Opinion: Federal dollars will speed Michigan's aging rail system

Every American has felt, in one way or another, the impact of rising costs in their daily lives. The pandemic has caused the rusted links in our supply chains to break entirely and revealed the vulnerabilities in our reduced domestic manufacturing capacity.  

That’s why we have been working hard in the Biden-Harris Administration to address these challenges immediately and to rebuild here at home, laying the groundwork for a new era of economic growth in which no one is left behind.

President Biden tasked us with strengthening our supply chains, speeding the movement of people and goods, increasing production, and helping usher in newer, cleaner and cheaper energy—all of which will lower costs for families. And thanks to the president’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we have the resources we need to do just that.

When most people think about our supply chain, they think of congestion at seaports in coastal cities like Los Angeles and Baltimore. But there’s also important work to do right here in Michigan. Take, for example, America’s freight rail system, which is unrivaled in size, yet in a state of disrepair in many parts of the country. In southwest Michigan, trains sometimes have to slow down to 5 miles per hour, and the state has to limit the weight of railcars—which limits how much they can carry. 

Today, we begin work to address those problems, as we announce an $8.7 million grant to the West Michigan Railroad Company and Michigan Department of Transportation to fund much-needed safety and infrastructure improvements to that rail line in Southwest Michigan. That investment will mean that Michigan businesses can move more products— from frozen foods, to auto parts, to construction materials — faster and more reliably. It means more jobs and more growth for the auto part manufacturer or the canning company that produces those goods. And it means jobs for businesses in cities across the country that rely on these companies for their products.

Just north of Ann Arbor, we’re awarding another $21.3 million for the Great Lakes Central Railroad to install 4.25 miles of new rail, replace bridges and culverts, and install new ties. In practical terms, that means faster and cheaper deliveries. That’s good news for the farmers who need to get their corn, soybeans, and wheat to markets all over the country – not to mention the fertilizer dealers, animal feed distributors, and more who rely on this rail line to do business.

These two awards are part of more than $368 million announced today for rail infrastructure and safety grants across the country to move people and goods more easily.

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In addition to freight rail, we are also investing in our inland ports, locks and waterways. Through the President’s infrastructure law and his budget, we’ve allocated over $130 million to the Soo Locks on St. Mary’s River—the only water connection between Lake Superior and the other Great Lakes—which is critical for getting iron ore and high-strength steel to the auto industry in Michigan.  And in rural Alpena, we awarded $3.7 million in port infrastructure grants to upgrade a boat slip for larger vessels, to meet increasing demand. Larger ships mean we can transport more products at a time, which in turn means lower costs for businesses and consumers alike –all while sustaining the hundreds of jobs that families in Alpena rely on.

Only six months after President Biden signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are making historic investments across the country, and Michiganders are seeing the impact. Beyond fixing the broken links in our supply chains and lowering costs, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is also connecting people to jobs and resources, and sparking new domestic manufacturing. 

The President’s mission is to use this once-in-a-generation investment to create good-paying union jobs, and help ensure that more Americans will have access to reliable high-speed internet, better roads and bridges, expanded transit, more resilient electric grids, clean water, and a pathway to our clean energy future. 

For decades, infrastructure in Michigan has suffered from a systemic lack of investment, with the American Society of Civil Engineers giving Michigan a D+ on its infrastructure report card. That’s why Gov. Gretchen  Whitmer made “fixing the damn roads” a priority from day one — and her administration’s efforts have led to tangible improvements across the state.  Now, thanks to the President’s infrastructure law, we have a chance to supercharge Gov. Whitmer’s efforts with federal support, and make upgrades that will benefit every Michigan family. 

This year, for the first time in two decades, America’s infrastructure investment will grow faster than China’s. And our economy is growing faster than China’s for the first time since 1976. 

By investing in rail and ports in Michigan and around the country, we will strengthen our supply chains, lower costs, and set the stage for a new generation of economic growth and prosperity.

Mitch Landrieu serves as Senior Advisor to President Biden and White House Infrastructure Coordinator.  Pete Buttigieg serves as the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.