Bus rapid transit system could boost metro Detroit, experts say

[Parkguy]

Thanks for the discussion.

I view transit as a means of enabling commerce [[jobs) for the City and Metro Detroit, rather than a development strategy for the Cass Corridor [[aka Midtown).

Thus, I'm more in favor of volume over style.

Exactly, but some kinds of transit bring investment-- meaning construction, jobs, relocating businesses to a denser area, and so on-- and some kinds don't bring those advantages. Light rail brings the most investment, BRT brings some, and standard bus lines bring virtually none. One of the problems we have now is that residential development has sprawled, but industrial, retail, and services followed. That isn't an accident-- those things have all been done by policy. A study that Wm. Whyte talked about in his book <i>City</i> back in the '70s showed that regardless of the reasons companies gave for moving from New York City to suburban areas, the fact was that they virtually all relocated to within a short distance of the CEO's residence. People move to far suburbs, their businesses soon follow, and then we have to run BRT lines 50 miles out so that people can get to work. It will still take them hours to get there.

I guess my point is that we have to start somewhere, and Woodward Avenue is the obvious choice. We have to build a system that will begin the long process of re-densification of the region. Build a system that will virtually assure that dense development will follow. People who don't like the system don't have to use it. And, they can rest assured that the costs of maintaining their car-centric lifestyle will be shifted to the folks who move to the new dense developments. BRT is better than the dysfunctional system we have now, and will give a lot of people an opportunity to find work in places they can't even get to now. So, I see BRT, LRT, an improved bus system, bike lanes, and safe pedestrian infrastructure as parts of a balanced system that will be the real answer.

[professorscott]

I see BRT, LRT, an improved bus system, bike lanes, and safe pedestrian infrastructure as parts of a balanced system that will be the real answer.

Ahh, very refreshing to see some holistic thinking. This is exactly correct. We need to make travel convenient, all kinds of travel: walking, bicycling, driving, use of taxicabs, buses of all types, the People Mover since what the hell, it exists, and yes, someday, light rail and commuter rail. People need to be able to get around, and we must recognize that for various reasons not everyone drives.

It will be a combination of things, and not any one single thing, that will breathe new life into the City and the region. It is probably just as important that Detroit is slowly putting bike lanes onto roads, as it is that we are working on transit.

[Wesley Mouch]

Ahh, very refreshing to see some holistic thinking. This is exactly correct. We need to make travel convenient, all kinds of travel: walking, bicycling, driving, use of taxicabs, buses of all types, the People Mover since what the hell, it exists, and yes, someday, light rail and commuter rail. People need to be able to get around, and we must recognize that for various reasons not everyone drives.

It will be a combination of things, and not any one single thing, that will breathe new life into the City and the region. It is probably just as important that Detroit is slowly putting bike lanes onto roads, as it is that we are working on transit.

Yes. I rally against LRT, and for BRT. I want people to have open minds. LRT is rather 'old school'. Our options today are so much greater. But the truth is that I'd love to see LRT on Woodward. But even more, I want us to be open to what is achievable.

Detroit's finances are a mess. When Coleman was mayor, we kept getting money from the feds because of our political clout. Well, that's gone now. It moved south. Tennessee. Texas. Arizona. They've won.

If we fight really hard, we may get our fair share of transit [[or any other federal) money. But we're not going to get much in the way of gifts. We frankly don't matter much. So let's get ourselves going and do whatever we can.

So let's do bike paths! Fix our taxicab rules. Allow jitneys. Make sure you can get around our city. For us and for tourists.

Maybe all we can do now is bus lanes on Woodward with jump lights. Its sure wide enough. All that takes is a little paint and a few million of signal work.

Whatever it is, let's get behind it, and make it great.

[downtownguy]

Well said, Parkguy. Thanks for the post.

[hortonz]

The BRT, LRT or whatever the latest plan for mass transit in Metro Detroit is called, will never see the light of day. The federal government approved an LRT for Detroit during the Ford administration and what did Detroit get?