DEGC to run Woodward Light Rail?

**Novine** · September-15-11, 05:52 AM

Bing looks to put Demolition Jackson in charge of the Woodward Light Rail project. Can't we get a real transit authority to run these operations? What does Jackson know about transit?

Detroit could turn over management of light-rail project to group of experts

**animatedmartian** · September-15-11, 06:18 AM

I wonder how it would effect relations with the suburban portion of the line. I see a fight coming.

**Junkin4Life** · September-15-11, 06:31 AM

Fire George Jackson ASAP

**cramerro** · September-15-11, 06:32 AM

I'm wondering what DYes-ers think about this... GJ is pretty low on the favorite persons list. I don't see how this would be a negative for the suburban portion of the line... DEGC would be much more inclined to appreciate the value to downtown business to have the line extend past 8 Mile, where many employees are coming from.

Not sure how this impacts the RTA talk, since DEGC won't be able to levy a regional tax like an RTA would. Seems like securing more reliable funding than the Detroit City Council whims to support $10-$14M/year operating is [[as pointed out in the article) one of the big hurdles that is still up in the air.

**brizee** · September-15-11, 07:05 AM

I heard Pugh on the radio talking about transportation yesterday.

It sounds like the council[[or at least Pugh) is pushing for a regional authority to prepare for additional lines.

Don't know if he's talking out of his ass or he's privy to unannounced details.

**kraig** · September-15-11, 07:54 AM

Will the DEGC operate the line or simply facilitate the line getting built? The former seems to go beyond their purview, but the latter falls in line with what they do. And contrary to a lot of the opinions that have been cast about George Jackson and the DEGC, they actually do an excellent job at getting projects going.

**Doma** · September-15-11, 08:23 AM

Oh yeah! In your face haters.

George Jackson, head of the Detroit Economic Growth Corp., and his experts could take over. The DEGC, respected by corporate and city leaders, is known for getting things done.

**Novine** · September-15-11, 08:33 AM

"And contrary to a lot of the opinions that have been cast about George Jackson and the DEGC, they actually do an excellent job at getting projects going."

What experience or expertise does Demolition Jackson or anyone over at DEGC have with pulling off a transit project of this scale?

**DetroitHabitater** · September-15-11, 09:04 AM

I would assert that 'counting beans' makes for dull slow growing cities.......and vwhalla! that's what we've got here

**animatedmartian** · September-15-11, 09:21 AM

Hmph, well, I guess you can't hate the guy for doing his job. A little more community consideration wouldn't hurt though [[sort of going off-topic).

**Joseph C. Krause** · September-15-11, 09:43 AM

When I saw "group of experts" in the headline, I thought the people would be "expert" in rail transit. Maybe engineers from Spain, such as those profiled in the recent PBS documentary about Detroit and transit? No. Jackson.

We're doomed. Get this guy out of here.

**DetroitHabitater** · September-15-11, 10:47 AM

And last i checked the 'bean counters' were throwing away things worth many many beans to the city history and the right developers. Bean-Priceless things. The problem is they don't understand what value is and how many beans its worth.

**Hypestyles** · September-15-11, 10:59 AM

sigh... I guess we'll see what happens-- or what doesn't happen. In the long term, a genuine regional authority must be created. I can see certain people holding on to the notion that this should be a "detroit thing only", however long it takes for the construction to be facilitated. "People Mover 2" isn't good enough. There need to be lines started along Gratiot, Michigan Ave., and Grand River [[for starters). For whatever it's worth, I have to say I wouldn't mind seeing Gov. Snyder taking a hardline with the principals and telling them if they don't get an authority in place, the federal/state money/support is blown.. I have no idea how realistic that is, though, lol..

**preserve** · September-15-11, 12:06 PM

We're still waiting for all those bids for the reuse of Tiger Stadium - you know the ones
GJ said would come as soon as the stadium was torn down. Now he won't even consider having anyone maintain the field. I guess we're looking at a long term resolution to the rail system.

**Novine** · September-15-11, 12:37 PM

"I think the DEGC is a safer bet."

I guess if you set the bar low enough, Demolition Jackson will manage to trip over it. How about an actual transit authority staffed by people who know how to run a transit system? Or people who actually know how to construct and operate light rail systems? Is that too much to ask?

**professorscott** · September-15-11, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by Novine

How about an actual transit authority staffed by people who know how to run a transit system? Or people who actually know how to construct and operate light rail systems? Is that too much to ask?

Actually, yes it is. People with expertise in operating rapid transit will want to work in a city where there are a multitude of rapid transit lines [[or at least a decent prospect of that happening), a reasonable governance structure in place and a stable funding source. Neither Detroit nor the region has any of these things. So we won't be able to attract the top talent to here; we aren't serious enough about this.

**stromberg2** · September-15-11, 12:56 PM

^^^^
Ughhh....wait, there was the.......what about......never mind. Fuck, as said above, how about having transit experts running it? Oh, I forgot, they would be "outsiders".

Stromberg2, ready to throw a berserk!

**1953** · September-16-11, 03:14 PM

If DEGC is allowed to take over, the line will be demolished before it is complete.

P.S. Why wouldn't you want your transportation department in charge of a transportation project?

**BShea** · September-16-11, 03:21 PM

The Federal Transit Administration has said it doesn't believe DDOT should be handling this. They're providing the funding, and they've expressed skepticism publicly about DDOT's operational funding plan and ability to run this system without cannibalizing the bus system even more than it already has.

The ideal situation is an RTA. Until one of those is in place, it appears the Bing administration believes the DEGC is better equipped to deal with the political issues involved in this than DDOT, which is a transit agency. The engineers designing the system remain the same people from URS.

**Russix** · September-15-11, 12:59 PM

The Feds are moving in the opposite direction: http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...light-rail-fta

They have reason to fear that DDOT is not stable enough to run the operation and they probably question who the hell the DEGC is and what makes them knowledgeable enough to built and operate a mass transit system?

**DetroitHabitater** · September-15-11, 01:52 PM

Wow that 'hall of fame' is embarrassing....

**BShea** · September-15-11, 02:31 PM

I've been covering this project, in its various forms, since at least 2006 or 07 [[my mind is jelly right now from a two-week cold and transit exhaustion).

It was not much of a secret that personality conflicts have been an issue for this project.

Norm White and DDOT not running the project is being greeted as great news by transit insiders that I've talked to.

DEGC runs the DDA, which has committed $9 million to the project ... through the M1 Rail consortium. So having George Jackson running this project likely means M1's concerns about DDOT's plans could find a more receptive audience.

The city needs M1's money. M1 has issues with DDOT's plans [[at lease some M1 members; they're not a united front on this). My theory is that the administration grasped at some point that M1 was serious about walking away, or at least some of its members. That would leave this project DOA.

Bing doesn't want a dead rail project around his neck, not this far into the game. So it was only nature White and DDOT had to go.

And if you read what I and the Freep have written from interviews with the feds, they haven't been shy about their concerns about DDOT's ability to fund and operate such a system. They want an RTA. And apparently, short of an RTA for now, it's been deemed wiser to have DEGC do this.

The "experts" thing isn't DEGC being experts at building a train system -- URS was hired for that. They're experts at business and political relationships, especially with some members of M1 Rail.

**Novine** · September-15-11, 03:14 PM

"They're experts at business and political relationships, especially with some members of M1 Rail."

Experts at cronyism and protecting self-interested parties? I'll grant Demolition Jackson is an expert at that. Which is really what the project is all about. It's not about getting a great transit system that will serve the city and region. It's about getting a system that will serve the self-interests of various parties.

**corktownyuppie** · September-15-11, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by Novine

"They're experts at business and political relationships, especially with some members of M1 Rail."

Experts at cronyism and protecting self-interested parties? I'll grant Demolition Jackson is an expert at that. Which is really what the project is all about. It's not about getting a great transit system that will serve the city and region. It's about getting a system that will serve the self-interests of various parties.

Time will tell whether the transit system is great, good, or shitty. But as for serving the self-interests of the various parties, they are the people paying for the project. If we don't want to cater to their self-interest, all we have to do tell them they don't need to pay.

It sucks. I agree. But this is the reality.

**Gorath** · September-15-11, 10:38 PM

There has to be more then a few buildings standing in the way of "progress" along the entire length of Woodward. Because of that it would make sense to put DEGC in charge of M1 rail.