Where it started
2009
The Grand Vision
The Grand Vision was a citizen-led, long-term plan to guide land use, transportation, and economic development in northwest Lower Michigan. The concept of connecting the region by passenger rail emerged from this process and sparked further exploration of the idea by Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities.
2018
Initial Feasibility Study Completed
Groundwork, based in Traverse City, partnered with the local bus transit agency, Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA), to complete an initial Ridership Feasibility and Cost Estimate Study to explore the potential for passenger rail between Southeast and northwest Lower Michigan.
2021 - 2022
$2.3M in Planning Grant Dollars
To advance the project beyond the initial feasibility study, the project secured $1 million from Michigan’s Labor and Economic Opportunity office in 2021. The following year, Groundwork partnered with the Cadillac/Wexford Transit Authority (WexExpress), and they were awarded a $1.3 Million RAISE grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Where we’re at
2025
Advanced Study Underway
With the awarded State and Federal grant funds, a detailed study is now underway to explore what it would take to bring passenger rail service to the region. The study looks at everything from track conditions and route options to travel demand and cost estimates. Planners will also outline how the service could be managed and implemented if the project moves forward. The study will likely wrap up in early 2026.
Where we’re going
2026 and beyond
The service planning study is expected to wrap up in early 2026. After that, Groundwork will host community meetings to share what we’ve learned and gather feedback.
Once the study is complete, the project team plans to apply for the next round of the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor ID Program, which is a national effort to move promising passenger rail projects closer to becoming reality.