WHY NOT BUILD SOMETHING USING NEW TECHNOLOGY LIKE MAGLEV OR THE INTERSTATE TRAVELER INSTEAD OF USING COMMUTER RAIL?
Technologies like maglev and Interstate Traveler are meant for longer distances, such as Detroit to Chicago, than the Ann Arbor-Howell commute that WALLY is proposing. WHY NOT SIMPLY ADD MORE CAR LANES TO U.S. 23? Adding lanes is significantly more costly than building commuter rail stations. The Michigan Department of Transportation estimates that adding a third lane to U.S. 23 would cost approximately $500 million, while R. L. Banks, a leading passenger rail consulting firm, estimates WALLY capital costs will be $32 million. Planning Process: WHAT IS AATA’S ROLE IN MOVING WALLY FORWARD? The AATA has assumed responsibility for leading the project and working with communities along the WALLY route, MDOT, and Great Lakes Central Railroad. AATA is providing technical support for service and station planning, and as a public agency, can apply for the government grants needed to pay for some of the improvements necessary to upgrade the line, stations and equipment. IS THE WALLY PROJECT ALI
