From Detroit to Traverse City By Train: The Bold New North+South Rail Plan That Could Shake Up Michigan Travel (03-29-26)

On this episode of West Michigan Weekend, host Phil Tower explores a bold idea that could transform how people travel across the state—Michigan’s proposed North + South Passenger Rail project. For many communities in Mid- and Northern Michigan, getting around still means getting behind the wheel. But what if there were a reliable rail option connecting Southeast Michigan to the northern Lower Peninsula?

Phil is joined by Carolyn Ulstad, Transportation Program Manager with Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities, a nonprofit leading the charge on this effort. She explains how the proposed rail corridor could link cities like Detroit, Ann Arbor, Mount Pleasant, and beyond—while improving access to jobs, healthcare, education, and tourism.
  
Learn more online:
North + South Passenger Rail Project

Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities