1/29/13 - The majority of council members expressed support for a train station to be located in the City of Howell as part of the proposed WALLY project. The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority is leading the push for the Washtenaw and Livingston Line and staff was notified recently that it was successful in securing federal dollars for station design. The work will be provided at no cost to the City and the majority of Council expressed an interest in having a station on the property adjacent to the historic depot museum but located to the west of it, with parking capacity targeted on the block between Michigan Avenue and Walnut Street, north of Clinton Street. Council voted 5-1 to affirm support for the creation of a design plan, location and parking for a potential train station downtown. Member Jeff Hansen was absent from last nightâs meeting and Councilman Doug Heins was the lone dissenting vote, saying he is not against mass transit or commuter rail but the WALLY project âhas a life and dream of its own without any foundation in fiscal realityâ. Others agreed the project is several years away from any possible reality but felt a transit station would have a tremendous, positive impact while helping Howell remain an attractive and viable community, especially since so many residents travel out of the county to work. Meanwhile some members of the Howell Area Historical Society attended the meeting, which has owned and operated the Depot Museum on Wetmore Street for the past 43 years. Members asked that it be made clear the Depot Museum is not a part of the WALLY project nor will the building or property be used as a part of it. Architects are said to be gearing up for work on the conceptual station design and should be in the Howell area in February and March. City officials made it clear that the approval did not authorize any construction and was just another step in the process, should WALLY ever come to fruition. (JM)
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