Rail without the FTA: Detroit

[thelakelander]

Interesting.  Suburbanites in Metro Detroit are fighting for a commuter rail station.  This is the line that officials decided to move forward on anyway, after it was rejected by the FTA for funding.  It should serve as an example of what needs to be done here if we want a decent alternate method of transit before we all leave the Earth.

3 cities look to land key train stop



BY CECIL ANGEL • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • May 12, 2008

When a long-planned commuter rail line eventually begins taking hundreds of passengers daily between Ann Arbor and Detroit, Joyce Parker wants Inkster to be in the mix.

As Inkster's city manager, she knows what a train stop would mean for a city with high unemployment and where only 1 in 3 households have access to a car, Parker said.

"It opens up opportunities," she said.

After three decades of starts and stops in planning a regional mass transit rail system in southeast Michigan, the commuter rail link between Ann Arbor and Detroit -- with a stop in Dearborn -- is slowly moving toward reality, according to the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments.

With gasoline prices creeping up, such a rail line would be an alternative for commuters, and jobs, retail options and tax dollars to the cities where the train stops.

But snagging a place on the route won't be easy. Westland and Wayne are vying for the same stop. Wayne is touting its redeveloped downtown as a natural fit for such a station. Westland points to available land near a heavy retail area.

The winning city would provide shuttle service to Metro Airport.

The move comes as the City of Detroit studies plans for a light-rail line from downtown to 8 Mile.

"I think the climate in the region has really changed and they realize the benefits of transit," said Lovevett Williams, interim director of the Detroit Department of Transportation.

SEMCOG and other supporters of a regional rail system say the Ann Arbor-Detroit commuter line will be in operation by 2010. The corridor is ripe for such project, according to SEMCOG, because it has four of the 10 largest cities in southeast Michigan and the major employment centers of Detroit, Dearborn and Ann Arbor. A final cost for the project hasn't been set.

The commuter line will use the existing Amtrak train line from Chicago to Pontiac. A shuttle would ferry passengers from the new station to Metro Airport.

Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Detroit all have Amtrak stations and are guaranteed stops.

For Wayne, Westland and Inkster, a new stop could mean an economic boost.

Some studies have shown that for every dollar invested in mass transit, a community can reap $7 to $8 in economic benefit. That's because stores, restaurants and other businesses spring up around commuter transit stops to take advantage of the flow of customers.

"That's part of the reason we've been pushing so hard in regards to this issue," Parker said.

Train service would enable Inkster residents to have access to jobs in other areas and to commute to Wayne State University, the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan and other schools, Parker said.

The stop would help the city with commercial and retail development. "It certainly would help us market and redevelop the area," said Parker, referring to the city's tax increment finance district.

Wayne makes a push

In Wayne, Peter McInerney, community development director, said officials there see downtown Wayne as the logical and customer-friendly choice.

He said possible locations could be the intersection of Wayne Road and the railroad tracks. There is a new shopping center at Michigan and Wayne where a station could be given space.

"We think that it would provide an attractive setting for people who want to make that airport connection," McInerney said.

Downtown Wayne has some new commercial development including a new shopping center and condos. A station could draw tenants and build demand for condos in the business district, he said.

It could mean a livelier downtown in the evenings with diners and shoppers instead of activity dropping in the early evening, McInerney said.

Westland wants a stop

Westland Planning Director Bruce Thompson said the city has been working with SEMCOG and state lawmakers to make the project a reality.

"If we could be involved, I think it could be wonderful," he said, adding that an empty field at Merriman and Michigan would be a good site for a train station.

The train station has the potential to provide an "economic shot in the arm for that area of Westland," Thompson said.

If the city is chosen, the train station would likely be built at Merriman and Michigan, he said. Carmine Palombo, director of tranportation programs for SEMCOG, said the cities have lobbied for the station, but SEMCOG is still analyzing locations.

Among the issues being analyzed is the ease and speed at which the service can be provided.

"That will be the criteria we'll weigh the heaviest," Palombo said.

Another city eyeing the project is Dearborn, whose officials foresee a direct link between U-M in Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan-Dearborn. City officials want to spend between $12 million and $15 million to build an Intermodal Rail Passenger Station.

Barry Murray, director of Economic and Community Development for Dearborn, said the station would be relocated from the Dearborn Civic Center to Elm Street and Michigan Avenue.

"We think it's very important," Murray said. "It makes us more competitive in the arena to attract young professionals."

Meanwhile, Detroit is working on getting its light-rail line running.

Williams said the Michigan Department of Transportation plans to build a station to replace the Amtrak station at Baltimore and Woodward.

The station would serve the Ann Arbor to Detroit and the Woodward Avenue rail systems.

Construction is projected to begin in 2010 on the $371-million light-rail system on Woodward that will run from downtown to the Michigan State Fairgrounds with stops at 13 to 15 stations.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080512/NEWS05/805120367

[Ocklawaha]

Very interesting that the Ann Arbor - Detroit "corridor" is but 50 odd miles long. It is being considered for operation by Amtrak, with plans for 8 trains daily, each way. 3 morning, 3 evening, 1 noon hour, 1 late evening. It is interesting because it is VERY similar in demographics and distances to Jacksonville-Baldwin-Starke- Alachua-Gainesville. We wanted to discuss this at the Jacksonville Rail meeting. In fact the entire citizens board seemed willing to push this into the plan and see what JTA could do...

We were told to Sush and "stay on topic"...

Oh and what a topic, did you know that Gainesville Transit just completely rebuilt the old ACL station downtown (where the train would terminate) and turned it into the bus transit center. I know, I know, "shut up Bob..."

Welcome to Jacksonville, don't confuse us with ideas or facts!

Ocklawaha

[thelakelander]

The last meeting was a timed one that they had an agenda they wanted to get to, regarding potential station locations.  On top of that, the lady taking questions was there to promote the Orlando rail deal and clearly had no knowledge of Amtrak.  So it was really not the right time, although working something out with Amtrak has merit.

Maybe its time to schedule another meeting with JTA, along with an Amtrak representative, to see if there is a way for us to work together to get some sort of service up and running soon.

[fsujax]

Looks like Detroit is moving away from their light rail plans and if i am not mistaken it looks like they will be running BRT and LRT parallel to each other on Woodward Ave.

http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2011/12/18/in-a-failure-of-municipal-ambition-plans-for-detroit-light-rail-shut-down-as-focus-shifts-to-brt/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thetransportpolitic+%28The+Transport+Politic%29

[thelakelander]

Interesting.  Detroit's LRT plan grew out of big companies between DT and New Center pulling $100 million of their own money for their own line 3-mile line.  Is that private money still on the table?  Btw, i'm sure the BRT alternative will be BRT-lite and not dedicated busways.  If this is the case, if I'm Detroit, I'd probably call the entire thing off.  No reason throwing that much cash into transit if you already can't pay for it, the burbs won't contribute to it, and it's not going to spur economic development in a community that desperately needs it.

[fsujax]

not sure.

[thelakelander]

If, I'm the private sector guys, I'd consider taking my $100 million back and going with a cheaper streetcar version of original shorter proposal between New Center/Amtrak and DT.  That at least gives you some decent connectivity long term between DT, those companies, the airport, and Ann Arbor/UM.

[fsujax]

I would too.

[JeffreyS]

Yes but we have designed a brilliant plan to help developers build Wendy's restaurants and gated communities far from town.  All we have to do is make sure they pay no taxes and settle the bill for any new, roads utilities and schools they need where no man has gone before.

So there Detroit.

[dougskiles]

If, I'm the private sector guys, I'd consider taking my $100 million back and going with a cheaper streetcar version of original shorter proposal between New Center/Amtrak and DT.  That at least gives you some decent connectivity long term between DT, those companies, the airport, and Ann Arbor/UM.

Apparently that is exactly what they are planning to do.

Cullen said the M1 Rail group supports the proposed bus system but does not think it should interrupt their original plan for the 3.4-mile light rail system. In fact, he said there is "unanimity" among stakeholders -- investors, board members, business associations -- to continue to push hard for the M1 line.

"We're very confident still that the money is in place to build this from a private standing point," he said.

Read the entire article here: http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2011/12/m1_ceo_matt_cullen_private_inv.html

[thelakelander]

Detroit forum members of SSP aren't taking the news well:

If anyone needs me I'll be in the bathroom slitting my wrists... :dead:

Detroit is dead.  Long live Detroit.

I just can't see how all of that recent momentum in Detroit continues without this project.

So, they work at this for nearly five years, now, non-stop.  As recently as a few months ago, LaHood & Co. are grinning ear-to-ear saying the thing is imminent while the entire time, LaHood and Bing are behind closed doors taking the piss out on the idea.  As recently as monday, the Detroit City Council was interviewing candidates to put on the board to get the project moving.

What has changed?  This idea that the powers-that-be just figured out Detroit wouldn't be able to completely fund operations is total bullsh%t, sorry.  And, if the operating money is the problem, wouldn't regionalizing the system solve this?  The capital costs have never been the problem.  The Feds have gifted this project hundreds-of-millions of dollars for the construction of the project over many years, now.  This is not to mention that the city council as recently as may approved the sell of $125 million in bonds to keep moving this thing forward, and also the millions from the private backers of this.

Anyone who doesn't feel cheated or duped by this isn't being genuine.  This is a complete shock and a shameless double-cross.  To hell with Bing and Snyder and LaHood and the whole lot of them.  You literally use five years to build up massive anticipation for this project, and in a single, backroom deal, you dash everyone's hopes a few days before Christmas?

Excuse my French, but F%ck Detroit.  Let her go bankrupt, already.  Good luck with the BRT, too.  Leave it to Metro Detroit to build up something to its literal peak for years, and then half-ass it or let if fail altogether.  There are probably but a few metro areas in this world that can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory with such consistency and with such awe-inspiring skill.

Epicfail, Detroit; epic fail.

Almost every Detroit redevelopment project in the works worth talking about was along or near the proposed route of this line.  The Detroit Whole Foods was a block from one of the proposed stops.  The day before this announcement Starwood's Aloft brand announced that it would operate a new hotel at the David Whitney along the line.  Nearly everything going on in Detroit worth talking about was in some way tied to this light rail line!  I really don't see how that momentum continues.  Detroit has a certain talent for killing its own potential.  I wondered how the region would kill its own momentum this time around.  I have my answer.  Talk about shaking investor confidence...

I'm a native Detroiter.  I saw this as probably the last chance for that city to start resembling a functioning city again while I am still in my productive years.  I doubt I will ever see it. 

And anyone who thinks that a BRT plan will actually come to fruition...  Please don't hold your breath.  That's how Detroit does these things.  They give you some grand promise then once they get expectations to the highest level possible they say "wait, sorry we can't do that but we can give you this half assed backup plan".  Then the final result is like half as good as the half-assed backup plan.  Everything that isn't a freeway receives the half-assed backup plan's backup plan treatment.

Light rail is indeed a big commitment, and it's a promise of a fixed route system that gives developers an incentive to construct along the line.  Don't take me literally, but BRT isn't something that you can take all that seriously.  It's easy to cut a bus line, but far more difficult to shut down light rail.

This has been discussed at DYES and here, but posters are correct that BRT is strictly about mobility.  I'm not convinced that it can stimulate more development along corridors, and any evidence used to say otherwise occurs in cities supplemented by other systems.

I also agree that bus improvements will assist the general population, except that it will facilitate movement to jobs outside the city.  To be honest, I'd prefer maintain operation and reliability of lines to move Detroiters to job centers in the suburbs, but greatly enhance lines that would assist in more job creation downtown.  Without the light rail plan, you aren't fostering new development, which creates more jobs downtown......  ....  And btw this isn't reshuffling jobs either, LRT is an attractive feature of a city for new residents outside the state who may want to relocate.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=158391&page=10

[thelakelander]

Fight in Detroit!

Bing fires back at business leaders, defends expanded bus transit

Detroit - Mayor Dave Bing bristled at suggestions Friday that he cut business leaders out of a plan to scrap light rail in favor of rapid-transit buses, saying he was elected to represent everyday citizens first.

"People forget who voted me in office," Bing told The Detroit News in an interview. "The citizens voted me in office and I have to represent them.

"The business community is an important part of the city, (but) I have to look out for the majority who live and work here. Woodward (light rail) is not going to be the answer for the people with transportation needs. This is a better solution, without a doubt."

Bing's comments were in response to letter released Friday by The Downtown Detroit Partnership, a group representing more than 100 local businesses. The group protested that it wasn't included in a decision to scrap a proposed $500 million light rail project along Woodward Avenue in favor of a rapid-transit regional bus system.

It's "unacceptable" that business leaders were not involved, said Cindy Pasky, chairwoman of the partnership's board of directors.

Given the time and effort that city businesses and leaders committed to the project, they were owed a discussion before the announcement was made, she said in the letter.

"What is wrong is that the leaders of Detroit's business community were not part of the discussion," wrote Pasky, president and CEO of Strategic Staffing Solutions. "They should have been at the table. The fact that they were not is completely unacceptable."

Pasky's letter said light rail is among the initiatives Detroit needs to move forward and become a "world-class city again."

"One of those things (needed) is to create affordable, reliable mass transportation that will spur economic development downtown, encourage our young talent to stay in Detroit and connect people to their jobs," the letter said.

But Bing said he is not backing off his belief that the regional bus plan is better, particularly since Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood this week made it clear the federal government is not putting any money into the light rail project. He pointed out he's been involved in ongoing conversations with Matt Cullen, a local business leader and CEO if the M1 Rail group, along the way.

LaHood this week announced federal, state and city leaders are now backing a 34-station, four-line rapid bus system instead of a proposed $500 million light-rail line up Woodward. LaHood said Detroit didn't have the required funding to make a light-rail system work, either in matching funds or long-term operations.

LaHood met with members of the Michigan congressional delegation to discuss the shift. He has pledged millions if southeast Michigan can agree on a regional transit plan.

The proposed light rail system was supposed to be underwritten by a $100 million investment from private investors, including Peter Karmanos, Mike Ilitch and others, to fund the first stretch of tracks from Hart Plaza to the New Center area.

"We can't have a first-class city until we do the fundamentals. The fundamentals (are) getting regional bus transportation in place first," Bing said. "What we've done is create an opportunity for regional transportation that's never been achieved in the last 40 to 50 years. That's more important than one line going up Woodward Avenue.

"I'm pretty clear for my reasons for this. I answer to the people of Detroit. It's as simple as that."

http://www.detnews.com/article/20111216/METRO/112160436/Bing-fires-back-business-leaders-defends-expanded-bus-transit?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

[dougskiles]

Leave it to Metro Detroit to build up something to its literal peak for years, and then half-ass it or let if fail altogether.  There are probably but a few metro areas in this world that can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory with such consistency and with such awe-

I feel this guy's pain.

[Ocklawaha]

Detroit forum members of SSP aren't taking the news well:

Detroit is dead.  Long live Detroit.

I just can't see how all of that recent momentum in Detroit continues without this project.

Take heart my Detroit friends. Just look at Jacksonville for inspiration, we've done nothing with our small fixed transit system, and have completely ignored a spiderweb of railroad tracks. The opportunity to be the first city with a heritage streetcar system in a city BUILT ON STREETCAR LINES, has been blown off for 30+ years.

But hey we're knocking them dead, downtown is alive with offices, eateries, and a booming residential market... We have a moratorium on funding fixed transit too. Just don't try and keep up Detroit, we're the new American boom town...

Jacksonville spells Mass Transit with a four letter word, R O A D.

OCKLAWAHA

[JeffreyS]

Leave it to Metro Detroit to build up something to its literal peak for years, and then half-ass it or let if fail altogether.  There are probably but a few metro areas in this world that can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory with such consistency and with such awe-

I feel this guy's pain.

I do too. Jacksonville had smart conscientious put together a Mobility Fee plan that would improve the QOL here.  Then we had to watch the City Council pass it and pretend they really care about the people they represent.  Only to suffer the humiliation of that same council hollering "the little people don't matter" and harpooning the plan for the Insider GOB strip mall developers. 

"Jacksonville where the City Council really likes Wendy's burgers".