State Rep. Brian BeGole has been appointed to the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission by Speaker of the House Matt Hall.

Enacted in 2000, the commission is an eight-state interstate panel that promotes, coordinates and supports regional improvements to passenger rail service. Other member states besides Michigan include Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota and Wisconsin. With the appointment, BeGole will serve on the commission for the duration of the legislative term ending Dec. 31, 2026.

“I want to thank Speaker Hall for this important appointment, and I look forward to serving in this role in addition to representing people in Shiawassee, Saginaw and Genesee counties,” BeGole said. “Passenger rail is an energy-efficient and environmentally sound way for people to travel. It’s also becoming a more popular way for people to travel. It connects our communities, supports jobs and provides tremendous benefits to our state’s tourism industry. Growing and supporting this vital transportation industry requires collaboration, hearing different perspectives and developing sound solutions. I’m excited to get started.”

Passenger rail has increased in use over the last few years across the region. Between 2023 and 2024, ridership on long-distance routes that serve the Midwest grew by 10 percent. Eight long-distance routes have 80 station stops across the Midwest, with many stops in or near rural communities where other forms of intercity transportation are limited.

BeGole is in his second term in the Michigan House and represents the 71^st House District, which includes Corunna, Durand, Owosso, Perry, Bancroft, Byron, Morrice, New Lothrop, Vernon, portions of Lennon and Ovid, and the townships of Antrim, Bennington, Burns, Caledonia, Fairfield, Hazelton, Middlebury, New Haven, Owosso, Perry, Rush, Shiawassee, Venice and Vernon in Shiawassee County. It also includes Chesaning, Oakley, Brady Township, Chesaning Township and Maple Grove Township in Saginaw County and Argentine Township, Gaines Township, and a portion of Mundy Township in Genesee County.

PHOTO INFORMATION: State Rep. Brian BeGole stands at Durand Union Station in Durand. The station is a daily stop for Amtrak’s passenger train route between Port Huron and Chicago. BeGole, who represents Durand and is in his second term in the Michigan House, was recently appointed to the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission by Speaker of the House Matt Hall.