Intermodal Transportation Center in Detroit?

[samtrak]

Are there plans to combine Amtrak and Greyhound stations in MotorCity? How do I get from downtown Detroit to VIA train station in Windsor by bus or shuttle van?

[MikeM]

Speaking of intermodal, plans for a new railroad tunnel under the river are moving forward:

Plans for Detroit River rail tunnel move forward

[401don]

I don't live in the area, but since no one else has answered yet, it's pretty easy to take the Tunnel Bus from downtown D to Downtown W. You then take about a 10 minute bus ride along Wyandotte or Riverside Drive to the Via station.

[douglasm]

The ideal situation would be a terminal combining intercity bus, local transit and Amtrak, with possibly an airport shuttle. The problem is that [[as I remember) there's no real rail access to downtown anymore, and MCS might be considered too far away to be a hub. And if you could access downtown by rail, you'd have the problem of turning the trains, seeing as they continue on to or come from Pontiac. This would leave the New Center/Milwaukee Junction area as the only really viable choice, with the same problem, too far from downtown for a suitable terminal hub.

As to VIA, Windsor's the end of the line, it would be just as easy [[and more cost effective) to cross the border and catch the train at the new VIA station then [[assuming there's enough Detroit/London/Toronto/Montreal traffic to begin with) continue the trains to Detroit and suffer customs delays that would render the service non productive.

[Richard]

The thought pattern with DC is to turn over Amtrac support to each state it passes through,maybe this is something the RTA will have on its scope?

[Hypestyles]

I hope something is developed-- sooner rather than later.

[Hans57]

So is this multi-modal transit station happening anytime soon? Seems like now is the time...

[professorscott]

When we were developing the concept of what is now called M1 Rail, one of the things the project was explicitly designed to support was getting people from the Amtrak station to downtown. Another was to provide a decent connection between the various east-west bus routes, and I believe Megabus picks up near where there will be an M1 station.

Now, Greyhound is a private company, so they can put their bus terminal wherever they like, and I doubt there's much chance they'll move toward lower Woodward. Real estate there is getting pricey and Greyhound spends about as much time in bankruptcy as out of it.

MDOT may decide to construct a new train station across the tracks from the existing one; that project has been on a back burner for a long time. What will make it more likely is if the Ann Arbor commuter rail can actually start operating. I have no inside dope on that particular project, except that it's sitting at the station awaiting two things: permission from the owners of the railroad tracks, and money to operate.

[DetroitHabitater]

There was originally some talk about a Dequinder-Cut style greenway built on top of the new tunnel right of way from Bagley to the river. I'd be all about that.

[cramerro]

I don't live in the area, but since no one else has answered yet, it's pretty easy to take the Tunnel Bus from downtown D to Downtown W. You then take about a 10 minute bus ride along Wyandotte or Riverside Drive to the Via station.

401, I work downtown, ride SMART to work, and I was excited to try out the tunnel bus for lunch at Tunnel BBQ and maybe a jaunt over to the casino. Little known fact: the Tunnel Bus is only for Windsorites. You can only board it from Windsor and make the return trip with the appropriate paperwork. You cannot board it in Detroit and take it back here, at least that's what I've found out in my moderate level of research on the issue. Someone knows otherwise, let me know.

[401don]

401, I work downtown, ride SMART to work, and I was excited to try out the tunnel bus for lunch at Tunnel BBQ and maybe a jaunt over to the casino. Little known fact: the Tunnel Bus is only for Windsorites. You can only board it from Windsor and make the return trip with the appropriate paperwork. You cannot board it in Detroit and take it back here, at least that's what I've found out in my moderate level of research on the issue. Someone knows otherwise, let me know.

Not sure what your source is but, if correct, that would be a major change in policy to not allow Americans to use the tunnel bus. Since it is run by Windsor Transit I find it hard to believe and think we would have seen news of this.

[MikeyinBrooklyn]

Unfortunately, I don't see going from Detroit to Windsor returning to the fast and easy days of yore. I college I used to be the DD for a van full of 19 & 20 yo college kids. The thought of trying to cross back into the US now with a dozen drunk and asleep undergrads now is frightening. We'd be detained all night I'm sure. Does Windsor still have bars catering to US college kids?

[iheartthed]

As to VIA, Windsor's the end of the line, it would be just as easy [[and more cost effective) to cross the border and catch the train at the new VIA station then [[assuming there's enough Detroit/London/Toronto/Montreal traffic to begin with) continue the trains to Detroit and suffer customs delays that would render the service non productive.

That's not really an issue. They should just have passport control in the station like they do at the airport.

[cramerro]

Not sure what your source is but, if correct, that would be a major change in policy to not allow Americans to use the tunnel bus. Since it is run by Windsor Transit I find it hard to believe and think we would have seen news of this.

Well, I gave them a call. Not sure why I thought you couldn't start in USA, but I was wrong. $4.50 each way, you can get on wherever you'd like. Guess I'll have to re-start my lunch plans when the weather gets nicer... will have to be a long lunch to ride the bus, through customs, and get back to work.