This study hopes to evaluate the feasibility of extending Amtrak's future service from Chicago through Green Bay to Marquette, addressing the growing need for sustainable medium to long-distance public transportation in the Great Lakes region. The project will be conducting a digital survey that hopes to begin at the beginning of 2025 to gauge public interest. I also plan on performing several focus groups to obtain people's opinions on station placement, and service frequency, along with discussions about environmental impacts and necessary technological enhancements on the rail provider's end. The corridor between Green Bay and Marquette contains roughly 20% of the Upper Peninsula's population. We hope to foster community growth and to get the entire region involved in the planning of the future of clean public transportation as this will likely be the first study on rail expansion conducted within the Upper Peninsula. The proposed extension of this study aims to enhance regional connectivity for locals and college students, support local economic growth through tourism, and contribute to carbon emission reduction goals.
Keywords: Passenger Rail, Public transit, The Upper Peninsula, Amtrak, Survey