History, Future Converge at Dearborn Train Station Groundbreaking Ceremony

There was some looking ahead, and much more looking forward at the groundbreaking ceremony for Dearborn's Intermodal Passenger Rail Station, held Tuesday on the grounds of .

Though the actual breaking of ground already began in March with utility work, construction starts this month on , which is expected to be completed by the fall of 2013.

Dearborn Mayor Jack O'Reilly hailed the new train station as a continuation of the city's commitment to innovative transportation initiatives.

"Dearborn has hosted a train station from the beginning," he said. "This is the next generation of that."

Fittingly, The Henry Ford hosted the groundbreaking, marking their partnership with the train station, which will include a walkway directly into their facilities.

"This moment is a true link between the past with The Henry Ford," Sen. Carl Levin said. "But also there's a great deal of future–what the future is going to bring."

And that future, according to head of the Federal Railway Administration Joseph Szabo, will include 110 mile-per-hour trains in the Chicago corridor within the next five years.

"This intermodal facility will be your gateway to that," Szabo said.

For Dearborn, the facility holds tremendous possibilities not only for travel, but tourism.

"This day is a tremendous tribute to all that's gone into this project," said Economic and Community Development Director Barry Murray.

Mayor O'Reilly added, "We see a vision of the future where people are going to come and spend a weekend here or longer ... from all over the Midwest."

.