LIGHT RAIL UPDATE: Ray LaHood to announce federal commitment

[DetroitPlanner]

This technology is in use all over the world, and works very well.

I'd actually be very surprised if something like this doesn't make it into the project.

The first time I saw this technology used was probably about ten years ago along the Vegas Strip. They were using it then, but also had it tied into ADA considerations for audible directions. They were using this with low-floor articulated buses that were a breeze to get on and off.

SMART is using some of the Stimulus money for some technology improvements to assist riders. I hope that they will up the game locally, the way Blue Water Transit has upped the game for alt fuel and bikes on buses.

[esp1986]

Yes I have, state income taxes are not used to fund transit either. It all comes from Act 51 of 1951. The overwhelming majority of funding that funds transportation at the federal and state level is the gas tax, with some money getting thrown in from registration fees.

However, the increased funds coming into the state coffers, allows for a subsidy in the annual budget. It would all play into the balancing act that is out state budget.

[DetroitPlanner]

However, the increased funds coming into the state coffers, allows for a subsidy in the annual budget. It would all play into the balancing act that is out state budget.

Huh? Do you understand how taxes work? Things do not go into one big pot. Any extra sales taxes will most likely go to school districts [[proposal A). The property taxes will be capped at the rate of inflation, regardless of how much economic activity happens and cannot be changed [[Proposal A/Headlee). Act 51 pays for transit operations primarily through the gas tax. Detroit does not pay into the SMART millage that helps pay for operating. Detroit has a lot of holes to fill, operating transit is only one.

Without a change in how taxes are collected or distributed your scenario will never work. There is no political will to do this right now.

[BrushStart]

http://detnews.com/article/20101104/...361/1409/rss36

When asked about light rail in an interview, Edsel Ford II stated that downtown was vibrant now and that it needed to be connected to midtown and to Birmingham. Although it may be a token gesture, it is nice to have the support of one of the Fords. The News article also said that construction to Eight Mile is supposed to begin next year. When was that announced?

[Russix]

http://detnews.com/article/20101104/...361/1409/rss36

When asked about light rail in an interview, Edsel Ford II stated that downtown was vibrant now and that it needed to be connected to midtown and to Birmingham. Although it may be a token gesture, it is nice to have the support of one of the Fords. The News article also said that construction to Eight Mile is supposed to begin next year. When was that announced?

I don't know. Is this year three or four of a one year Environmental Impact Study?

[j to the jeremy]

Year One.

They got the federal money, they're building it. Any other questions?

[iheartthed]

http://detnews.com/article/20101104/...361/1409/rss36

When asked about light rail in an interview, Edsel Ford II stated that downtown was vibrant now and that it needed to be connected to midtown and to Birmingham. Although it may be a token gesture, it is nice to have the support of one of the Fords. The News article also said that construction to Eight Mile is supposed to begin next year. When was that announced?

So clearly they are floating the idea of a light rail line that goes from downtown to Birmingham in order to generate interest... BUT... I don't see how that will be feasible for a completely at grade transit line [[which is what it is planned to be so far). Birmingham needs a commuter rail line that would feed into Detroit's light rail line [[say at the New Center Amtrak station?).

[casscorridor]

So clearly they are floating the idea of a light rail line that goes from downtown to Birmingham in order to generate interest... BUT... I don't see how that will be feasible for a completely at grade transit line [[which is what it is planned to be so far). Birmingham needs a commuter rail line that would feed into Detroit's light rail line [[say at the New Center Amtrak station?).

Agreed. The furthest conceivable terminis is Royal Oak. Any further than that and we start running into major issues and prohibitive costs, especialy when we consider ridership is nowhere near the level to support rail north of RO, much less the fairgrounds. An extention to RO will already require a miracle, to make it to Birmingham is next to impossible.

Commuter rail is a much more reasonable option and it can extend to Pontiac. And tranfers to light-rail would take place at the Amsterdam/Amtrak station. If an extention was made to RO a second transfer point could be made to commuter rail.

Also, a park-and-ride lot will be built at the fairgrounds. An RO extention could allow for a second lot to be built near a possible Zoo station. This give easy access to the light-rail from the north, east and west. Bham is only a 10 min drive from there and or an easy bus trip. The fact is that Bham isnt an important enough destination to warrent commuter AND light rail.

You could say neither is RO but at least a terminis there can connect directly to a commuter station, which makes for a more effective system [[instead of having to go all the way south to new center to get to Pontiac you just get on at RO).

[bailey]

Year One.

They got the federal money, they're building it. Any other questions?

actual construction timetable?
stops; how many? where?
running down the center or at the curb?
detouring around Campus Martius or somehow making through there?
Type of train?
actual length of line, new center only or is it making it to 8 mile?

[esp1986]

actual construction timetable?
stops; how many? where?
running down the center or at the curb?
detouring around Campus Martius or somehow making through there?
Type of train?
actual length of line, new center only or is it making it to 8 mile?

actual construction timetable? end of 2011 at the earliest [[federal "environmental impact study" needs to be completed first)
stops; how many? where? TBA
running down the center or at the curb? TBA
detouring around Campus Martius or somehow making through there? TBA
Type of train? TBA
actual length of line, new center only or is it making it to 8 mile? the funds acquired to date will pay for the line to go to 8 Mile. The initial $125M put up by the consortium of investors, i.e. Ilitch, Gilbert, Karmanos, Penske, etc, will put the line to W. Grand Blvd., i.e. New Center. The matching funds contributed by foundations, i.e. Kresge, on the city's behalf and the creation of the bill allowing the original $125M to be used as matching funds, will allow for federal matching funds of nearly $220M, for a grand total of nearly $440M. The city's portion, which was not contributed by the city, along with the city's involvement, allows for the federal funds, which will provide for the line to reach 8 Mile.

[lincoln8740]

Agreed. The furthest conceivable terminis is Royal Oak. Any further than that and we start running into major issues and prohibitive costs.

Did a Light Rail Slappy just use the phrase "prohibitive costs"?

Just checking

[Bearinabox]

Did a Light Rail Slappy just use the phrase "prohibitive costs"?

Just checking

Don't worry, linc, we'll find a way to tax you double. We have a whole committee at the International Brotherhood of Light Rail Slappies dedicated to the task.

[casscorridor]

actual construction timetable? end of 2011 at the earliest [[federal "environmental impact study" needs to be completed first)
stops; how many? where? TBA
running down the center or at the curb? TBA
detouring around Campus Martius or somehow making through there? TBA
Type of train? TBA
actual length of line, new center only or is it making it to 8 mile? the funds acquired to date will pay for the line to go to 8 Mile. The initial $125M put up by the consortium of investors, i.e. Ilitch, Gilbert, Karmanos, Penske, etc, will put the line to W. Grand Blvd., i.e. New Center. The matching funds contributed by foundations, i.e. Kresge, on the city's behalf and the creation of the bill allowing the original $125M to be used as matching funds, will allow for federal matching funds of nearly $220M, for a grand total of nearly $440M. The city's portion, which was not contributed by the city, along with the city's involvement, allows for the federal funds, which will provide for the line to reach 8 Mile.

The EIS will help determine the final station locations and if it will curbside or center-of-street running. But you can see the proposed station locations on the Woodward Light Rail website, which is run by DDOT and the FTA. All the stations have been determined for both the center-of-street and curb-side options as well as three possible downtown alignments. What the EIS will do is help choose the best options based on sound data and expertiese, rather than whatever the heck some CEO or politician wants. Let's hope they follow through and make the right choice. It is good to know they are studying this! The system will be vastly better in the end as a result.

[stasu1213]

Why didn't the People Mover ran up to the New Center area in the 1980s when it was built?

[bailey]

Why didn't the People Mover ran up to the New Center area in the 1980s when it was built?

L. Brooks Patterson personally interceded in the planning to ensure it went nowhere one could not walk and get there faster. He is an evil genius like that.

[canuck]

Geez, does this guy ever have a premonitory tag for a name; Rail-a-hood.