Ann Arbor to Detroit Transit Study

[RustTown]

That regional infighting really is the last frontier. If the metro could pass that, the healing could begin, instantly. That's the other problem though, the first step is always the hardest, and for Metro Detroit, it seems the first step is taking a helluva long time to take. Everyone thinks they exists in a vacuum, and as an island onto themselves. That's really one of the first things many visitors notice, too.

I'm just wondering which two or more leaders will arise out of the blue to bring the region kicking and screaming into regional cooperation on transportation? The fact is, there is not much more the state or the feds can do at this point. The ball is in the region's court, now, and they are going to have to decide what they want to do with SMART and DDOT before much anything can be moved foward. DARTA currently has no teetch, whatsoever, and the only ones that can give it teeth are the regional leaders.

It's my opinion that the most likely line(s) (light rail up Woodward and/or the Pontiac/Detroit commuter line) can not happen until L. Brooks Patterson is out of office. His history with Detroit just doesn't lend itself to being a champion of regional transit connections. Money may be an issue later, once the metro reaches that point, but at the current time it seems to be the lack of any readily-observed incentives to make this work.

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Commuter train may get trial run

Demonstration project could link Ann Arbor, Detroit on Amtrak line

"The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments has asked Amtrak if it would be interested in providing a demonstration commuter service, said Carmine Palombo, director of transportation programs for SEMCOG, at a public meeting Monday to explain an analysis of five rapid transit options."

Mlive Article from the AA News

Isn't it amazing how quickly things can move when the Federal Government isn't involved?