MARP Members:
Please join us on Saturday, July 14, 2007 for the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers Member Meeting in Lapeer, Michigan. We are meeting at the recently renovated Lapeer Station, which is located at 73 Howard Street. From the I-69 Lapeer exit #155, go north 1.8 miles on M-24 (Lapeer Road or Main Street) past the RR tracks to Genesee St. Turn east ½ mile to Court Street, then south to Howard St. The meeting will begin at 10 am.
As always, we will be discussing and reporting on issues important to Michigan passenger rail. Attendance at the meeting is free. Dress code is casual. The agenda is posted and minutes of previous meetings are available on the meetings page.
Following the business meeting, the Route Enhancement Committee will be conducting a work session on MARP’s passenger rail Vision of what intercity passenger rail and bus service should look like in 2025. MARP’s Vision will become our master plan for future action. If you are interested in taking part in the development of the Vision, please stay for the work session.
MARP Activity and Events
Those who attended the June meeting in Durand were treated to a very informative presentation by Mike Bagwell, president of Great Lakes Central Railroad. After the meeting, we toured former Metra commuter rail equipment that GLC is planning to use on the proposed Ann Arbor-Howell commuter rail service. Other recent and planned activities include:
• MARP recently spoke before the Bipartisan Legislative Transit Caucus in Lansing about the economic benefits of passenger rail for Michigan, and has been asked to appear before the House Transit Subcommittee in the near future.
• Following a recent Michigan House joint committee hearing, MARP had a chance to meet and talk about the needs for better passenger rail service in Michigan with Amtrak President Alex Kummant.
• MARP members participated in “Michigan Day” at Chicago Union Station, hosted by a number of State tourist agencies, to promote Michigan passenger rail and tourism to thousands of Chicagoland commuters.
• MARP will staff a joint table with NARP at the huge National Model Railroad Association national convention in Detroit July 27-29. If you would like to help out, contact me soon.
Don’t forget that MARP’s Annual Meeting at Durand Union Station is coming up on September 8, 2007. Mark your calendar now. You will be receiving registration information soon.
If you haven’t renewed your MARP membership for 2007, please do so as soon as possible. If you did not receive a renewal card in the mail, email marprail@yahoo.com. Our primary expense is the Michigan Passenger newspaper, which we would like to continue publishing regularly.
I hope to see you in Lapeer on July 14.
Michael Whims
Chairman