New study shows strong support for WALLY rail line

Wednesday, September 2, 2009 | Source: Concentrate

Support continues to climb for the proposed Washtenaw-Livingston Line (WALLY) for commuter trains.

The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority says that in a polling of 100 residents of Washtenaw County, 75 percent are in favor of the line, while 80 percent of 101 residents of Livingston County are in favor of it. Bellevue, Washington-based Illium Associates conducted the study.

It also found that 61 percent of respondents from Livingston County would be interested in using WALLY for their daily commute. Other statistics show 79 percent of Livingston County and 92 percent of Washtenaw County respondents, respectively, believe that public transit services are important to the local economy.

The study is not a scientific one. Instead, it focused on collecting the opinions of residents 18 years and older from phone interviews. The respondents live along the proposed route, which includes the townships of Ann Arbor, Northfield, Green Oak, Hamburg, Genoa, Marion and Howell, along with the cities of Ann Arbor, Brighton and Howell.

"It's the equivalent of having 10 focus groups in each county," says Mary Stasiak, spokeswoman for the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority.

The authority is gearing up for a more comprehensive study to be conducted early this fall. Stasiak says this will give a more accurate picture of where the proposal stands.

WALLY calls for creating a commuter rail line between Ann Arbor and Howell along the constantly congested stretch of U-23. Stops would include the north side of Ann Arbor, Green Oak Township, Hamburg Township, Genoa Township, and downtown Howell. Although proponents of the project have been fighting for it for years, they have not been able to nail down the several million dollars needed to upgrade the tracks and fund the service initially.

Source: Mary Stasiak, spokeswoman for the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority
Writer: Jon Zemke