Two Michigan transit agencies awarded $25M to invest in passenger rail services, marine capital projects

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Michigan Infrastructure Office (MIO) recently awarded two transit agencies $25 million in Intermodal Capital Investment Grant program funds.

The program investments in passenger rail, transit, and marine capital projects and equipment, leveraging federal infrastructure funding whenever possible.

“These capital investment grants will provide critical funding to our public transit agencies to improve services.” State Transportation Director Bradley C. Wieferich, said. “It will help enhance and expand the state’s multimodal passenger transportation systems.”

The Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority was awarded $15 million for the construction of a new ferryboat to serve Drummond Island and improve access to and from the island for residents and visitors. An increased demand from large vehicles has resulted in wait times for accessing the current ferry that are hours long.

The new ferry also will accommodate an increase in recreational tourism and housing construction.

The Huron Transit Corp./Huron County Board of Commissioners was awarded $10 million to support the construction of transit facility that will replace an existing, deteriorating structure that can no longer accommodate the current transit bus fleet. The transit agency currently is renting storage space which is adding to its operational budget.

The project is estimated to cost $32 million.

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