As gas prices soared in 2006, travelers sought the benefits of Amtrak travel, making this year the best on record for the passenger railroad in the state of Michigan. Overall, the state's three Amtrak rail passenger routes showed increases for the year, serving 664,284 passengers and generating revenues of $20.3 million.
"Overall, passenger train routes in Michigan had an outstanding year," state transportation director Kirk T. Steudle said.
The operating contract between MDOT and Amtrak for two routes (the Blue Water and the Pere Marquette) recently was renewed for fiscal year 2006-2007, beginning Oct. 1, 2006. The contract is $6.2 million, a 12 percent decrease from the previous year's contract of $7.1 million.
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