Ann Arbor City Council got an update on a variety of public transportation projects at last night's work session. As WEMU's Andrew Cluley reports, current progress could result in less traffic along the I-94 corridor and increased options in all five of Ann Arbor's wards.
Amtrak, Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority, Regional Transit Authority officials and others shared updates on public transportation programs with Ann Arbor City Council last night. The updates include plans to make Amtrak service between Detroit and Chicago consistent and competitive with driving times on I-94. Tim Hefner is Michigan Department of Transportation's Office of Rail Director. Hefner says work in progress on the recently state purchased tracks between Dearborn and Kalamazoo is the next step to improving Amtrak service. Hefner says it should benefit passenger rail service and take some trucks off of I-94, as well.
Over the next several weeks AAATA officials will be sharing the five year transit improvement plan that includes service upgrades in each of the city's five wards. Overall the proposal calls for a 33 percent increase in service from current levels but requires a .7 mill tax.
