Reps. Byrnes, Lemmons, Nitz, Hune, Ward, Corriveau, Accavitti, Hopgood, Ball, Stahl, Gonzales, Dean, Donigan, Spade, Cushingberry, Meadows, Bieda, Tobocman, Constan, LeBlanc, Leland, Alma Smith, Condino, Polidori, Kathleen Law, Clack, Hammon, Hammel, Pearce, Hansen, Melton, Vagnozzi, Warren, Mayes and Sak offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 166.

            A resolution to encourage the Federal Highway Administration to approve the $1,000,000 grant request, submitted by the Michigan Department of Transportation, to develop a rail transit route as an alternative to U.S. 23 in Livingston and Washtenaw counties.

            Whereas, The U.S. 23 corridor, one of the most heavily congested corridors in Southeast Michigan, is a critical route connecting the communities of Howell and Brighton to the Ann Arbor area and is the key route for traffic flow between Livingston and Washtenaw counties. U.S. 23 between Livingston and Washtenaw counties continually experiences heavy congestion, resulting in more than 2,600 crashes per year. Almost 60 percent of these accidents are rear-end crashes during peak traffic times and nearly 19 percent of the crashes result in injuries. Between 2003 and 2005, accidents on this stretch of highway resulted in over 600 injuries and 6 fatalities; and

            Whereas, The development of a commuter rail system that parallels the U.S. 23 corridor to provide morning and evening peak service, would establish the only general transit connection between Livingston and Washtenaw counties. Surveys completed by the University of Michigan, the Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce, the Brighton Chamber of Commerce, and the Washtenaw Community College demonstrate a significant interest in a commuter rail system, with more than half the respondents indicating that they would use such a service 4 to 5 days per week; and

            Whereas, A commuter rail system is being planned and developed by a large group of community partners, including Great Lakes Central Railroad, the Michigan Department of Transportation, Livingston County, Washtenaw County, the city of Ann Arbor, the city of Brighton, the city of Howell, Ann Arbor Township, Northfield Township, the Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce, the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority, the Greater Brighton Chamber of Commerce, the Howell Chamber of Commerce, the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, and the Livingston Essential Transportation Services. To help this partnership move forward in establishing an alternative general transit route between Livingston and Washtenaw counties, a grant request for $1,000,000 was submitted to the Federal Transportation, Community, and System Preservation Program to assist in paying for the necessary upgrades to support a safe and secure passenger system with appropriate stops to pick up and drop off passengers; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we encourage the Federal Highway Administration to approve the $1,000,000 grant request, submitted by the Michigan Department of Transportation, to develop a rail transit route as an alternative to highway travel on U.S. 23 to reduce congestion and provide a more comprehensive transportation plan for travel between Livingston and Washtenaw counties; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Michigan congressional delegation, the Federal Highway Administration, Great Lakes Central Railroad, the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, and Livingston Essential Transportation Services.