Rail Returns to Michigan Central: $40 Million Transit Hub Plans Announced for 2029

October 16, 2025

Michigan officials have announced plans for a $40 million multimodal transit hub at Michigan Central Station that would reconnect Detroit to Windsor, Toronto, and Chicago by rail by 2029. The Michigan Department of Transportation, the City of Detroit, and Michigan Central have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop this hub, which would restore rail service to the historic station for the first time since 1988. The project will leverage existing tracks and tunnels to bridge the nine-mile gap between Detroit and Windsor, with projections suggesting it could serve more than 66,000 passengers annually.

Who is affected

Detroit residents and visitors
Windsor, Toronto, and Chicago residents and visitors
Regional bus passengers (Greyhound, Indian Trails, and Baron's Bus users)
Businesses and universities across the Great Lakes corridor
Over 30 universities in the region
Construction and hospitality workers who may gain employment opportunities
Longtime Detroit residents who witnessed the station's decline and revival

What action is being taken

The Michigan Department of Transportation, City of Detroit, and Michigan Central have entered a memorandum of understanding for the transit hub project
Officials are planning to use existing tracks and tunnels to connect Detroit and Windsor
The project is aiming to establish a single daily round-trip route between the two countries initially
The Michigan Central campus continues to be restored as a hub for mobility and technology

Why it matters

The project would restore rail service through Michigan Central for the first time since 1988
The hub could serve more than 66,000 passengers annually across the Great Lakes corridor
It represents regional unity and shared progress according to Governor Whitmer
The project connects jobs, talent, and opportunities on both sides of the border
It centralizes and modernizes Detroit's transit access
The hub strengthens Detroit's growing innovation economy and regional connectivity
It supports Detroit's transformation and resurgence as a city

What's next

Environmental consultations and engineering studies scheduled for 2026
Service potentially launching by 2028 or 2029, depending on funding
Construction of a new terminal on one to two acres within the Michigan Central Innovation District
Development of a shared lobby for train and bus passengers, limited retail, and a parking structure
Potential expansion of service as demand grows

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle