Will Ann Arbor Get Commuter Rail?

"He had to use three aging, blue and gold passenger cars that swayed their way slowly from an ad hoc boarding spot at Traver Road in Ann Arbor to Eight Mile Road in Northfield Township.

But with an already existing track, rolling stock and a railroad owner eager to participate, Mayor John Hieftje had a big advantage as he tried to sell his vision for commuter rail service to Ann Arbor.

Hieftje hosted the 90-minute train ride Thursday for about 60 politicians, business people, University of Michigan representatives, transportation experts and other interested people to show that a passenger rail service that could take thousands of cars off US-23 is not just an idle dream.

'We believe this could be a reality in three years,' Hieftje said in an interview during the train ride."