Michigan has secured $145 million in federal funding for Michigan passenger rail improvements across three projects covering bridges, track and other infrastructure along the Michigan Line. Awarded through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail program, the investment will support work intended to make passenger rail connections across Michigan and the wider region more reliable.

Amtrak Wolverine passing through Galien, Michigan
Archive photo of an Amtrak Wolverine passing through Galien, Michigan. Photo: Tim_kd5urs / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0

The Michigan Department of Transportation submitted the three projects selected for funding. They cover bridge and rail infrastructure on the Michigan Line, a passenger corridor linking Chicago with communities across Michigan. The line carries Amtrak’s Wolverine service and part of the Blue Water route, providing connections to Detroit, Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, Jackson, Port Huron and Chicago.

The Michigan Infrastructure Office said improvements to the corridor’s reliability and performance will make travel easier for residents and visitors using rail for work, school, tourism and other opportunities across the Midwest.

Kevin Mehren, director of the Michigan Infrastructure Office, said:

“Strong passenger rail infrastructure connects Michiganders to jobs, communities and opportunities while strengthening our economy and our connection to the broader Midwest,” said Kevin Mehren, director of the Michigan Infrastructure Office. “This investment will help Michigan address critical infrastructure needs while building a stronger, more reliable passenger rail system for residents and visitors. We’re proud to partner with MDOT and our federal partners to bring these investments to Michigan.”

Federal passenger rail funding was also awarded elsewhere in the Midwest. Illinois received funding for rail infrastructure and maintenance capabilities connected to Chicago, while Wisconsin led a multistate application that secured $140 million to modernize up to 41 locomotives serving Amtrak routes across the Midwest, including Michigan’s Wolverine, Blue Water and Pere Marquette routes.

Peter Anastor, administrator of the MDOT Office of Rail, said:

“MDOT is excited to be awarded $145 million in Federal Railroad Administration grants to improve the state-owned rail corridor between Kalamazoo and Dearborn that is utilized by Amtrak passenger trains and Norfolk Southern freight trains,” said Peter Anastor, MDOT Office of Rail administrator. “Since the line was purchased by the state in 2012, MDOT has continually made improvements to this vital corridor to increase safety, speed and reliability.”

The grants were awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration. The Federal-State Partnership program funds projects designed to bring infrastructure into a state of good repair, improve passenger rail performance and expand or establish intercity passenger rail service.

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Michigan passenger rail improvements include bridge work

Of Michigan’s three selected projects, the Michigan Accelerated Rail Bridge Reconstruction project will receive up to $28.95 million. The funding will advance final design and construction for the reconstruction of four structurally deficient bridges along the Michigan Line in Comstock Township, Sandstone Charter Township and Superior Charter Township.

The work will bring the bridges into a state of good repair, increase their load ratings and strengthen corridor reliability. It is also intended to help prevent future slow orders and closures affecting passenger and freight rail.

The Michigan Line Blackman Road Bridge Replacement project will receive up to $17.97 million. MDOT will replace the 124-year-old Blackman Road Bridge in Jackson with a wider structure designed to accommodate potential future expansion.

The replacement will increase clearance for roadway traffic and emergency vehicles while bringing the bridge into a state of good repair. It is also intended to improve safety and support faster, more reliable rail service. Amtrak’s Wolverine route, which connects Detroit and Pontiac with Chicago, will benefit from the project.

Track and turnout renewal between Dearborn and Kalamazoo

The largest share of the federal funding, up to $98.39 million, will go to the Michigan Line Rail Track and Turnout Renewal project. The money will advance final design and construction of track-related improvements on MDOT-owned infrastructure between Dearborn and Kalamazoo.

The work will improve the corridor’s condition and performance while strengthening reliability. By addressing infrastructure needs that can contribute to slow orders and service disruptions, the improvements are also intended to help reduce travel times.

The Dearborn-to-Kalamazoo segment is part of the Michigan Line and supports Amtrak’s Wolverine and Blue Water services, helping connect communities across Michigan with Chicago.

What changes for passengers

The Dearborn-to-Kalamazoo section targeted by the largest of the three grants is a 135-mile state-owned part of Michigan’s accelerated rail corridor used by Amtrak. It also sits within broader planning for the Wolverine and Blue Water services: MDOT is studying reliability improvements and potential increases from the current three Wolverine round trips per day to as many as six, while Blue Water could increase from one daily round trip to as many as two. Those frequency increases remain planning goals rather than approved service changes.

Since Governor Gretchen Whitmer established the Michigan Infrastructure Office, Michigan has secured more than $16 billion in federal funding for roads, bridges, public transit, water infrastructure and broadband access.

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