Michigan Mass Transit Super Thread

[hudkina]

I don't think that a journey from Troy to Downtown would be a "quick" one. Also, someone in Troy would have better luck taking a commuter train from the Troy station to the New Center station and then transfer to the streetcar system once they're in the greater downtown area. In that sense there would probably be only one stop (Royal Oak) between the two, instead of 20 or so. Light rail probably shouldn't go too far beyond the zoo and downtown Royal Oak, especially considering the railroad runs parallel to Woodward and would likely meet the light rail line in Downtown Royal Oak.

[LMich]

Rendering of M1-Rail Streetcar:


Freep.com

This is looking south along Woodward near Mack.

Yeah, Birmingham/Troy is already gearing itself up to be a commuter center with the plan for the intermodal station to be built across the tracks from the current Amtrak stop where Maple crosses the tracks just east of downtown B-ham.

Hud, do you think that the light rail line, it it terminates in Royal Oak, will terminate along Woodward, or do you think they'll spur into downtown along Washington where it splits with Woodward in Pleasant Ridge? I can't imagine them doing anything but the later when we get to that point.

[hudkina]

I've always "imagined" that after a stop at the Zoo, it would cut up along Washigton and end where the current Royal Oak Amtrak station is located. That way it could connect to the commuter rail line in Royal Oak. If they ever did decide to extend it further along Woodward, they chould possibly run it along Sherman Dr, which I believe used to be a railroad ROW, when the tracks were closer to Woodward.

[subterranean]

Originally Posted by LMich

Rendering of M1-Rail Streetcar:


Freep.com

This is looking south along Woodward near Mack.

Yeah, Birmingham/Troy is already gearing itself up to be a commuter center with the plan for the intermodal station to be built across the tracks from the current Amtrak stop where Maple crosses the tracks just east of downtown B-ham.

Hud, do you think that the light rail line, it it terminates in Royal Oak, will terminate along Woodward, or do you think they'll spur into downtown along Washington where it splits with Woodward in Pleasant Ridge? I can't imagine them doing anything but the later when we get to that point.

Do you have the article for which this rendering was included?

[DetroitMan]

Detroit’s M1 Rail project could jeopardize future federal funding, city warns
CrainsDetroit Business
May 26, 2009
By Bill Shea

Detroit wants to put the brakes on a privately funded $125 million light rail plan for Woodward Avenue.

Mayor Dave Bing’s office issued a statement warning that the project’s goal of starting construction by the end of this year could jeopardize future federal funding for a wider transit system.

During a media briefing about the private M1 Rail plan on Thursday, project CEO Matt Cullen said his group and the city were cooperating to rectify differences between the private plan and a $371 million Detroit Department of Transportation project that would extend light rail from downtown to the State Fairgrounds at Eight Mile.

The private funding could account for the required local matching funds for federal money needed to finish the city’s “Detroit Transit Options for Growth” rail project, Cullen said.

That won’t happen if the environmental studies aren’t complete, and such work won’t be done this year, the city warned.

“If M1 begins construction of its project later this year, before the environmental review is complete, the federal government will not recognize funds raised for the abbreviated M1 project as local matching funds for federal funds for the route to Eight Mile,” the city statement said.

M1 Rail issued a statement today on the situation through its Troy-based outside public relations firm, Eisbrenner Public Relations: “The accelerated timeline that M1 Rail has followed is not consistent with that of a federal project. M1 Rail is committed to continuing to work with DDOT and our congressional delegation to create a solution that will allow the funds raised for Phase 1 to serve as the eligible local match for the federal grant the city is seeking.”

The statement from Bing’s office also included a warning from Susan Borinsky, associate administrator of planning and environment for the Federal Transit Administration.

“If Phase I is constructed without the completion of an environmental impact analysis as required by the National Environmental Protection Act, then the $125 million raised to leverage Phase I cannot be used as matching funds for Phase II,” Borinsky was quoted as saying.

Phase I is the 3.4 mile section (a 12-stop route from Hart Plaza to Grand Boulevard in New Center) of Woodward targeted by the private backers during two years of planning.

The environmental impact analysis in question is part of the DDOT project, not the private effort.

M1 Rail’s backers include Penske Corp. founder Roger Penske Peter, who is chairman of the project; Peter Karmanos Jr., founder of Detroit-based software maker Compuware Corp.; Mike Ilitch, owner of the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings and co-founder of Little Caesar Enterprises Inc.; and Quicken Loans/Rock Financial founder Dan Gilbert, who’s the project’s co-chairman.

Cullen is also president and COO of Gilbert’s Rock Enterprises holding company.

Approximately $180 million has been raised towards the estimated $220 million needed to match a federal grant of the same amount, including the $125 million raised by M1 Rail and $55 million programmed by DDOT, the city said.

“While there is overwhelming support for bringing rail to Woodward Avenue, key issues remain before funds from the privately funded M1 Rail project can be used as local match to secure federal funds for an expanded system,” Detroit CFO Norm White, who has taken the lead on city efforts to develop a comprehensive light rail system, was quoted as saying in the statement.

“These include compliance with federal environmental law that requires a thorough review of environmental impacts before federal funds can be associated with a project.

White said he is continuing his discussions with both the FTA and M1 Rail to find a solution, according to the statement.

Since the private plan was first made public by Crain’s in February 2008, it was evident there were enough differences in the projects to put them at loggerheads, including different types of trains and a DTOG center-of-street layout versus curbside for M1 Rail.

Both rail plans are designed to feed into other transit modes, such as buses, commuter trains and the People Mover, and are intended be to part of a $10.5 billion regional transit plan for Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...FREE/905269971

[LMich]

Sounds like M1 may be cooperative and slow down. At least, that's what I hope.

[hudkina]

I know. We've waited this long, a few extra months shouldn't hurt. Granted, the city better not waste any time with the environmental studies. They need to complete them as fast as possible.

[Jasoncw]

That's a really nice looking rendering.

[Rizzo]

^ Isn't it? I keep looking back at it. Definitely the money shot.

[LMich]

Ok, I wrote an email contact at DDOT asking about the impact study and was told it was begun in September of last year, and will be completed with a Record of Decision being completed in the Spring of next year. The study is being conducted by internationally-known Parsons Brinckerhoff.

[LMich]

The new Rosa Parks Transit Center in downtown Detroit. (Photo: Nathan Hurst)

DDOT: Rosa Parks Transit Center to open Tuesday

Tom Greenwood / The Detroit News

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Detroit -- The Detroit Department of Transportation will open the Rosa Parks Transit Center in downtown Detroit on Tuesday.

The $22.5 million center -- at Michigan and Cass -- will serve passengers riding DDOT, SMART, Transit Windsor and Detroit People Mover.

From the new transit center, patrons can connect to 20 DDOT routes from a single location, with routes including: Cadillac-Harper, Chene, Dexter, Fort, Hamilton, Hayes, Grand River, Jefferson, Joy, Linwood, Michigan and Mack.

More are: Oakland, Plymouth, Russell, Tireman, Vernor, Van Dyke, Vernor and Woodward.

Open 24 hours a day, the three-story facility will offer 15 bus bays, two taxi bays, restrooms, transfer services, retail areas, transit police offices and a Detroit Police Department mini-station.

The project was funded through federal and state grants.

tgreenwood@detnews.com (313) 222-2023

[UglymanCometh]

Originally Posted by hudkina

If I live in the Warren-Prentis district of Midtown and want to get to my job in the Penobscot Building I would rather have a streetcar than nothing at all.

I live in Warren-Prentis... I walk or take the bus...

[hudkina]

But buses are for poor people!!!

[UglymanCometh]

Originally Posted by hudkina

But buses are for poor people!!!

Damn straight. Now where's my buss pass? lol

Seriously though, It feels good living in Detroit and NOT having to drive everywhere.... unless I need to go shopping, then I have to gas up the old Buick...

[DetroitMan]

Looks as if the plans for the Woodward light rail line have cleared a major roadblock.

Amendment to clear hurdle for funding for light rail line

By TODD SPANGLER
FREE PRESS WASHINGTON STAFF

WASHINGTON – An amendment inserted into the final version of the federal transportation budget for this year will allow $125 million in private investment to count toward the funding Detroit must raise to get federal backing for a Woodward Avenue light rail line.

U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, a Detroit Democrat who is Michigan’s sole member of the House Appropriations Committee, said today she was successful in getting the amendment on the bill. Kilpatrick was among the House members who have been meeting to hammer out a final version of the bill with senators.


As the Free Press editorialized last month, Detroit’s plans for a $350-million light rail extension along Woodward ran into an obstacle when U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, the Minnesota Democrat who chairs the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, raised concerns that the private funding for the M1-RAIL project from Hart Plaza to New Center was for work which could circumvent federal requirements regarding labor costs, disadvantaged businesses and environmental impacts.


The city needs to count that private funding as its match for federal funds or it would throw into doubt its ability to raise cash to extend the line to 8 Mile. The amendment takes care of the problem, however.


Kilpatrick said it required “months of intense negotiations” to get the amendment attached to the legislation and is confident investors should be able to “break ground on the project by this summer” as planned. Meanwhile, she said the project will still comply with federal rules.


“I have always been, and will remain, a strong and strident supporter of light rail in Michigan,” Kilpatrick said.
http://freep.com/article/20091210/NE...ight-rail-line

[hudkina]

OMMFG. WTF. LOL.

This is going to be interesting. Are you really going to see a streetcar system under construction this summer?

[subterranean]

Thank the Lord for our fearless representation. Why am I picturing Carolyn rolling up to committee in a Hummer?

[fishrose]

Originally Posted by hudkina

OMMFG. WTF. LOL.

This is going to be interesting. Are you really going to see a streetcar system under construction this summer?

God I hope so.

[LMich]

Closer still...

Detroit light rail plan gets boost

Tom Greenwood / The Detroit News

Detroit is taking a giant step forward in its quest for a light rail system on Woodward with Sunday's U.S. Senate's approval of President Barack Obama's $1 trillion omnibus spending bill.

A provision in the bill allows a $125 million private investment in the rail system to be used as matching funds by the city when it eventually builds its portion of the $425 million project.

...

Under the current plan, private investors would build the first segment, a 3.4-mile stretch with 12 stops.

Eventually, the city would build a second leg, which would run from Grand Boulevard to Eight Mile.

The federal government would pay for 60 percent of the project, with Detroit funding the remainder.

tgreenwood@detnews.com (313) 222-2023

[DetroitMan]

An artist rendering of the Multi-Model Transit Center, which will be located on the southwest corner of Coolidge and Maple.

Troy prepares for transit center groundbreaking
Shawn D. Lewis / The Detroit News


Troy -- Groundbreaking for a regional transportation center is expected to take place in the spring or summer of 2010.

Mayors from the cities of Troy, where the transit center will be located, and Birmingham gathered Monday morning at Troy City Hall to express gratitude and present artist renderings of the center following Sunday's final congressional vote to approve $1.3 million to construct the facility.

"This has been a collaboration between cities, to respond to a need for transportation in the region," said Troy Mayor Louise Schilling. "This shows by working together we work better for our citizens than if we work separately."

Both Schilling and Birmingham Mayor Rackeline Hoff thanked Congressman Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, for shepherding the funding for the Multi-modal Transit Center, which will be located on the southwest corner of Coolidge and Maple.

"This has been a major team effort getting it through the House, and it would have been impossible to get it through the Senate without the help of senators (Carl) Levin and (Debbie) Stabenow," said Peters. "This represents a lot of people coming together."

He added that those working on the project were able to ignore jurisdictional lines for the good of the region.

"But we have a ways to go, and this is only one piece because we need to get more funding," he said.

Mayor Schilling said both Birmingham and Troy also contributed $1.3 million each. "It will take at least $7 million to complete the project," she said. "The tunneling is among the most expensive part." She said she expects ground to be broken in the spring or summer of 2010.

Chamber presidents from Troy and Birmingham also expressed gratitude to Congressman Peters and others who helped bring the transportation center to fruition.

The Troy/Birmingham Multi-modal Transit Center will serve as a hub for regional public transportation, using existing Amtrak rail infrastructure while providing a transfer point to SMART bus services, and taxi and sedan connections consistent with the Detroit Regional Mass Transit Plan. It will also create more transportation opportunities for patrons of the Oakland/Troy Airport.

slewis@detnews.com (734) 462-2190
http://www.annarbor.com/business-rev...entice-toyota/