MDOT plans a public meeting in Trenton July 15 on the M-85 (Fort Street) railroad crossing study—what residents should expect next
MDOT is hosting a public meeting in Trenton to discuss its engineering study and environmental review for the Canadian National (CN) (GTW) railroad crossing at M-85 (Fort Street), just north of Van Horn Road.
The meeting is Wednesday, July 15, 2026, from 4–6 p.m. at the Westfield Community Center, 2700 Westfield Road, Trenton. Project team members will be there to explain the study and answer questions.
If you need accessibility accommodations to participate effectively, MDOT says you should contact Orlando Curry at 517-241-7462 or CurryO@Michigan.gov, preferably at least five business days before the meeting.
What the study is looking at on M-85 and Fort Street
MDOT’s open-house materials say the project includes an engineering study plus an environmental review to explore ways to improve the M-85 (Fort Street) and CN (GTW) crossing corridor in Trenton, Wayne County—at the location just north of Van Horn Road.
In the materials, MDOT describes alternatives being explored, including:
- Building an M-85 bridge over the railroad
- Taking the roadway under the railroad
- Keeping the existing at-grade setup
The “selected alternative” under study: an M-85 bridge
MDOT also says the selected alternative it intends to advance through the NEPA process and design steps is building an M-85 bridge over the railroad. In plain terms, that would move the crossing from an at-grade rail crossing to a separated roadway/bridge crossing.
As with any NEPA-driven process, the meeting is focused on the study and environmental review work—so residents should expect details and refinements as the process continues.
Safety context MDOT is using: crash history and hotspots
One reason residents and commuters are being asked to pay attention now is the safety analysis MDOT is using for the study area.
MDOT’s open-house boards say the safety analysis is based on crash reports from Jan. 1, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2024, totaling 138 crashes along road segments and intersections. The boards also note that rear-end crashes were the most common crash type.
The materials identify high-crash areas, including the M-85 (Fort Street)/Van Horn Road intersection and CN railroad areas near Norwood Drive and Mariam Drive.
What train activity can mean for driver delays
MDOT’s boards also connect the crossing to day-to-day driving conditions by describing train operations and queue observations.
In the study materials, MDOT estimates 4 trains during the day (from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and 4 trains at night (from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.). The materials state that crossings lasted two to three minutes during observed queue conditions.
MDOT says queues formed northbound into the M-85/Van Horn Road intersection and in the westbound right-turn storage lane during the PM train, with many drivers choosing to wait in the queue. The boards also note that large trucks extended the queues.
Timeline: projected environmental review, design window, then construction
MDOT’s meeting notice describes the schedule as an anticipated sequence (not final construction dates):
- Finish the environmental review by early 2027
- Design construction documents from 2027 to late 2028
- Construction projected for 2029–2030
What to do after (or instead of) the meeting
At the July 15 meeting, MDOT encourages residents to review study information and ask questions of the project team.
If you can’t attend, MDOT lists project contact options for questions or comments: MDOT-Metro-TaylorTSC@Michigan.gov, 313-375-2400, or the project website at Michigan.gov/M85RailCrossing.
Sources
- MDOT bulletin (meeting date/time/location, accessibility contact, schedule, and comment channels)
- MDOT open-house boards (crash totals, train crossing estimates/queue observations, and alternatives)
- City of Trenton News Flash (local posting; posted June 18, 2026)
Look for updates to this story
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