$28.2 Million Grant to Dearborn Train Station will Jumpstart City Commerce, Tourism, The Henry Ford
U.S. Congressman John D. Dingell’s office issued this release today:
U.S. Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) on Friday commended the Federal Railroad Administration for obligating $28.2 million in investment funding to the Michigan Department of Transportation for the building of a new Dearborn train station. This funding will allow the City of Dearborn to consolidate its two passenger rail stations into a intermodal station in the west section of downtown Dearborn.
“This is such an exciting day for the City of Dearborn and The Henry Ford, said Dingell. “Improving passenger rail service is something I have long supported, and I look forward to helping this project succeed. Modernizing rail travel will help attract small business development, increase job growth, and enhance the livelihood of communities and business, by helping to expedite the time and efficiency of people and goods getting from point A to point B. The City of Dearborn and its economy will reap the benefits of this investment for many years.”
“This project is part of a larger strategy to increase the number of potential customers coming to Dearborn every day. Increasing the customer base sustains existing businesses and attracts new activity and investment,” said Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. “I have to personally thank our Congressional representatives, particularly Congressman John Dingell and Senator Debbie Stabenow, for their support and intervention to keep this project on track and create new employment opportunities in our area. This project would not have been possible without active participation from The Henry Ford, led by Patricia Mooradian, the State of Michigan Department of Transportation and the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. With their ongoing help, Dearborn will be a vital stop on a growing and prospering transportation corridor.”
“The Henry Ford has been working in close collaboration on this project with the City of Dearborn, MDOT and SEMCOG for over a decade. That perseverance is a reflection of the optimistic ‘can do’ attitude that we represent and promote every day in our exhibits, programs and operations,” said Patricia E. Mooradian, president of The Henry Ford. “The new Dearborn Intermodal Train Station will spur additional travel to the city and to our National Historic Landmark site. It will afford a new entryway onto our campus while serving as a catalyst for new transit oriented development within our community. But perhaps as importantly, this project demonstrates that through close and committed collaboration between public and private sector entities, enhanced transportation options can be developed and realized within our region, making it a more attractive place for people to live, work and visit.”
The Federal Railroad Administration selected the Dearborn rail station to be funded under the High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail program. The intermodal facility will be designed for the planned Ann Arbor–Detroit commuter rail as well as future high-speed intercity passenger rail service. The station will accommodate city, regional and intercity bus systems; local and tourist shuttles; bicycle and greenway linkages; and, auto, taxi, and limousine connections to Detroit International Airport. The Dearborn station will continue to serve Amtrak’s Wolverine line, which provides round trips daily between Pontiac, MI, and Chicago, IL.
August 19th, 2011 at 6:19 pm
This is a lot to do about nothing, when u have two Einsteins like Dingell and Jack O’Reilly it is sure to get fu ed up, stay tuned for the results.
August 20th, 2011 at 2:55 pm
My father always said, “its not the original cost, its the upkeep.” While having a convenient rail access to the HF is great, who is going to pay for the first class operation of the facility? I haven’t been to a train station in the United States that wasn’t filthy and a magnet for the homeless. Ever been to the beautiful new bus station in Detroit – the toilets are a cautionary tale about opening a building to the general public. Unless the City has funding to have a real maintenance staff and security in place 24-7 – this is a big ol’ mistake.
By the way – remember to get the contractor bonded this time.
August 20th, 2011 at 3:00 pm
This is a great development. This is some good news and I for one am proud to praise it. Everyone involved deserves a lot of credit, but it’s not done yet. There is much work to do. Please make sure there is enough free parking and definitely have tourist shuttles and “bicycle and greenway linkages” to our cultural attractions like The Henry Ford, the downtowns (both west and east), the colleges, the AANM, the historical museums, libraries, parks, etc. Have a big map that highlights the destinations and hotspots in Dearborn. The new station could even have bike rentals!
Thank you for getting us one step closer to improving public transportation, which is sorely needed here. I believe it will benefit our area for years to come!
August 20th, 2011 at 5:10 pm
I hope O’Reilly and Dingell don’t have much input in this project, if it ever comes to fruition, because if they do, its sure to be an abortion.
August 21st, 2011 at 11:29 pm
Make sure all the T’s are crossed, and the i’s are dotted, because we the people have seen how O’Reilly operates with contractors, they simply bend his big fat ass over and stick it to him, and the residents of Dearborn.
August 25th, 2011 at 4:09 am
Jumpstart City commerce? I live in Dearborn and I need to leave the city to shop. 28 million? to service who – all the people who have been dying to come to Dearborn and just couldn’t get here?
The Henry Ford is a great place to visit and well worth the travel from ANYwhere but people have not been waiting for a train to bring them here. This is a terrible waste of money.
August 26th, 2011 at 4:22 pm
Very interesting comment from Dearbornn Resident, when in all actuality you must be one of O’Reilly’s cronies who he put up to wring this non-sense. Simply another project for our local yokels O’Reilly and Dingell tto waste taxpayers money on. This is nothing more than a campaign notce to put on there reelection brochures.
August 27th, 2011 at 7:09 pm
Great comments eyesopen couldn’t agree with you more. What’s wrong with the existing station? Do they think a new station will automaticlly draw people to Dearborn?
August 30th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
I think the timing of this for Stabintheback is interesting. But more disturbing is that O’Reilly talks about East and West Dearborn. After visiting other cities across Michigan this summer I am disgusted everytime I drive down Michigan Ave. in West Dearborn. It’s a disgrace. Everything is half assed right down to the flowers. The building on Monroe and Michigan should be the cornerstone of the West Dearborn shopping district. Who ever owns that building should be held accountable. Why not bring that building back to resemble that beautiful building it must have been? It’s so frustrating. And the business owners…..sweep your sidewalk, wash your windows, do ANYTHING to help attract business and make people want to come into your shop. We have blight all along Michigan Ave and it’s sickening. Oh and so glad the Family Dollar store showed up. What a mess that is!
September 1st, 2011 at 8:09 pm
What do you mean “input” – don’t you know they are going to name it the O’Dingell Station?!!!