8 replies to this topic

[Allan]

Thursday, January 8, 2004

People Mover service halted
City expects new part to arrive before crowds come for the auto show

By Tom Greenwood and George Hunter / The Detroit News
City officials anxiously are awaiting a part to get the Detroit People Mover back on track by Saturday morning, in time to transport thousands of visitors to the North American International Auto Show at Cobo Center.

The elevated rail system stopped about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday when a key piece of switching equipment failed, according to the Detroit Transportation Corp.

“The mechanical component is being airfreighted in, and we expect it to arrive shortly,” said Ericka Alexander, spokeswoman for the corporation.

“Once the component arrives, it will be installed and thoroughly tested to make sure it's working properly.”

The breakdown occurred as the city tries to put its best face forward for the hundreds of thousands of people who visit downtown every year for the auto show and use the 2.9-mile railway to commute between parking lots, restaurants and Cobo Center. Last year, 815,000 people attended the show.

About 7,000 to 8,000 people normally use the People Mover each day, but during the auto show the rail system's use increases dramatically.

Gus Malliaras, a manager at New Hellas Cafe in Greektown, said he hopes the People Mover is repaired quickly, “because if it isn't, it could cut down on business.”

“A lot of people depend on the People Mover, especially with it being so cold outside,” Malliaras said. “People don't want to walk all the way here from the auto show.”

Alexander said the city already had scheduled shuttle bus service to the auto show from each People Mover station to handle additional passengers during the auto show. It has increased the number of buses because of the train's shutdown.

The shuttles will be free as long as the Detroit People Mover is out of commission. Once the People Mover is back in operation, the cost of the auto show shuttle service will be 50 cents each way -- the same price as a one-way People Mover trip.

You can reach Tom Greenwood at (313) 222-2023 or tgreenwood@detnews.com.

[turlough]

I'm sorry but HAHAHAHAHAHA ok i'm done this is very bad for detorit I hope it won't happen again.

[Allan]

Well it is run by computers from the 1980s...so glitches that cause the system to go down are expected I guess.  Just as long as they have it up and running when I go downtown for the auito show this weekend I'll be happy.

[Oldmanladyluck]

I might go to the auto show myself, cuz I've never been to the auto show in Detroit and haven't visited the city in a couple years.

[Allan]

I love the Auto Show.  I'm not much into cars, but the auto show is an exception.  My aunt is a journalist from the Netherlands....I was supposed to go to the auto show with her yesterday, but there was a couple things I could not miss at school  .  It would've been nice to see it before everyone else, but oh well.  I haven't been downtown since the last auto show, so I'm looking forward to seeing how things have changed.  I just hope it's not too cold...I want to get decent pics without getting frostbite!  LOL.

[MichiganDude]

Is it me or does it break down EVERY auto show? I think it gets soooo happy being actually used that it glitches and has a heart attack...

[Allan]

LOL.  When I went for the auto show last year it was working...or at least it was working while I was riding on it.  It probably broke down right after I got off it.

[turlough]

LOL

[Allan]

Well, when you have something with 20 year old computers in it, it could break down anytime.  This just happened at the wrong time.  It's probably fixed by now.  But then again, this is Detroit, so maybe not.