Rinck to push for increased rail service to Grand Rapids

March 15, 2007

Grand Rapids mayoral candidate Jim Rinck plans to increase rail service to Grand Rapids, “The first step is to increase the number of trains between Grand Rapids and Chicago. Increased rail traffic will equate to an increase in visitors and an increase in revenues for Grand Rapids. Just adding one additional train per day will make West Michigan more accessible to our neighboring states”.

Rinck’s campaign has already begun meeting with transportation and rail experts to work on a viable plan which will include adding a new line from Grand Rapids to Lansing. Rinck adds, “Grand Rapids has been blessed with over $1 Billion in new investment for the new Medical Mile facilities. Students, faculty, patients, and their families will depend on affordable, efficient transportation to Grand Rapids”.

According to the Michigan Department of Transportation 103,912 people rode Amtrak Pere Marquette trains on the Grand Rapids-Chicago route in 2006, an increase of more than nine percent from the same period a year earlier. Ticket revenue is up by nearly more than seven percent and is in excess of $.86 million for the period.

Mr. Rinck went on to say, “With the new medical corridor from Lansing to Grand Rapids, it is fiscally responsible to our community to provide and establish a reliable infrastructure that will support these new growth opportunities”.