Troy MI Rejects Intermodal Station

On December 19th, the Troy MI City Council rejected $8.5 million in federal funds to build a new intermodal station which would have included Amtrak and local transit. Mayor Janice Daniels and three allies on the council rejected the funds on the grounds that it would increase the federal deficit. The project had been going through the planning process for ten years, and the vote was to give a go-ahead, committing the city to finish the project by the end of FY 2013. This in spite of testimony from many that the money would not go back into the federal treasury, but would instead simply be awarded to another city. Gov.Rick Snyder and the Troy Chamber of Commerce had supported the facility.The rejection ends any possibility of Troy reversing its position to regain the money under this grant.

In reaction, Magna International, one of the city's largest employers, said that it would recommend to its board that Magna not consider any expansion in Troy due to the city's anti-transit position.

The Mayor had embarrassed herself and the city earlier by making anti-gay remarks; many transit and gay groups promised to promote a recall effort as soon as possible. Under Michigan law, no recall could be undertaken until the mayor had been in office for at least six months, or May of 2012.