Press Releases
Dingell Urges FRA to Expedite Environmental Assessment for Ann Arbor Train Station
Dearborn, MI,
April 20, 2017
This week, U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) sent a letter to the Acting Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Patrick Warren urging him to expedite an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the city of Ann Arbor’s new Amtrak station. The letter comes after stakeholders raised concerns that any further delay in releasing the EA by the FRA could jeopardize the City of Ann Arbor from receiving the full amount of a $2.8 million federal grant that expires in September of this year. “Amtrak’s Wolverine Line will soon be operating a high-speed rail service. The line serves around 500,000 customers a year and a new Ann Arbor station is vital to increasing ridership between Detroit, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois,” Dingell wrote. “Delaying the release of the EA until late spring or early summer jeopardizes the ability to complete the grant process before the September deadline. Please review Ann Arbor’s draft Environmental Assessment in an urgent and expeditious manner so the city can move forward with improving mass transit in the state of Michigan.” The full letter can be read here and below. April 14, 2017 Patrick T. Warren Acting Administrator Federal Railroad Administration 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington, DC 20590 Dear Acting Administrator Warren: This letter is in regards to an issue critical to the city of Ann Arbor and mass transit in the state of Michigan. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded the Michigan Department of Transportation a $2.8 million rail grant in 2011 that would help the city plan for a new Amtrak station. Ann Arbor city officials submitted a revised draft version of the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) to the FRA. The city is awaiting the final release of the EA in order to begin a 30-day public review and comment period. If the grant is not finalized by September 30, 2017, any unused fund must be returned to the United States Treasury. This letter is to urge you to release the EA in an expedited fashion after a thorough review. Amtrak’s Wolverine line will soon be operating a high-speed rail service. The line serves around 500,000 customers a year and a new Ann Arbor station is vital to increasing ridership between Detroit, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois. Delaying the release of the EA until late spring or early summer jeopardizes the ability to complete the grant process before the September deadline. Please review Ann Arbor’s draft Environmental Assessment in an urgent and expeditious manner so the city can move forward with improving mass transit in the state of Michigan. Thank you for your attention to this critical issue and I look forward to receiving your response. Sincerely, Debbie Dingell Member of Congress |