From The Grand Rapid Press

City officials are clearing the path for a new railroad track that will bring the Pere Marquette Amtrak train to The Rapid Transit Center.

City commissioners this week approved the sale of city-owned land at 150 Logan Street SW to the ITP for $1,050. The land is needed to build the rail spur that will replace the current station used by Amtrak at Wealthy Street and Market Avenue SW.

ITP spokeswoman Jennifer Kalczuk said the ITP is in the process of developing a “request for proposals” to build the track. She said the work will be done within 12 to 18 months of the contract’s approval by federal railroad officials.

City officials see the new facility as a way to make rail transit aboard Amtrak’s Pere Marquette line to and from Chicago more convenient while alleviating congestion as trains come and go at least twice a day.

The new setup would eliminate a time consuming turnaround passengers arriving in Grand Rapids via Amtrak’s Pere Marquette line must endure. The turn around can add 15 minutes to the trip as trains pull past the current station and turn around before finally allowing passengers to exit.

Source: http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/01/interurban_transit_partnership.html