January 28, 2010
LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm issued the following statement on today's announcement that Michigan will receive $40 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation in Recovery Act funded high-speed rail grants.
"This Recovery Act funding for high-speed rail along the Pontiac-Detroit-Chicago corridor is a victory for Michigan and the Midwest. The national highway system took decades to construct, and a high-speed rail network to all corners of the region will take time. Indiana and Illinois will use these dollars to untangle the knot of freight and passenger lines that slow traffic just beyond Michigan's border - a necessary first step for the ultimate success of a Michigan route. The funding will give us a head start toward our high-speed rail future, funding key improvements to stations in Battle Creek, Troy, and Dearborn. We will continue to work with our partners in the region and aggressively pursue our share in the second round of funding."
Michigan's portion of the $244 million in high-speed rail grants to states comprising the Pontiac-Detroit-Chicago corridor will fund construction of a new building and platform at the Dearborn Amtrak Station, construction of a new platform and passenger service facilities at the Troy Amtrak Station, and renovation of the building and passenger service facilities at the Battle Creek Amtrak Station.
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