The city of Ann Arbor is one step closer to building a new railroad station.
The process is long, but following work with the Federal Railroad Administration the city released a report that zeroes in on a preferred location for the station.
The price tag varies by location, but the preferred location inside Fuller Park near the University of Michigan Hospital brings a price tag of $81 million. That’s according to the 212-page environmental assessment that landed on the city’s website earlier this month.
“That’s the area we’re looking forward to hearing what the public has to say,” said Christopher Taylor, the mayor of Ann Arbor.
Taylor said that a new rail station would allow for more travel to, and from, Chicago — he also noted that it would be a key piece of infrastructure that could cutdown on road traffic, and double-down on the possibility of a thriving commuter rail system.
Currently the Amtrak station utilized in Ann Arbor is located on Depot Street. The new preferred location plan would bring a station above the railroad tracks and a five-story operations hub that would allow for parking long-term, short-term and leave room for bicycles.
The current look for the proposed railroad station includes numerous bus bays.
“Certainly the station would have two main functions,” said Taylor. “Amtrak is East-west, but also commuter function which would be primarily connecting two points to the East.”
Public comment is being taken through November 2nd.
If you’d like to react to the plans you can view them, and comment, at the city of Ann Arbor’s website: https://www.a2gov.org/departments/systems-planning/planning-areas/transportation/Pages/Ann-Arbor-Station.aspx
