FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION

Chicago - Detroit / Pontiac High Speed Rail Corridor Program
Tier 1 Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Prepared by:
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Railroad Administration

and

Michigan Department of Transportation

In partnership with
Illinois Department of Transportation

and

Indiana Department of Transportation

In cooperation with the:
Federal Aviation Administration, Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. National Park Service

Pursuant to:
National Environmental Policy Act (42 USC §4332 et seq.), and implementing regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508), 64 FR 28545, 23 CFR
§771, 49 USC §303 (formerly Department of Transportation Act of 1996, Section 4(f); National Historic Preservation Act (16 USC §470); Clean
Air Act as amended (42 USC §7401 et seq, and 40 40 CFR Parts 51 and 93); the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 USC §1531-1544); the
Clean Water Act (33 USC §1251-1387); and the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as
amended (42 USC §4601)

FRA will issue a single document that consists of the Final Environmental Impact Statement and
141, 126 Stat. 405, Section 1319(b) unless FRA determines that statutory criteria or practi

combined document.
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The following persons may be contacted for additional information concerning this document:

ord of Decision pursuant to Pub. L. 112-
siderations preclude issuance of such a

Ms. Andrea Martin Mohammed S. Alghurabi, P.E., Senior Project Manager
USDOT Federal Railroad Administration Michigan Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue S.E., Mail Stop 20 Bureau of Transportation Planning
Washington, DC 20590 State Transportation Building
Phone: (202) 493-6201 425 W. Ottawa St., P.O. Box 30050
Lansing, MI 48909

This Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) evaluates intercity passenger rail service improvements in the 300-mile Chicago, Illinois to
Detroit/Pontiac, Michigan corridor through Cook county in Illinois; Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties in Indiana; and Berrien, Van Buren, Cass,
Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Jackson, Washtenaw, Wayne and Oakland counties in Michigan. Both a No Build and Build Alternatives for passenger
fail improvements are evaluated. The No Build Alternative includes independently planned improvements for passenger rail service between
Kalamazoo and Dearborn, Michigan as part of the current Amtrak Wolverine service. The Build Alternatives consist of improvements to tracks
currently owned and operated predominantly by Michigan DOT, Amtrak, Canadian National, Norfolk Southern, CSX Transportation, Northern
Indiana Commuter Transportation District, Indiana Harbor Belt, and Conrail. The Build Alternatives would create a competitive transportation
alternative between Chicago and Detroit/Pontiac by reducing passenger rail travel times, improving service reliability, increasing frequency of
trips, providing an efficient transportation option, improving passenger ride quality and comfort, and providing environmental benefits, including
reduction of air pollutant emissions.

Comments on this Draft EIS should be received by December 19, 2014, and should be sent to Mr. Mohammed Alghurabi at the above address.
The Draft EIS can be accessed by visiting www.GreatL akesRail org.