B.C. Amtrak station to get a facelift

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - President Obama plans to announce $8 billion in stimulus funds for several high-speed rail projects to try and create new jobs Thursday.
 
The grants will likely help develop a high-speed rail system across the Midwest, including a stretch through lower Michigan.
 
The White House says the projects are expected to create or save tens of thousands of jobs.
 
Governor Jennifer Granholm issed a statement in reaction to the high-speed rail announcement, saying;
 
"This Recovery Act funding for high-speed rail along the Pontiac–Detroit–Chicago corridor is a victory for Michigan and the Midwest.  The national highway system took decades to construct, and a high-speed rail network to all corners of the region will take time.  Indiana and Illinois will use these dollars to untangle the knot of freight and passenger lines that slow traffic just beyond Michigan’s border – a necessary first step for the ultimate success of a Michigan route.   The funding will give us a head start toward our high-speed rail future, funding key improvements to stations in Battle Creek, Troy, and Dearborn. We will continue to work with our partners in the region and aggressively pursue our share in the second round of funding.”

Congressman Mark Schauer thinks the Battle Creek Intermodal Transportation center just needs some TLC, and he's glad that it's getting $3.6 Million dollars of it. It's part of the $40 Million going to build up high speed rail between Detroit and Chicago, part of the Federal Stimulus Plan, and the Democratic Congressman was more than happy to point that out, and the benefits to Battle Creek and its train station.

"These dollars are going to give this facility a makeover and modernize it because this is going to be a much busier station with high speed trains running between Detroit and Chicago," said Congressman Schauer.
 
Passengers also voiced appreciation for fixing up the station that seems far older than its 30 years. Carol Cooper says she rides the train to Chicago 3-to-6 times a year, and always felt that Battle Creek's station was cold with its dark tile, steel rimmed couches, and raggedy cushions; she welcomes the money.

"I think it's a great idea, it's long overdue and it's time to have something upgraded in Michigan," said Cooper.
 
Another person who's excited about fixing up the Transportation center is Battle Creek's transportation director who's always wanted to fix things up. Greg Zanotti says the work areas for train and bus employees would be vastly improved. He added that both the exterior and interior will have work done.

"Upgrading the restroom facilities upgrading the finishes and obviously the lobby area where passengers would be staged here," said Zanottie also says platforms and lighting will get some work.
 
The money is also being welcomed by contractors with Local 355 a building and contractors union. Members of the union flanked Mark Schauer as he delivered the news at the train station.

The contractors emphasized that one out of every four members is not getting work, and that this project would put many of them back to work for at least some time. The project is slated to get 150 people working on the improvements over the next few months, and Alex Zurek, the lead rep for Local 355 said that work could start almost immediately, which was good news for his brothers sitting on the sidelines.

"Every time you turn around there's bad news, there's a plant closing somebody knows somebody that's leaving they're losing their house they can't buy groceries can't pay the heat bill people are moving away just trying to hope for something better," said Zurek.

All the effort is part of the eight billion dollars to get trains moving faster. High speed rail could run at speeds over 100 miles an hour, but the work right now is just the beginning. Some experts estimate that the Detroit-to-Chicago high speed rail could take $800 million to build, and right now the federal government has alloted Michigan with just $40 million, and the bulk of the line runs through Michigan. But Schauer says there has to be a stronger commitment to make high speed rail grow in the future.

"This has got to be a sustained approach if we look at the commitment we've made to our interestate system that's the kind of commitment we need to make to our high speed passenger rail system," said Congressman Schauer.

Battle Creek isn't the only city in Michigan that's benefiting, Dearborn will get a brand new station, and the Troy train station will also be renovated.

Illinois is also getting over $100 million dollars to improve it's stretches of the line, and there will be $71 million for track improvements that will keep passenger trains moving, the trains are often delayed due to freight traffic, a point that passengers were quick to point out to Schauer at the train station Thursday. Among the states, California was the largest recipient of stimulus funds, the state is hoping to launch a line that will run between Los Angeles and San Francisco.