Page:Making Michigan Move.pdf/34

 and establish new ones in com­munities throughout Michigan. Be­tween 1973 and 1980, more than $200 million in gas and weight tax revenues and monies from the state's general fund were poured into bus and rail programs, aside from federal aid and contributions by local governments. State subsidies pre­served and upgraded nearly 900 miles of railroads operated by eight rail freight companies, six of which were organized for that purpose. All the track otherwise would have been abandoned, ending service in wide­spread areas of the state. State subsidies also supported Amtrak rail passenger service and carferry service across Lake Michigan.

Dial-A-Ride personalized transporta­tion was established in 77 of Michi­gan's 83 counties, enabling hundreds of thousands of often homebound persons to travel inexpensively on small buses. State funds helped pri­vately owned intercity bus companies to establish experimental service routes designed to become profit-making ventures. State and federal monies enabled municipal bus sy­stems to buy modern vehicles, up­ grade their facilities, improve services and, in some cities, build intermodal terminals to accommodate a variety of transportation services, including taxis and passenger trains.

Challenged by the nation's continuing energy shortages, the department set the pace nationally in establishing ridesharing programs. Its vanpool program, the largest in the nation for public employees, grew to 120 vans in 1980, carrying some 1,350 state workers to and from work every day.