The focus of this category is on all forms of transportation in Michigan, with the exception of purchases, as resources such as car dealerships are more appropriate in the Shopping & eCommerce category.
There are several options to get around in Michigan. Visitors can fly into the state or from one part of the state to another through one of the several airports in Michigan, connecting with one of the local, regional, or major airlines serving the state.
Passenger trains are not as prevalent as they once were, but Amtrac operates three lines connecting Chicago with Michigan. The Pere Marquette runs between Chicago and Grand Rapids, with in-state stops at St. Joseph/Benton Harbor, Bangor, and Holland.
The Amtrac Wolverine will take passengers from Chicago to Pontiac, Michigan, making stops at New Buffalo, Niles, Dowagiac, Kalamazoo, Albion, Jackson, Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Detroit, Royal Oak, and Troy. The Wolverine runs three times a day in each direction, but not all trains travel the entire distance between Chicago and Pontiac.
Also traveling between Chicago and Pontiac, the Blue Water runs three times a day in each direction, although not all trains travel the entire distance. In Michigan, the Blue Water makes stops at Niles, Dowagiac, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, East Lansing, Durand, Flint, and Lapeer.
The Michigan Department of Transportation owns a segment of the accelerated rail corridor connecting Chicago with Detroit and Pontiac, making stops at communities in between. In recent years, the MDOT has focused its efforts on increasing passenger speeds on the Amtrak-owned portion of the accelerated rail corridor between Kalamazoo, Michigan and Porter, Indiana.
Some routes in the Amtrak system include Thruway Motorcoach services, which may provide transportation by bus, train, ferry, van, or taxi through a variety of operators. Available from several Amtrac stations in the southern part of the Lower Peninsula, Thruway connections can take passengers north into the Upper Peninsula, terminating at Sault Ste. Marie, with several stops in between. An additional Thruway connection runs from Marinette, Wisconsin to Hancock, with UP stops in Escanaba, Marquette, and L'Anse.
Other rail lines have stops in Ann Arbor, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Lansing, as well.
In cooperation with the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission, other rail lines are in the planning stages, connecting Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Detroit also has light-rail options, such as Detroit People Mover and QLine Detroit.
Riding the bus is also an option in Michigan. While purely local bus lines will be listed within the category that represents the city served by the line, intercity, statewide, regional, or major bus lines serving destinations in Michigan may be listed here. These may include Greyhound, which offers the most comprehensive network of bus stations within the state. Indian Trails offers several routes within the state and connects with Chicago. Megabus also offers bus transportation from Chicago to Ann Arbor or Detroit. Bus tours and charter buses serving the state of Michigan may also be appropriate for this category.
Other topics that might be found here may include auto rentals, providing they have locations in multiple cities within the state. Local car rentals should be listed in the category representing the city they are geographically located in. Taxis with locations in more than one city may be featured here.
Ferries to various islands on the Great Lakes may also be appropriate for this category, as would boat tours on the Great Lakes or other Michigan waterways.
The economic development of the upper part of the Lower Peninsula, and all of the Upper Peninsula, was dependent on the construction of systems of transportation designed to facilitate the transport of timber and mineral resources. Mostly, this involved the improvement of water transportation routes and the building of railroads. In the early days, roads were less important to the economy because products could be transported to market by rail or water. Because the state's railroad network was being constructed at the same time when the production of lumber and minerals had reached its height in the last four decades of the 19th century, the construction of railroads in the Upper Peninsula and the northern part of the Lower Peninsula was undertaken largely through federal subsidies in the form of land grants. In the southern part of the Lower Peninsula, rail construction was unsubsidized and built to serve the needs of the growing agricultural population, and that of the commercial and manufacturing enterprises in its towns and cities.
Whatever the mode of transport, the focus of this guide is on ways in which people can get around in Michigan without purchasing their own mode of transportation.
Recommended Resources
AirNav is a privately owned website for pilots and aviation enthusiasts that publishes airport information. Its Michigan section features a directory of private and public airports within the state. The list includes the airport identifier, city, and name. Upon clicking on the listing for an airport, the viewer can get additional information, such as its location, airport operations and communications, runway information, airport ownership, and operational statistics.
http://airnav.com/airports/us/MI
Prospective travelers may view the timetable for the Blue Water Amtrak train, which travels between Chicago, Illinois and Port Huron, Michigan once a day in each direction. A quiet car is available on weekdays, with business class seating available at all times. Other amenities include WiFi, a cafe, and bicycle or golf bag storage when space allows. Station stops along the way are listed, and viewers may examine additional details of each stop by clicking on the name.
https://amtrakguide.com/routes/blue-water/
The Pere Marquette Amtrak train travels between Chicago, Illinois, and Grand Rapids, Michigan daily, with stops at St. Joseph/Benton Harbor, Bangor, and Holland, Michigan. Travel amenities include business class seating, a cafe, free WiFi, and bicycle storage, depending on space available. Details, a map, and directions to each of the station stops along the way are featured, including parking and hours. Schedules are posted, and tickets may be purchased online.
https://amtrakguide.com/routes/pere-marquette/
The Amtrak Wolverine train travels between Chicago, Illinois and Pontiac, Michigan three times a day, although not all trains travel the entire distance. Travel options include a quiet car, business class seating, a cafe, and free WiFi. The timetable for the train is posted, with other details about the trip, such as major stops, and all of the station stops along the way. By clicking on the station stop, site visitors can view a map and details of each station, including directions.
https://amtrakguide.com/routes/wolverine/
Offering daily crossings of Lake Michigan, the high-speed auto ferry provides a shortcut from Muskegon, Michigan to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, bypassing the congestion of Chicago. The Lake Express crosses Lake Michigan four times a day during its spring and summer schedule, with the addition of evening sailings during the summer. Its spring, summer, and fall schedules are posted, along with rates, and an overview of its Milwaukee and Muskegon terminals.
https://www.lake-express.com/
Serving Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, Washtenaw, and Lapeer counties, Metroride offers a variety of transportation services, including door-to-door airport service to and from all metro area airports to area hotels, local services, and courier services. Its vehicles are highlighted, price lists are posted, and clients may book reservations online. The site also features some of the hotels that it serves, as well as its airline connections, casinos, and shopping venues.
http://www.metroride.com/
Michigan Public Transit Association
Formed in 1977, the MPTA is a non-profit statewide association whose membership ranges from the largest urban public transit systems in the state to the smaller, rural, on-demand response systems. Headquartered in East Lansing, its membership is distributed throughout the state. Its presentations and advocacy issues are highlighted, along with membership policies, the benefits of membership, and schedules of conferences and training programs.
https://mptaonline.org/
Featuring contemporary and historical information about railroads in and near the State of Michigan, the site features individual pages for each of Michigan’s operating railroads, with a brief description of the railroad, a news feed, and links to the railroad’s web pages, along with a history section that includes old railroad maps, station information, photographs, and thousands of categorized pages of history covering the state’s railroads. Discussion boards are also available.
http://www.michiganrailroads.com/
Housed in the Mount Clemens Train Station, which was built for the Chicago, Detroit & Canada Grand Trunk Railway to serve the growing village and county seat of Macomb County, the depot was in service from 1859 to 1954. In 1980, it was purchased by the city of Mt. Clemens and leased to MTM, who restored the structure, now listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Membership information, train fares and schedules, and a calendar of events are posted.
https://www.michigantransitmuseum.com/
The MPT is a member-driven, self-insured, pool of Michigan public transit agencies that provide stable, cost-effective, and shared-risk insurance, with a focus on preventing losses and claims by supporting member agencies with best practices, safety, training, and risk and claims management assistance. Its services, membership benefits and advantages, and a member directory are posted, with links to other online resources. A private area of the site is available to members.
http://www.mtponline.org/
Created in 2012, the RTA is governed by a 10-member board whose members are appointed for three-year terms by the county executives of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties, the chair of the Washtenaw County board of commissioners, the mayor of Detroit, and the governor of Michigan. Currently served by five area transportation providers, which are highlighted here, a system map is displayed, and a schedule of meetings and events are included.
https://rtamichigan.org/
