Politics & Government

Troy Residents Comment on Transit Center; Vote Expected Dec. 19

The $8.4 million transit center is slated to be built with federal funds; council is expected to vote Dec. 19 on whether to move forward – or scrap the project.

Troy City Council heard from area residents Monday night offering their opinions on the proposed .

Council had encouraged people to come forward with opinions at Monday night's City Council meeting in advance of making a decision on whether the project would move forward or be scrapped.

On Nov. 21, council ended its meeting  to alter the fate of an $8.4 million transit center that is slated to be built with funding from the Federal Railroad Administration.

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The transit center project would replace the current Amtrak station located in Birmingham. The new facility would allow for connections to other modes of transportation, including a SMART bus terminal and potential connections with future light rail and commuter trains. The current station consists of a platform and small shelter.

Troy City Manager John Szerlag asked City Council to make a decision by Dec. 19 so the project could either move forward or be scrapped. If the contract were rescinded, the federal funds would be reallocated and provided to another railroad project, most likely in another state.

Find out what's happening in Troywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Chamber president: 'We can't afford to lose this project'

 president Michelle Hodges spoke in favor of the proposed transit center. She said she had also recently spoken with Meritor, AT&T and other companies in Troy who are strongly in favor of the project.

"We can't afford to lose this project," Hodges said, encouraging the council to find some way to compromise so that the city can move forward with the project.

Another member of the Troy Chamber said a 4 1/2-hour trip to Chicago or a quick trip downtown for a game would be a major draw for people that the transit center could provide.

A resident of Troy who lives a half-mile from the center's proposed location expressed concerns about safety living so close to a transit center. That resident, a police officer in another community, said he deals first-hand with problems that come up at transit centers. Another resident who spoke out against the project told council that there are always "strings attached" with federal money and said the area is not centralized enough for this type of transit system.

Troy resident Kathy Martin spoke in favor of the project, saying she lived in Europe where she said the public transit system was "absolutely seamless." She said she disagrees with other comments about criminals using public transit, saying she has had various reasons for needing to use public transit in the past.

About the transit project

The transit center project would replace the current Amtrak station located in Birmingham. The new facility would allow for connections to other modes of transportation, including a SMART bus terminal and potential connections with future light rail and commuter trains. The current station consists of a platform and small shelter.

Troy City Council on Sept. 12 approved a contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to proceed with the design and construction phase of the transit center. Under the contract agreement, MDOT would provide about $8.4 million for the project, with that money coming from the Federal Railroad Administration.

Following the November election, newly installed Mayor Janice Daniels has said she would like to hear viewpoints opposing the center, and newly elected Councilmen Doug Tietz and Dave Henderson also indicated they are opposed to the project.

Council is now considering whether to allow the project to proceed or to introduce a motion to rescind the contract and halt the project before the design phase of the project starts. City administrators indicated during a study session last month that the city has spent more than $400,000 on the project in the past decade.

Szerlag has said the city management isn't for or against the project, but rather works at the discretion of the City Council.

If the contract were rescinded, the federal funds would be reallocated and provided to another railroad project, most likely in another state.

Troy resident Cynthia Wilsher said the transit center has been in the works for years and suddenly the new council "wants to boot that out."

"How dare you?" she said.


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