Port Authority power to improve city airport being fought.

**brizee** · December-02-12, 07:41 PM

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...uthority-bills

I grew up by the airport and my father and brother still love. Personally, fuck the airport.

Open 6 mile back up.

Actally regulate the trains that can box you in and hold you up for an hour and a half. I understand it's a business but this is just running roughshod over people.

**Scottathew** · December-02-12, 08:56 PM

What's this about the trains boxing you in? I've never heard of this.

As for the airport, does anyone here have a compelling reason for it to exist?

**Gistok** · December-02-12, 09:22 PM

Originally Posted by 48091

What's this about the trains boxing you in? I've never heard of this.

As for the airport, does anyone here have a compelling reason for it to exist?

I think he's referring to the tracks that run west of City Airport. If you're on 6 Mile, you're cut off from the east side [[closed at City Airport), and your a virtual prisoner until the trains pass.

As for a reason for the airport... right now it's for small planes and corporate jets. Southwest used to run great services from there to Chicago and other nearby cities... it was great not having to drive all the way out to DTW. But there is no passenger service that is viable because of the short runways.

**brizee** · December-02-12, 09:24 PM

Trains cross all over Van Dyke, McNichols and Davison, leaving you stuck, having to go miles out of the way, or at it's worst trapped.

Originally Posted by Gistok

I think he's referring to the tracks that run west of City Airport. If you're on 6 Mile, you're cut off from the east side [[closed at City Airport), and your a virtual prisoner until the trains pass.

Exactly.

**313WX** · December-02-12, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by brizee

Trains cross all over Van Dyke, McNichols and Davison, leaving you stuck, having to go miles out of the way, or at it's worst trapped.

Exactly.

Oh yeah, I've been stopped by that train on 6 Mile before [[the one that runs parallel to Groesbeck).

The worst one is the train that runs parallel to Mound Road. If you're on Davison or 6 Mile, you must watch it go so far down one direction, stop, then go BACK in the direction it came from.

**Honky Tonk** · December-02-12, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by brizee

Trains cross all over Van Dyke, McNichols and Davison, leaving you stuck, having to go miles out of the way, or at it's worst trapped. Exactly.

I used to have reason a few years ago to take Van Dyke to 8 Mile. Several times I thought I'd never see my home again. And yes, you can literally go MILES out of your way just to get around it. As far as City Airport, has anyone been to Cleveland? They put a small corporate jet-type airport on their waterfront, about where Hart Plaza is. To me, it looked like it increased their downtown business quite a bit. Jets would fly shooters in, they would do what they had to do, then fly out. Dennis Archer campaigned strongly to expand City Airport. The problem is the big cemetery @ one end, was in the way of the expansion. When he proposed to exume and move the bodies in that portion of the cemetery, the idea was met with such resistance, he gave up on it. I personally think the City could capitalize on expanding City Airport services, and it could bring in new and more business.

**DetroitPlanner** · December-03-12, 12:03 AM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

I used to have reason a few years ago to take Van Dyke to 8 Mile. Several times I thought I'd never see my home again. And yes, you can literally go MILES out of your way just to get around it. As far as City Airport, has anyone been to Cleveland? They put a small corporate jet-type airport on their waterfront, about where Hart Plaza is. To me, it looked like it increased their downtown business quite a bit. Jets would fly shooters in, they would do what they had to do, then fly out. Dennis Archer campaigned strongly to expand City Airport. The problem is the big cemetery @ one end, was in the way of the expansion. When he proposed to exume and move the bodies in that portion of the cemetery, the idea was met with such resistance, he gave up on it. I personally think the City could capitalize on expanding City Airport services, and it could bring in new and more business.

Actually Archer's plan was to move Van Dyke. He was the one who destroyed the neighborhood between Van Dyke and the airport in order to put in a new runway. Its a story similar to what he did to the neighborhood by the roostertail and sinbads, or what GM did to Poletown.

**Gannon** · December-03-12, 04:10 AM

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

Actually Archer's plan was to move Van Dyke. He was the one who destroyed the neighborhood between Van Dyke and the airport in order to put in a new runway. Its a story similar to what he did to the neighborhood by the roostertail and sinbads, or what GM did to Poletown.

And never, ever forget what Judge Doom did to Toontown.

**Wesley Mouch** · December-03-12, 01:55 AM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

I used to have reason a few years ago to take Van Dyke to 8 Mile. Several times I thought I'd never see my home again. And yes, you can literally go MILES out of your way just to get around it. As far as City Airport, has anyone been to Cleveland? They put a small corporate jet-type airport on their waterfront, about where Hart Plaza is. To me, it looked like it increased their downtown business quite a bit. Jets would fly shooters in, they would do what they had to do, then fly out. Dennis Archer campaigned strongly to expand City Airport. The problem is the big cemetery @ one end, was in the way of the expansion. When he proposed to exume and move the bodies in that portion of the cemetery, the idea was met with such resistance, he gave up on it. I personally think the City could capitalize on expanding City Airport services, and it could bring in new and more business.

The current runway is too short [[because of cemetery) for larger passenger jets. I think Southwest couldn't fly their new 737s -- so they bailed. I'm no expert, but I think City's just fine for typical corporate jets. Historically, the problem with City Airport was high cost of fuel. Typical protected market crap.

**Richard** · December-03-12, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by Wesley Mouch

The current runway is too short [[because of cemetery) for larger passenger jets. I think Southwest couldn't fly their new 737s -- so they bailed. I'm no expert, but I think City's just fine for typical corporate jets. Historically, the problem with City Airport was high cost of fuel. Typical protected market crap.

They were talking about making a kinda drone central hub,adding hangers etc,encouraging drone manufacturers to be based there.

**Honky Tonk** · December-03-12, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by Richard

They were talking about making a kinda drone central hub,adding hangers etc,encouraging drone manufacturers to be based there.

IF that's true, that would be a very positive thing, IMO, for Detroit & surrounding area.

GUSHI · December-02-12, 10:15 PM

Pro air to Newark was awesome, then take the bus to NYC,

**DetroitPlanner** · December-03-12, 12:00 AM

Originally Posted by GUSHI

Pro air to Newark was awesome, then take the bus to NYC,

My Pro-Air story was a nightmare. I am glad yours isn't.

**EastsideAl** · December-03-12, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by GUSHI

Pro air to Newark was awesome, then take the bus to NYC,

I loved taking that when I lived in NYC. Pro Air sure wasn't the most dependable airline, and was pretty much always a little late, but being able to get to/from my folk's house in 10-15 minutes was well worth it. It can be a monumental hassle for east siders [[to say nothing of Grosse Pointers and Macomb Countyers) to get all the way out to Metro.

**Gistok** · December-03-12, 04:16 AM

The closing of McNichols was a bad move... it really cuts off large parts of Detroit. You cannot go east/west between I-94/Harper and 7 Mile Rd. now.

**eastland** · December-03-12, 08:55 AM

I think it was during Young's time as mayor that JJ and the Morning Crew joked about putting the headstones right into the runways.

JVB · December-03-12, 10:10 AM

I read an article a few months ago about City Airport being the perfect place to test the new GPS flight control technology. Apparently all of our airports are using antiquated WWII radar technology and in order to upgrade systems it's going to require real time testing at a large enough airport and City Airport is one of the best candidates for that.

Source.

**downtownguy** · December-03-12, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by JVB

I read an article a few months ago about City Airport being the perfect place to test the new GPS flight control technology. Apparently all of our airports are using antiquated WWII radar technology and in order to upgrade systems it's going to require real time testing at a large enough airport and City Airport is one of the best candidates for that.

Source.

Fascinating story. Thanks for the link. [[Same as Richard's)

Originally Posted by DetroitPlanner

Use em to drop bombs on the bad guys!

Almost. From the story:

A drone flying at an altitude of 14,000 feet could identify the license plate from a stolen vehicle and send the coordinates of the vehicle to law enforcement agencies. The result would be less theft and fewer car chases, experts say.

**Hypestyles** · December-03-12, 10:23 AM

look for more legislative inertia on this for years to come..

**ontheblvd** · December-03-12, 06:14 PM

I wouldn't trust any expansion of the Port Authority's current powers for the reason that the Authority's master concessionaire stands to benefit the most from any expansion of powers. The master concessionaire for the Authority is our local monopoly-owner Matty Moroun through his Ambassador Port Corp.

Joel's article below is accurate. The powers in the agreement Moroun has with the Port Authority are truly unbelievable but stated clearly in black and white. With the rendering of the Authority subordinate to its master concessionaire, it seems the legislature would look to curb rather than expand the Authority's powers.

http://www.joelontheroad.com/?p=9799

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...orouns-control

**brizee** · December-03-12, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by ontheblvd

I wouldn't trust any expansion of the Port Authority's current powers for the reason that the Authority's master concessionaire stands to benefit the most from any expansion of powers. The master concessionaire for the Authority is our local monopoly-owner Matty Moroun through his Ambassador Port Corp.

Joel's article below is accurate. The powers in the agreement Moroun has with the Port Authority are truly unbelievable but stated clearly in black and white. With the rendering of the Authority subordinate to its master concessionaire, it seems the legislature would look to curb rather than expand the Authority's powers.

http://www.joelontheroad.com/?p=9799

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...orouns-control

Thanks. That is very interesting.

You almost have to admire Matty. And Kwame.

They are both so over the top cartoon bad guyish. And they don't go away.

Like a mix of Montgomery Burns and Jason Vorhes!