Regional rail would help Michigan close its graduation gap.

Hourly trains, linking Michigan’s largest cities, would give students greater flexibility to attend the college of their choice – and finish with a degree.

The percentage of working-age adults with a post-secondary degree or certification in Michigan is about 51 percent. That’s 37^th in the US—and dead last in the Midwest.

This graduation gap drags down the state’s whole economy. A low-skilled workforce earns low wages, which shrinks the tax base and prevents the kind of investments that would make Michigan attractive to quality employers. The result? Consumer Affairs ranks the state 47th in the US in overall quality of life, 39th in overall economy, and 36th in affordability.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proposed making community college free to high school graduates as part of Michigan’s “Sixty by 30” initiative, which aims to increase the graduation rate to a least 60 percent.

A network of quality trains serving southern Michigan with hourly service would give 80 percent of the state’s population—or 8 million people—easy access to excellent, affordable transportation.

And it would give Michigan a powerful tool for addressing its graduation gap—while also catalyzing growth across the whole economy.

Why driving is a drag

The hardships of driving often make it difficult or impossible for students to finish their program. In one recent study, for example, college students reported that their commute was a barrier to both campus participation (60%) and academic success (30%). And the burdens fall disproportionately on less-affluent students and minority populations.

One analysis noted a 10% gap in college completion between Latinos and White and Asian Americans. The authors write that “respondents “overwhelmingly agreed that transportation was a barrier to their ability to persist in their education.”

Because cars are a big and unpredictable expense, this barrier also creates barriers across every realm of life. In 2022, the average US household spent about $12,000 on transportation. Most of that money went to buying and maintaining cars. At the same time, nearly half of Americans have no practical access to public transit options.

So, it’s not only about enrolling more students. To finish their degrees, students need mobility options that support their journey instead of derailing it.

The path to prosperity

About 18 million people—or more than 5 percent of the total US population—live in the corridor that includes the cluster of cities south of Grand Rapids, stretching from metro Detroit to metro Chicago.

Outside of the East Coast, nothing in the US is close in terms of economic muscle, educational assets, and affordable housing stock. A network of quality trains would unlock new educational, work, and leisure opportunities for all residents—no matter where they are.

For schools and students, quality trains would be transformative in at least four critical ways:

• Students who chose to live on campus could access a greater variety of schools, without a car.
• Students who commute could would have a greater range of schools to choose from.
• The amazing opportunities of the whole region, extending all the way from from Chicago to Detroit, would be just a train ride away. A bonus is that trains also open up easy access to international airports.
• Schools—and the communities they’re located in—would benefit immensely as well. Instead of more parking lots, they could build the kind of communities that people actually want to live in—with better transit, more biking and walking trails, and vibrant public spaces.

That’s the value that trains deliver. They’re not only safe, reliable, and affordable. They’re the path to prosperity and new possibilities.

How do we get there?

There are three foundational steps for building Michigan’s regional rail network:

• Amtrak’s Wolverine line—which connects Chicago and Detroit via Kalamazoo and Battle Creek—is the backbone. Fortunately, the state and Amtrak already own much of the track, and the line has few freight trains. Michigan has taken initial steps to modernize the Wolverine with track upgrades and faster trains. Hourly service should be the priority.
• Amtrak’s Pere Marquette line—running from Chicago to Grand Rapids—offers just one round-trip run per day. The state should buy the railroad from CSX all the way from Porter, IN through Grand Rapids to Detroit and upgrade it for hourly departures.
• Filling in several north-south segments would complete the network.

The tool for achieving these goals is the Federal Railroad Administration’s new Corridor ID program. Much of this network is already in the program. Now, Michigan DOT needs to take a network approach, including hourly departures.

You can make a big difference in the process by contacting your representatives. Tell them to push MDOT to create a bold plan for quality regional rail—i.e., fast trains, hourly service, and easy, affordable access by train or bus to all of southern Michigan.

Sign the Petition

Moving toward a healthier Michigan—in every sense

The numbers don’t lie. Michigan’s subpar transportation system undermines its graduation rates, its economy, and its overall quality of life.

Regional rail will deliver a new era of prosperity and sustainable growth. When people can leave their car at home and easily travel between communities in the corridor, demand for more and better train service will increase. Towns and cities will invest in local transit systems and bike- and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.

Michigan will be healthier in every sense. The state will have a thriving corridor—stretching from metro Detroit to metro Chicago—that boasts a well-educated workforce, a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, and an extraordinary quality of life.

The opportunities are waiting. The returns on investment will be immense. Let’s get started.