The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has initiated steps towards establishing a rail link between Detroit and its Metro Airport. On Friday, the agency unveiled a comprehensive rail strategy, earmarking billions for new construction and funding for rail expansion in numerous corridors across the United States.
Central to this initiative is Amtrak’s ambitious Cleveland–Toledo–Detroit/Pontiac corridor. This proposed route would facilitate travel from Pontiac to Cleveland, with strategic stops in Troy, Royal Oak, Detroit, Toledo, and Sandusky. Notably, this week saw the inclusion of two key destinations: Detroit Metropolitan Airport in Romulus and Cleveland Hopkins Airport in Ohio. Under the Corridor Identification and Development Program (Corridor ID), this corridor is set to receive up to $500,000 for planning a new conventional rail system.
In parallel, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has been granted a similar sum to plan the extension of the Wolverine corridor. This existing route, connecting Chicago to Detroit, is poised for an extension from Detroit to Windsor, enhancing connectivity and economic opportunities.
These developments are part of a larger $8.2 billion grant package announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this package aims to revolutionize rail travel in the country. The Ohio Rail Development Commission, which applied for the Cleveland-Pontiac corridor funding, is among the 69 grant recipients across 44 states.
The ORDC and MDOT are now tasked with developing a detailed plan, including scope, schedule, and cost estimates, for these ambitious projects.
The inaugural selection of 69 corridors spans four categories: new high-speed rail, new conventional rail, existing routes with extensions, and existing routes. The Cleveland–Toledo–Detroit/Pontiac corridor, falling under the new conventional rail category, is expected to operate trains at speeds ranging from 79 to 125 mph, primarily using existing rail alignments shared with other railroad operations.
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