TRAVERSE CITY — A long-discussed proposal to restore passenger rail service to northern Michigan is advancing through a major planning phase, backed by millions of dollars in state and federal funding and growing public interest from students, seniors, and communities along the route.
Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, a Traverse City–based nonprofit, is leading the effort to study the feasibility of passenger rail service connecting communities across Michigan, including Traverse City.
The idea traces back to the region’s “Grand Vision” initiative, which examined long-term land use and transportation needs according to Carolyn Ulstad, transportation program manager at Groundwork.
“People started asking, well, maybe in the future we have a train to Traverse City,” Ulstad said, describing early conversations that emerged from the regional planning effort.
Momentum increased in 2018, when Groundwork partnered with the Bay Area Transportation Authority to conduct an initial feasibility study. That work has since expanded into a more comprehensive planning effort supported by $2.3 million in combined state and federal funding.
The project includes $1 million from Michigan’s Labor and Economic Opportunity Office and $1.3 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation through its RAISE grant program. The funding is being used for detailed service planning, including route options, travel speeds, costs and potential ridership.
Many of the communities being studied once relied on passenger rail service, Ulstad said, even though some historic rail corridors — particularly along western Michigan — have been removed. Several towns still have former train stations that now serve as museums, restaurants or community spaces.
“There’s still a lot of identity associated with having a train in the past,” Ulstad said.
Public outreach over the past year has revealed broad interest in the service. College students said rail travel would make it easier to visit friends at other universities, while international students noted it could provide mobility without the need for a car.
Residents also raised health care access as a key issue. Many people in northern and mid-Michigan must travel long distances to reach medical specialists in downstate cities such as Ann Arbor or Detroit.
“That came up quite often,” Ulstad said. “Especially when you’re already stressed about a medical appointment, having to make a long drive can be an added burden.”
An aging population is another group expected to benefit. Michigan has one of the oldest populations in the nation, and many residents said rail travel would allow them to visit family more easily while avoiding winter driving.
Supporters also point to safety and convenience. Trains operate on dedicated tracks, reducing concerns about traffic crashes, congestion, and hazardous weather conditions.
Younger adults and professionals have also expressed interest, reflecting national trends toward delayed car ownership and demand for public transportation options. Ulstad said improved rail connections could support economic development while making Michigan more attractive to residents and employers.
Groundwork is encouraging residents to complete a public survey that asks about travel habits, destinations, preferred schedules, seasonal use, and onboard amenities. The feedback will help determine service frequency and timing.
To participate in the survey, click this link.
The planning study is expected to conclude in the coming months, with results shared through public meetings and virtual sessions this spring.
Even if the project moves forward, passenger rail service would still be years away. After service planning, the project would require engineering, environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act, and eventual construction or track upgrades.
Based on similar rail projects elsewhere in the country, Ulstad said the process from planning to daily service can take about a decade. Comparable routes, such as the Downeaster in New England and the Borealis line in the Midwest, followed similar timelines.
Much of the proposed route uses existing track that is primarily state-owned, a factor Ulstad said could help streamline development. Freight trains currently use the lines infrequently.
“These are tracks that are already there,” she said. “Can we use them and create more value from them?”