Traverse City — Emery Gyr loves to take trains from place to place, and saw much of the country by doing so.
Gyr, of Traverse City, attended Thursday's rail forum at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center, part of the regional planning Grand Vision project.
More than 100 area residents packed into the meeting to talk about what they want to see happen with freight and passenger rail service.
The crowd broke into groups and gathered around state maps to lay out their ideas for Michigan's railways.
"It's energy efficient in comparison to car travel. It's very easy and makes sense for people on business or students because they can get work done rather than driving," Gyr said.
Susan Cooper, of Traverse City, spoke during the forum about the importance of linking Traverse City to the Detroit Metro Airport, where many domestic and international flights depart and arrive. She also said her group believes the state should investigate building monorails down the middle of existing interstates and divided highways.
"We already own the right-of-ways," Cooper said.
It would be far more convenient for locals who take trains, should passenger service be restored to Traverse City, said Jim Sluyter, of Traverse City.
"We travel by rail some and the only way to catch the train is to drive to Kalamazoo, Battle Creek or Grand Rapids," he said.
Sluyter also wants to see passenger rail service expanded in Michigan because it would help reduce the population's carbon footprint, he said.
Karen Pontius, of Traverse City, owns a spice business, Suttons Bay Trading Company. She said her interest in local rail lines is not only for passenger convenience, but also for business. Much of her inventory arrives by truck, a method with variable costs.
"I think it would be nice to have this opportunity with gas prices going up," Pontius said.
But expanding Michigan's railway infrastructure won't be easy and conceivably could cost billions, said Kirk Steudle, Michigan Department of Transportation director.
"But that shouldn't deter us from saying, 'This is what we want,'" he said.
Michigan is developing a new state rail plan and will host similar forums across the state in coming months, Steudle said.
Visit www.thegrandvision.org for more information.
Region
Related Photos
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Kirk Steudle, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation, talks Thursday during the Michigan By Rail public forum at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center. Record-Eagle/Keith King
Citizens, officials discuss rail service
Some like the idea of a better train system
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