigan University to East Lansing to give students better connections with both the Blue Water to Chicago and Michigan Flyer to Ann Arbor and Detroit Metro Airport.

Michigan Railroad Conference:  Chase reported that she, Tischbein, Horvath and Krieg had all attended the Michigan Railroad Conference at the Library of Michigan on September 21.   Krieg gave an excellent presentation on the current rail situation in Michigan.  Membership brochures and The Michigan Passenger were distributed.

Minutes of the Monthly Membership Meeting in Manistee on August 10 were reviewed.

Westcott moved approval.  The motion was seconded by Sobel and approved by the members present.

Adjournment:  The meeting adjourned at 2:28 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted:                                                          Approved:

Hugh D. Gurney                                                                     Robert Tischbein

Secretary                                                                                 Chair

MINUTES
MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
BANGOR AMTRAK STATION, BANGOR
OCTOBER 12, 2013

 Present: Robert Tischbein, Hugh Gurney, Jim Hinkins, Kay Chase, Jim Wallington, Rosemary Horvath

Also Present: Steve T. Sobel, Marilyn Guidinger, John Guidinger, Dave Vander Bee, Doug Wilson, Kristine Ballard, Jack Kessler, Chuck Merckel, Jeanie Merckel, Clark Charnetski, Dan Platz, J. P. DesCamp, Ron Leatz, Don Westcott,  Barb Spaulding-Westcott, Ken Radzlaff, Dianne Patterson, Robert Patterson

Call to Order:  Chairman Tischbein called the meeting to order at 2:30 p.m.

Treasurer’s Report:  Tischbein reviewed the Treasurer’s Report as submitted by Treasurer Dave Randall.  As of September 30, 2013, MARP’s JPMorgan Chase account stood at $34,379.45.  Of this, $17,141.26 are Pratt Fund proceeds to be reinvested, leaving $17,238.19 available for current operations.  Gurney added that those with questions could call Randall on the phone with their queries. 

Chase moved acceptance of the Treasurer’s Report.  The motion was seconded by Wallington and approved by the members of the Executive Committee present. 

Minutes of the Executive Committee meeting in Manistee on August 10, 2013 were reviewed.  Hinkins moved acceptance.  The motion was seconded by Wallington and approved by the members of the Executive Committee present. 

Detroit Metro Regional Chair:  Jim Hinkins asked the be relieved of his duties as Regional Chair of the Detroit Metro Region and replaced by Robert Patterson, who has been serving as Assistant Regional Chair for the last year.  Hinkins would assume the role of Assistant Regional Chair.

Chase moved to accept with regret the resignation of Jim Hinkins as Detroit Metro Regional Chair and appoint Robert Patterson to that position until the Annual Meeting in September, 2014. The motion was seconded by Gurney and approved by the members of the Executive Committee present.  Wallington expressed the wish that Hinkins remain active so we can call on his knowledge and experience.

Adjournment:  Patterson moved adjournment.  The motion was seconded by Gurney and approved by the members of the Executive Committee present.  The meeting adjourned at 2:45 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted:                                              Accepted:

 

 

 

Hugh D. Gurney                                                         Robert Tischbein

Secretary                                                                     Chair

MINUTES
MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS
ANNUAL MEETING
DURAND UNION STATION, DURAND
SEPTEMBER 14, 2013

Members in Attendance: Barry Adams, Arman Balk, Jack Barbier, Charley Bonnell, Philip Chamberlain, Clark Charnetski, Kay Chase, John Cwiek, Joseph Deneen, Ren Farley, Tim Fischer, Michael Frezell, Lee Guinn, Hugh Gurney, Kenneth Hart, Cathy Hart, Farol Henkle, Jim Hinkins, Rosemary Horvath, Janet Howes, Larry Krieg, John Langdon, Keith Martin, Charles Merckel, Jeanie Merckel, Daniel Mitchell, Don Monteith, Robert Patterson, Diane Patterson, Richard Pekarek, Dan Platz, Kim Powell, Philip Rosenberger, Gary Sample, George Schlaepfer, Robert Tischbein, Duke Van Til, Viola Van Til, David VanderBee, Jim Wallington, Norma Ward, Roger Webster, Don Westcott, David Williams, Doug Wilson, Barb Spaulding-Westcott

Speakers: Michael Benham (Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority), State Representative Ben Glardon, Tim Hoeffner (MDOT Office of Rail), Melissa Horste (Senator Levin’s District Office), Chad Cushman, Indian Trails; Kevin Keefe (VP-Editorial, Publisher, TRAINS Magazine)

Guests: Allison Keefe, Rahn Stokes (MI-Operation Lifesaver), Dan Sommerville (Michigan Environmental Council), Guest of Joseph Deneen

Welcomes and Introductions: Chairman Tischbein called the meeting to order at 10:40 a.m. All present introduced themselves.

Langdon then read a letter from Dave Camp, U. S. Representative for the 4th Michigan District, congratulating MARP on its 40th year of service to Michigan railroad passengers.

State Representative Ben Glarden of Owosso, whose District 85 includes Durand, welcomed the group and applauded MARP for all it does, including support for preservation of the Durand Station. Glarden has traveled to Chicago on MDOT excursions and is familiar with rail issues. He welcomes interaction.

Melissa Horste, from U. S. Senator Carl Levin’s District Office, welcomed the group on behalf of Senator Levin. For Fiscal Year 2014, the Senate has appropriated $1.45 billion for Amtrak. The House of Representatives figure is much lower, so a compromise figure will need to be arrived at. In all likelihood, a Continuing Resolution will provide funding until the end of the year. It is too early to project funding for High Speed Rail or New Starts.

Funding for the M-1 Streetcar project is on track and groundbreaking this fall is possible. Horste offered congratulations on MARP’s 40th Birthday.

Video Greetings to MARP: The group then watched video greetings from Joseph C. Szabo, Administrator for the Federal Railroad Administration. Szabo noted the 30% growth in ridership in Michigan since 2005. As we speak, work crews are making improvements to the system so that the majority of the Wolverine route will be operating at 110 mph in the near future. The Battle Creek Station has been totally renovated and a new station in Dearborn should be ready by spring. We are trying to make up for decades of poor investment in rail. The major effort now is to find a dedicated source of revenue.

Choices: The Case for WALLY Commuter Rail: Michael Benham, Wally Project Manager with the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority, after expressing pleasure at being part of MARP’s 40th Anniversary Meeting, explained that what we have know for years as the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority has been renamed the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority since Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township are now part of the Authority. He then provided an update on the proposed Howell to Ann Arbor Commuter Rail Proposal, nicknamed Wally.

The concept goes back to 2006, when MDOT came up with the figure of $430 million to rebuild U. S. 23 from Brighton to Ann Arbor, a figure far beyond the resources available. Enthusiasm built over the next two years, but dwindled during the recession. Benham joined AAATA in 2009 and was assigned to head up the project along with other duties.

Benham showed a number of graphics demonstrating how commuter rail benefits those who will not be commuters as well as those who would commute by train. Commuter rail service to a community increases property values, aids in workforce retention, and reduces both air pollution and energy usage. Within the transit shed of a commuter line, the economy will outperform the region as a whole by as much as 41.6%

As to retaining young people, the number of those 14-34 years old without a drivers license increase from 21% in 2000 to 26% in 2013, indicating that more and more young people do not drive and do not wish to be in a community without public transportation.

In 2010, MDOT upgraded tracks and grade crossings on about 4/5 of the proposed route, so trains can now operate at 59 mph. A layover track was constructed at Osmer, just north of Ann Arbor. Positive Train Control will probably not be needed as there will be no freight traffic while commuter trains are operating. To date, twenty three former Metra commuter cars have been totally rehabilitated by Great Lakes Central Railroad in Owosso. The carpets and the windows have been renewed and new seating installed. Space has been made available in each car for wheelchairs and bicycles. Most of this work has been done by Michigan residents. The plan is for leased locomotives to power these coaches. Approximately 2,500 inspected several of these cars during the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival in August.

Benham is encouraged by the response of Watco, the new owners of the Ann Arbor Railroad, who are far more positive about letting the commuter trains come into downtown Ann Arbor on tracks they own.

Wally picked up steam in 2012 with receipt of over $600,000 from the Federal Highway Administration to identify stations, parking, and bus connections. Coupled with matching funds from local communities, approximately $800,000 is available to identify sites for stations, parking lots and address environmental issues. A total of $19 million in capital costs will be needed to get WALLY up and running. Annual operating costs are estimated at 7.2 million, about 2/3 of which would be covered by passenger fares and the Michigan Comprehensive Transportation Fund. Ridership projections are in the range of the other 16 new commuter rail projects getting underway in the last decade or so while start up costs will be lower than that average.

Benham thanked Tim Fischer of the Michigan Environmental Council and Transportation for Michigan for providing the funds to enable one of the commuter cars to be on display in Hamburg on Saturday, September 21.

Michigan’s Accelerated Rail Program: Tim Hoeffner, Director of MDOT’s Office of Rail, wished MARP a Happy 40th Anniversary. Starting October 1, the State of Michigan will be supporting all Amtrak operations in Michigan including the Wolverine, Blue Water and Pere Marquette. He anticipates no major changes in operations. MDOT’s investment in Wi Fi will more than pay for itself within a year or two. Bicycles are now permitted on the Blue Water for an additional ten dollars. Quiet cars are now part of all Wolverine trains. Hoeffner is hopeful that Amtrak’s focus on corridor trains outside the Northeast Corridor will keep operational costs down.

If ridership in Michigan this September is comparable to last September, total ridership for the 2013 Fiscal Year will be around 890,000. Overall, revenue is holding up well, down slightly on the Blue Water and Pere Marquette, but up by $1 million on the Wolverine. While ridership has been down slightly on the Pere Marquette, possibly due to competition from Megabus, Hoeffner is not alarmed.

A major rebuild of the Wolverine line between Dearborn and Kalamazoo is currently underway. MDOT and Norfolk Southern have been working well together on this project. Some $38 million has been applied for under TIGER for additional sidings along the Wolverine line and to study a tie in between CSX and Amtrak tracks just north of New Buffalo. Construction of the transportation centers in Birmingham/Troy and Dearborn are coming along well. The new Grand Rapids station is taking shape. Its opening will augment collaboration with Indian Trails. CSX has agreed to implement Positive Train Control along its route, saving MDOT hundreds of thousands of dollars. Planning for the East Lansing station is moving forward and Ann Arbor has hired a consultant for that project. MDOT has been discussing parking issues in Port Huron with the Port Huron City Manager and others in that community.

MDOT is working with M-1 on plans for a new Detroit station which will tie in with the M-1 streetcar project. Work on the M-1 project will likely get underway in the spring. Consultants on the South of the Lake project have come up with a reasonable number of alternatives to review. Michael Benham of AAATA is working on the Howell-Ann Arbor commuter project and Alex Bourgeau of SEMCOG is taking the lead on the Ann Arbor-Detroit commuter rail project. Great Lakes Central Railroad has been a very helpful partner.

Increased frequencies for the 2013 holidays are uncertain at this time. Planning is complicated by the ongoing track work.

Hoeffner stressed the need for broader public support, citing Westrain as an example. We need to get more young people involved in the debate over transportation.

Indian Trails: Chad Cushman, Vice President for Indian Trails, saluted MARP on its 40th anniversary. The bus line recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. Indian Trails is extremely proud of its association with MARP and Amtrak. Amtrak Thruway Services and the Michigan Flyer are seeing tremendous growth.

The View From Milepost 89: Thoughts on 40 Years of Train Riding in Michigan: Kevin Keefe, Publisher and Vice President for Kalmbach Publishing, spoke of growing up in Niles, Milepost 89 on the Michigan Central, particularly his association with old time railroad employees who considered that they worked for the Michigan Central, not the New York Central. He recalled crack trains on the line such as the Wolverine, Mercury and Twilight Limited. At MSU, he became familiar with Grand Trunk operations, the Maple Leaf, and other fine trains on that line.

Keefe recalled inspecting track in the Battle Creek area while examining the viability of Conrail. Most officials predicted the railroad would be ripped up in just a few years. Then Amtrak bought the line. He commended Michigan for real progress in making 110 mph speeds a reality.

Keefe then showed a series of visuals of the Twilight Limited at its peak in the 1950’s. This was an extra fare, all parlor car train that ran between Detroit and Chicago for many years.

Business Meeting:
Minutes: Langdon moved acceptance of the Minutes of the 2012 Annual Meeting. The motion was seconded by David Williams. After correcting to add Bob Johnston as present, the minutes were approved by those members present.

Treasurer’s Report: Langdon reviewed the Treasurer’s Report. As of August 31, 2013, the balance in the JPMorgan Chase Checking Account was @28,430.37.Pratt Fund proceeds of $17,141.25 are still in the JPMorgan Chase Checking Account, but will be moved to a Vanguard Account in the near future. The Pratt Fund is designed to build an endowment for the organization. David Williams moved acceptance of the Treasurer’s Report. The motion was seconded by Larry Krieg and approved by the members present.

Future Meetings: Wallington announced that MARP will be meeting in Bangor on October 12 and at Chicago Union Station on November 2, where Amtrak will be providing a tour into the bowels of the facility including their new operations/control center.

Special Award: On behalf of America By Rail, Wallington presented Norma Ward with a $1,000 Travel Certificate for her successful efforts to save the Durand Union Station and for her many years of service as a tour director for America By Rail.

Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers: The First Forty Years: Speaking from notes provided by John DeLora, MARP Founder and past Chairman, Kay Chase reviewed some of MARP’s accomplishments over the years. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Detroit-Chicago route was served by both Penn Central and Grand Trunk Western. But modern highways promised to end passenger rail completely. The Pere Marquette was down to one coach on its Detroit-Grand Rapids run and Penn Central wanted to abandon all service west of Buffalo. Total demise was staved off by the creation of Amtrak in 1971.

MARP had its beginnings on September 19, 1973, when John DeLora, John Guidinger, George Schlaepfer and a few others gathered to organize. The group has seen ups and downs over the forty years since that date. An early project was the rehabilitation of the Chelsea station for the Michigan Executive, which provided weekday commuter service between Jackson and Detroit for several years. Despite MARP opposition, the Michigan Executive was discontinued, as was Pontiac-Detroit commuter service and the Niagara Rainbow, a Detroit-New York City train that crossed Southern Ontario. All but one car of this train was sealed as it crossed Canadian territory. Unpredictable border inspections and funding disputes between New York State and Michigan spelled its demise.

The slow restoration of the historic Jackson station got underway and the first Battle Creek intermodal station opened. MARP was able to persuade the Detroit Fire Department to hose down the Detroit Michigan Station for the Bicentennial and helped with restoration of the Dexter station in time for its 150th anniversary in 1974. A stop in Dearborn was added to the Wolverine schedule in 1979.

Between 1977 and 1982, MARP provided Passenger Service Aids who worked aboard trains as they crossed Michigan. As additional service to the traveling public, MARP printed and circulated Michigan timetables, worked on station signage, developed station standards, and attempted to beautify station surroundings. During much of this period, nobody really wanted anything to do with passenger trains except the traveling public.

Adjournment: Krieg moved adjournment, seconded by Sobczak and approved by the members present. The meeting adjourned at 2:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted: Accepted:

Hugh D. Gurney Robert Tischbein
Secretary Chair