Michigan Railway Dumps Dusty 1.3-Mile Track Stretch
Published Date: 5/9/2025
Notice
Summary
Lake State Railway Company is planning to stop using and officially abandon about 1.3 miles of railroad track in Saginaw County, Michigan, because no trains have run there for over two years. This change affects local businesses and communities near the tracks but won’t impact any current rail service or cause complaints. The process follows all rules, and employees affected by the closure will get protections, with a chance for others to step in and save the line if they act quickly.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Protections for Affected Employees
Any employee adversely affected by this abandonment will be protected under the Oregon Short Line precedent (360 I.C.C. 91 (1979)). A party may petition for partial revocation under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d) to challenge whether those protections are adequate.
Rail Line Abandonment in Saginaw County
If you live or run a business near the tracks in Saginaw County, Michigan, Lake State Railway plans to abandon about 6,805 feet (approximately 1.3 miles) of rail line that traverses ZIP codes 48604 and 48602. The company says no trains have run on the line for at least two years and that the abandonment will not affect any current rail service. The exemption is set to take effect on June 8, 2025 unless a stay or other action is filed.
Chance to File Offer of Financial Assistance
If you want to buy or subsidize the line to keep it in service, you must first file a formal expression of intent to file an Offer of Financial Assistance (OFA) showing the type of assistance and preliminary financial responsibility. Formal expressions of intent to file an OFA, petitions to stay (non-environmental), and interim trail use/railbanking requests must be filed by May 19, 2025; petitions to reopen and requests for public use conditions must be filed by May 29, 2025.
Draft Environmental Review and Comment Window
The Board's Office of Environmental Analysis will issue a Draft Environmental Assessment by May 16, 2025. Comments on environmental or historic preservation matters must be filed within 15 days after the Draft EA becomes available.
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Key Dates
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