Originally Posted by
dtowncitylover
Cass, I understand your frustration, but it's the corporations that have the money right now. The City of Detroit has almost no money to build a LRT line from downtown to 8 Mile. I applaud these guys for using their own money that will create jobs and growth for the benefit of the resident of Detoit. I don't think you will find these corps running the entire thing that's not their job. Eventually this will be run by DDOT using union work, which I'm all for. You might find their ad on the inside of the train, but that's expected.
As for the People Mover, it is unfortunate that the full plan was never realized but that is old technology and building a monorail or elevated system would cost in the billions. Light rail, like I have state before, is the new thing. Light rail is mass transit. If we build lines along Gratiot, Jefferson, and Grand River, we can really become a transit-oriented city. It is not, however, heavy rail transit, like a subway.
Remember, M-1 Rail and DTOGS are working together. While M-1 may say that have yet to determine what the stations are going to look like, DTOGS has. I think for an urban place like Lower Woodward I can dig curbside. But perhaps north of the Boulevard it can move into the middle of the street.
And, ljbad, San Fran also has a extensive light rail system which co-mingles with traffice for some, if not most, of the line.
I would really like to see AnsaldoBreda be awarded the contract for light rail vehicles, they make awesome products.