Effort Seeks To Start Ann Arbor-Detroit Commuter Rail Line
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - An effort seeks to start a long-stalled Ann Arbor to Detroit commuter rail line that would connect the cities' downtowns.
The 38-mile line has been discussed for more than a decade but lacked funding -- until now, according to The Detroit News.
The proposed service was approved Thursday by the Regional Transit Authority as part of its Michigan Avenue corridor study, which also includes bus rapid transit.
The RTA plans to fold the cost of the service, which would use existing Amtrak lines, into a November tax request.
If the millage passes, RTA officials estimate the route could start around 2022, with annual operating costs of $11 million to $19 million. Officials say it would cost around $130 million in capital costs to get the service running and build a maintenance facility.
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