Future Passenger and Commuter Rail Expansion
Great Lakes Central Railroad is dedicated to supporting community goals
for transportation efficiencies with forward thinking. GLC is currently
developing a round-trip passenger train between Ann Arbor and Traverse
City that will be an extraordinary experience. Also in the works are
four daily round-trip commuter trains between Howell and Ann Arbor.
These future passenger and commuter rail expansions will help support
communities in many ways. According to the American Public Transportation
Association (APTA) 1999 Transit Fact Book, public transportation and
rail transit have the following advantages:
- Public transportation use in America avoids the emission of:
- Over 126 million pounds of hydrocarbons, a primary cause of smog
- 156 million pounds of nitrogen oxides. Emission reductions reduce
respiratory disease, acid rain and associated health costs and economic
loss (FTA, 1996)
- Public transportation reduces auto fuel consumption by approximately
1.5 billion gallons annually, lowering the nation’s trade
deficit and reducing dependence on foreign oil (FTA, 1996)
- The fuel efficiency of a fully occupied rail car is 15 times greater
than the average commuter single-occupant auto
- A 10% increase in public transportation ridership in the five largest
U.S. cities would save 85 million gallons of gasoline per year
- Congestion costs American drivers 3.6 billion hours of travel delay
and 5.7 billion gallons of wasted fuel every year1
- Michigan consumed over 6 billion gallons of fuel for highway and
non-highway use in 20042
