And who said that Michigan could never do public transit. Ok, it's been slow going but at least things are happening! The latest news is the passing of Senate Bill 237, which releases $2.8 million in federal dollars for an all new train station on Fuller Road. It makes me wish I could be a student at UM again, but at a time when I could take advantage of the proposed improvements.
Speaking from experience, the current Ann Arbor rail station leaves quite a bit to be desired. It's old, cramped, and the only source of sustenance/entertainment are vending machines. It also handles a paltry handful of departures a day and is pretty far from everything. This could all soon change, especially since the money in question is part of a larger $400 million package to bring a 100-mph highspeed rail line from Chicago to Detoit, with a stop in Ann Arbor.
Since the report on the bill's passage mentions Fuller Road as the location, I have to assume that this is part of the proposed Fuller Road transit center (which I learned about just now). That's another major improvement for transportation in Ann Arbor: organizing it into one easily accessible facility.
While not living in Michigan means that I hardly have a stake in this, it does me good to see Ann Arbor becoming active with public transit. But having used Ann Arbor bus and rail extensively, I can tell you that it is certainly in need of an update. Here's hoping it all comes together!
