VIDEO: Senator Peters Advocates for Continued Funding for Freight & Passenger Rail Projects Across Michigan

WASHINGTON, DC – During a hearing in the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety, U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) advocated for continued investments to upgrade railroad infrastructure in Michigan. During the hearing, Peters highlighted the success of the bipartisan infrastructure law, which has invested more than $140 million to improve freight operations and passenger service across Michigan.  

“No state better exemplifies the reality of, and the opportunities for, passenger and freight rail than my home state of Michigan... As the home of the auto industry, and the heart of American manufacturing, Michigan’s freight rail network delivers cars, agricultural products, construction materials, and everyday goods all over our state as well as across international borders,” said Senator Peters, Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety.  

“Michigan is also leading the way when it comes to passenger rail. The Michigan Department of Transportation has effectively taken advantage of resources that Congress provided to improve passenger rail service,” Peters continued. “This includes efforts to restore Amtrak service to the historic Michigan Central station in downtown Detroit and to expand that service across the Canadian border into Windsor in the coming years, a project that I’m going to continue to fight for.” 

Peters advocated for numerous federal programs that have supported rail projects in Michigan, including the Corridor Identification and Development (Corridor ID) Program, which is being used for the expansion of accessible and affordable rail transportation service between key urban and rural communities across the state. 

“This funding has specifically allowed Michigan to conduct the analysis and the planning that they need to support future expansion of passenger rail on all three of our Amtrak lines, the Wolverine, the Blue Water, and the Pier Marquette,” Peters added. 

To ensure these ongoing projects continue moving forward, Peters made it clear that more must be done to keep these programs on solid financial footing into the future.  

“Michigan is certainly not alone. Communities across the country have benefited from increased resources to strengthen their rail infrastructure, but this work is far from over,” Peters said. “Programs like the Corridor ID and Railroad Crossing Elimination Grants can only reach their full potential if we follow up with continued investment to ensure projects that are already underway are not abandoned midway.” 

In response, Ian Jefferies, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Association of American Railroads agreed with Peters, saying, “My concern, if you let those programs be dormant or stagnate, is that there’s going to be a lot of missed opportunities to partner with public agencies throughout the entire country... to do projects that otherwise may not get done. That will have real benefits to cities and towns across the U.S., and the movement of freight, goods, and people.”  

To watch video of Senator Peters’ opening remarks and question at the hearing, click here.

Peters has consistently advocated for investments in our rail infrastructure made possible by the bipartisan infrastructure law, including a $119 million investment to support five major commercial and passenger rail improvement projects across Michigan. In 2023, Peters helped announce $20 million in federal funding to replace the Manistee River Bridge in Manton to increase weight capacity and improve rail crossing safety. 

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