LANSING-State Senator Mark Schauer (D-Battle Creek) and Jackson-area community leaders met with state and local transportation officials this morning to discuss the potential of high-speed rail service for Jackson County. The group considered the possibility of expanding the current Detroit-Ann Arbor Commuter Rail Project, which hopes to have cars running by the end of 2010, to include Jackson.

“Adding high-speed rail as a transit option could help create new jobs and spur economic activity for Jackson and the surrounding communities. It makes perfect sense at a time when high gas prices are forcing both individuals and businesses to look for less expensive, more efficient ways to get from here to there,” said Schauer. “Our central location, proximity to several major highways, and diverse mix of businesses and education institutions are all strategic advantages for securing high-speed rail service.”

Officials from several key groups joined Schauer and his staff at the meeting in Jackson this morning, including representatives of the Michigan Department of Transportation, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, and Jackson Citizens for Economic Growth. They shared information about the benefits of the proposal, as well as obstacles such as adequate funding sources.

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