The engineering and architecture firm that designed Fennville’s new streetscape now hopes to pitch the idea of a new downtown train station to Amtrak officials later this month.
Tony McGhee is the business development director for the firm Abonmarche and said the city could seek a variety of grants to fund what his firm has estimated at $350,000 in total project costs.
The preliminary design puts the project just south of M-89 on the west side of the tracks. It would convert the Downtown Development Authority’s building (formerly the Short Stop) at 220 Main St. into the station and public restrooms and lay in a sidewalk that crosses West Fennville Street to a 300-foot platform on the west side of the tracks. The state’s 23rd station would be part of Amtrak’s Pere Marquette line.
Even without grants, McGhee said the project could likely be funded through a low-interest loan through the U.S. Department of Agriculture; a 40-year loan at 3.5 percent interest would run the city approximately $1,500 per month.
“We’re looking for funds now,” he said. “The MEDC is very interested in this project because of the whole Pure Michigan push. We’re going to see if there are any (community development) block grant funds. We also think it’s possible to get (Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program) funds because (public transit like this) reduces emissions.”
He presented the idea to Allegan County commissioners Feb. 23, and they unanimously passed a resolution in support of it.
Read the full article on Allegannews.com
Discover more from Miner Lake
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.