A proposed commuter rail line between Detroit and Ann Arbor has been scaled back and delayed indefinitely as supporters seek new funding to build and operate the system.
The future of the project is far from certain. Among the biggest obstacles: up to $50 million in additional money needed to build it, and long-term funding to operate it.
Organizers including the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments had hoped to have commuter rail between the two cities operating this fall. Now, the date is undetermined and depends on whether money can be raised through tax increases and possible federal grants, officials said this morning.
SEMCOG said it had hoped the system would be running by October. But earlier projections were based on a key $100 million federal grant the program won’t receive. SEMCOG said the project’s startup costs pushed costs per rider too high to meet federal funding requirements.