March 8, 2004
MiBiz Network
By Rod Kackley

MUSKEGON - Calling it a "great day for the future of our community, Muskegon County and the West Michigan region," Muskegon Mayor Steve Warmington officially welcomed Lake Express during a groundbreaking ceremony February 19.

Ground was broken for the Muskegon terminal that will serve Lake Express passengers departing for - and arriving from - Milwaukee. The 4,000-square-foot structure is being built at Great Lakes Marina, 1920 Lakeshore Drive. It will include a waiting area, office space and access ramps. The terminal will also feature a coffee shop, gift shop, information center, reservation desk, car rental and a taxi stand.

Fleis & Vandenbrink of Muskegon planned the terminal site. The terminal building contractor is Northshore Construction of Muskegon and the general contractor is Great Lakes Dock & Materials of Muskegon.

Warmington had high praise for the owners of Great Lakes Marina. He said they "stepped forward at the 23rd hour to make all of this possible."

Port of Milwaukee Director Kenneth Szallai had similar praise for Warmington, calling the mayor of Muskegon "a true visionary who stepped forward at a critical time."

Oyvind Solvang, one of the principals of Lake Express, the first U.S.-built and operated high-speed ferry designed to express cars and passengers across Lake Michigan from Muskegon to Milwaukee, said that Muskegon could see as many 75,000 visitors a year come across the lake on the ferry. Solvang said an independent study showed that could mean an annual windfall of $25-$30 million for the West Michigan economy.

Before the groundbreaking ceremony, Travel Michigan Vice President George Zimmerman told MiBiz that the establishment of Lake Express service in Muskegon would have a statewide impact.

"Anything that makes it easier for our customers from the Milwaukee market to get to Michigan is a good thing and that is what this is all about," said Zimmerman.

Grand Rapids/Kent County Convention & Visitors Bureau President Steve Wilson told MiBiz he wants to make sure travel across Lake Michigan does not become a one-way affair. And, of course there is nothing wrong with some of those visitors from Milwaukee making Grand Rapids part of their travel plans.

"We are in discussions concerning a joint advertising and marketing campaign with Muskegon that would be promoting West Michigan in Wisconsin," he said.

He also said that the Lake Express service would do more than bring visitors to West Michigan from the Milwaukee market. He thinks it will tap the greater Chicago market.

Lake Express will begin service in June 2004, carrying 250 passengers, 46 cars, motorcycles and bicycles across Lake Michigan. Lake Express will make three daily round trips from June-September and two round trips daily October-December 2004.

Szallai said that as far as he was concerned, "it was very fitting that Muskegon and Milwaukee - two communities that have been historic partners - have teamed up for the Lake Express partnership."

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This article appeared in the March 8, 2004 issue of MiBiz, read by upper management executives in West and Southwest Michigan. Print subscriptions are free to qualified individuals who do business in West and Southwest Michigan. For further information about MiBiz Network, visit www.mibiz.com.