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Future of Trains in Metro Detroit


Gangway1111

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Thought you guys might be interested in this. It's great to see Southeastern and Western Michigan transit officials banding together to be a more powerful force.

2035542294_436f119fa4_o.jpg

And in other news, the National Association of Realtors in partnership with Smart Growth America conducted a national survey recently that showed that people in the U.S. now overwhelmingly think expanded mass transit is the best way to reduce traffic congestion and curb uncontrolled growth:

http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/narsgare...desgraphics.pdf

http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2007102502

http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/narsgareport2007.html

Only 21% support building new roads.

Hard to believe, but great, that NAR is so supportive of smart growth and transit. It just needs to trickle down to their lower ranks in the realtor community.

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Not so fast transit advocates!

"By a 2-1 vote, the Oakland County Elections Commission approved recall language against state Rep. Marie Donigan, a Royal Oak Democrat who faces being booted from office for her votes in support of an income tax increase and expansion of the sales tax to some services."

http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID...NEWS03/71116063

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  • 1 month later...

Some general transit stuff.

MDOT looking for input on state's five-year transportation plan

http://www.metromodemedia.com/devnews/mdotopinion0046.aspx

Looks like they are requesting public imput on Michigan's transit future. These commets are due by December 21.

Direct Link

https://www.commentmgr.com/PCS/PublicGUI/Qu...LevelNumber=603

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Some more study news

S.E.M.C.O.G, train companies reviewing latest study for Detroit-Ann Arbor line

www.metromodemedia.com/devnews/detroitannarborcommuterrail0073.aspx

It seems to me this project is just going to be buried under studies like this. I thought the part of the appeal of using existing tracks was to have it take less time to complete. Anyway news is news.

Thanks

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as funny as it may seem, it is indeed a competing project. Hertel and company think that the DTOGS project will take too long to get started and that it relies on some larger, more uncertain issues (not just construction costs, but ops and maintenance) that may be a challenge to get in place.

Hopefully one of these ends up happening.

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I really think that the business-developed proposal is there to kind of nudge and prod the publically-developed proposal. The businessmen know that the public process has many more competing interests which has the effect of slowing down development, and my guess is that they primarily want to act as a friendly reminder to not let this thing fail. But, that's just how I'm feeling this.

This thing could go a number of different ways with the two plans. The way I see it, if the public proposal does happen to go under, they could always just watch the private proposal be built, ask to operate the line (with the option to buy it, maybe sometime in the future), and use the money they were going to use to simply extend/finish the privately-developed line to the Fairgrounds.

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Sorry, for any confusion! I just read the headline and immediately posted it up, thinking I'd be making a strong assumption that there is only one project.

LMichigan- I agree with your point with this project being a nudge for the public project, but if this gains "more steam" than the public project we might be in trouble.

I just hope this isn't another "tribal" way of thinking that is all too common in the Tri-County area (you vs. me). Anyone who has lived in MI for more than 5 minutes knows that with that kind of thinking, 9 of 10 times both projects would end up dying and we're stuck with nothing.

I've actually been thinking of coming back to Detroit and be a part of the renaissance, but this is kind of a small blow to my spirits.

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How could anyone see this as a bad thing? The region has two transit proposals fighting over it. It's almost too good to be true. How anyone could spin this as a bad thing is beyond me. I'd never envisioned a day where the city would have to choose between two transit proposals. If only every city was so lucky to have these kind of 'problems.'

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How could anyone see this as a bad thing? The region has two transit proposals fighting over it. It's almost too good to be true. How anyone could spin this as a bad thing is beyond me. I'd never envisioned a day where the city would have to choose between two transit proposals. If only every city was so lucky to have these kind of 'problems.'
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whatever rail plans are mapped out, something definitive needs to be done with the old Train station off Michigan avenue near downtown.. the owner needs to either sell it to a developer with a specific plan, or have it demolished outright.. or get some fines levied for that eyesore continuing to just languish...

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An open house for the Dearborn train station is planned for next week.

Dearborn holds open house for commuter rail station

next week

http://www.metromodemedia.com/devnews/dearborncommuterstation0093.aspx ://http://www.metromodemedia.com/devne...ation0093.aspx ://http://www.metromodemedia.com/devne...ation0093.aspx

If anyone here goes, be sure to let us know how it went.

Thanks a many.

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And the privately-proposed light rail line is moving forward quickly...

Detroit rail line chugs forward

LANSING -- Key components of a plan to build a light rail line along Woodward Avenue in Detroit were approved without opposition by the state Senate on Thursday, and lawmakers said they plan to complete the multibill package when they resume session next week.

The proposal, pushed by billionaires Dan Gilbert and Roger Penske, would use $103 million in private money to build the street-level rail line looping between Hart Plaza and Grand Boulevard in the New Center area. Its 12 stops would include major businesses, theaters, ballparks, museums and hospitals.

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I am glad to see people are still using this topic for transit talk (other than me that is).

How soon does everyone here think the private light rail line can get started (construction or completion) once it has passed through the final green light.

Also, hey, straight from metro airport to downtown using nothing but rail and a shuttle, neat huh.

They still need to send the AA to Detroit line up my way here in Royal Oak.

Thanks

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