By By JESSICA SIEFF / Niles Daily Star
Put an ear to the ground and most likely, a lot of rumbling will be heard about the state of rail lines in Michigan.
With fuel prices still impacting American families and the way they travel, concern turning to transportation that is equal parts efficient and convenient, some might say rail travel has found renewed importance.
Which has some wondering why Michigan cut its funding for Amtrak last month.
When he did a walk through audit of Niles just this week, Dan Burden, founder of Walkable Communities, mentioned rail and its possible impact here at home during his presentation to community members.
"Once you get high speed rail in," he said. "You are the undiscovered gem."
So the question remains, why did the state Senate Appropriations Committee vote in June to cut funding to Amtrak by $2 million and what kind of impact could this have on cities such as Niles?
"People need to be really angry," said Rick Harnish, executive director of the Midwest High Speed Rail Association in Chicago.
As more and more Americans look for more economical ways of travel and fuel prices continue to fluctuate, Harnish said those areas with more accessibility to rail travel and towns closer to train stations become more attractive places to live and hang on to a "closer connection" to nearby cities.
Through those sprawling lines that stretch across the state and the country through towns large and small, cities like Niles find incredible opportunity with connections to nearby heavily populated cities such as Chicago, Grand Rapids and Detroit.
Asked what he thought of the funding cuts, Harnish said, "I don't think that's acceptable."
Because of the cuts, the existence of two routes, Port Huron and Grand Rapids to Chicago, are reportedly in jeopardy.
"What it means is Western Michigan will have less of a connection to the rest of the economy," Harnish said.
According to the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers (MARP), ridership of was once the breakthrough mode of transportation in the country's history, is increasing.
Based on information provided by the Michigan Department of Transportation, close to 700,000 Michigan residents traveled by train in 2008. That's up from less than 500,000 in 2003.
The association in a statement urged residents to contact their elected officials about the cuts. Harnish agrees.
"Rail is an important part of our community," said State Representative Sharon Tyler. "Not only does it serve as an attraction for Chicago-area tourists coming into Michigan but provides Southwest Michigan residents an easy commute to work in Chicago or Indiana. From my experience in economic development the railway has been very attractive to luring businesses into district and is a part of what makes us unique from other communities."
In her reaction to the state's cuts, Tyler did not blast her fellow lawmakers but observed a need to maintain rail in the state.
"I consider rail to be one of Michigan's economic development tools," she said. "Any cuts to economic development or job creation programs concerns me. Unfortunately Michigan is not in a position to avoid cuts to some departments and programs. We must remember that our number one priority should be job creation and retention. Maintaining funding and support for our rail lines is an important aspect of that."
Congressman Fred Upton voiced his support for national support for Amtrak the same week the state cut its funding.
Stating that Amtrak ridership has increased to 25.8 million nationwide in 2007, Upton supported the passage of legislation in the House to continue funding to the transportation giant through 2013 as well as efforts to establish a grant program for high speed rail which "the Chicago to Detroit corridor" would be eligible for.
"This measure also sends a signal that high-speed rail is the wave of the future…" Upton said back in June.
"With escalating fuel costs, coupled with growing concerns on climate change, rail service is an affordable, environmentally responsible solution to the transportation needs of folks across the nation."
In the meantime, Michigan's future when it comes to rail seems to be poised for a bumpy ride.
With so many people making their way in and out of the area and the train serving as a positive contributor in the midst of economic, energy and environmental crises, support and not cuts is what's needed, Harnish said.
"This is a really bad choice for the future of the state," he said.