The proposed Washtenaw and Livingston commuter rail Line (WALLY) is slowly moving again. The project stalled out after the release of a feasibility study with estimated start up costs slated at around $32 million. High start up costs would be largely related to infrastructure improvement. The proposed commuter rail line would extend from the City of Howell to Ann Arbor with seven total stops (Howell, Genoa Township, Hamburg Township, Barton Road, 8 Mile Road in Whitmore Lake, Ann Arbor and U of M). Daily trains would run on tracks owned by the Great Lakes Central Railroad who early on committed to providing 10 bi-level passenger cars. WALLY was originally proposed as an alternative to adding a third lane on US 23, slated to cost over $500 million.
Although the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority replaced the WALLY Authority due to unclear funding commitments and non-committal from Livingston County, the study continues to move forward. The Washtenaw Area Transportation Study (WATS) is still finishing up environmental clearance work at all seven stops. This is a federal process so there is no proposed time line for a finish date. A $96,000 grant was received recently which will help to fund a transportation survey about potential commuter habits in Livingston and Washtenaw Counties.
If the project were to go forward service would not be immediate in all seven locations – transportation authority officials conservatively hope to see WALLY operating by 2010. After three years of service the would become eligible for federal transportation funding.
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