Coast-to-Coast Ridership Study

PROJECT SUMMARY: The Coast-to-Coast Ridership Study is a study of passenger rail ridership potential and cost projections for three prospective routes of renewed passenger rail service between Holland and Detroit, Michigan. In my role as a Policy Associate at the Michigan Environmental Council, I led the effort to secure funding for this study. Through collaborative efforts I coordinated with the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (AAATA/TheRide) and Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers (MARP), we secured a Service Development and New Technologies grant from the State of Michigan for $100,000 in September 2014. This grant funding was made possible through a wide range of support we garnered from state and local elected officials, local units of government, and non-profit organizations, all across the state, including:

  • Over $20,000 in local match funding from eleven partners from Holland to Livonia

  • Over 40 letters of support from elected officials, local units of government, and non-profit organizations, including the Chairmen of both the State House and Senate's Appropriations and Transportation committees

  • State legislation (2014 PA 252, Article XVII, Section 712)

Prospective routes studied for the Coast-to-Coast are mapped below. The study officially began in the Fall of 2014, and its report was released on February 22, 2016. Key assets from the coalition building campaign and study are available below, via Michigan By Rail and the Michigan Environmental Council.

TEAM: Michigan Environmental Council, Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (AAATA/TheRide)

ROLE: As a policy associate at the Michigan Environmental Council I was the project manager for the funding campaign. I analyzed and tracked legislation, lobbied elected officials, boards, and community leaders, set campaign outreach priorities, and coordinated with partner organizations to manage project delivery.

TOOLS USED: Google MyMaps, Earth, and Streetview; Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint