Quote Originally Posted by Supersport View Post
Gsgeorge,

The DPM isn't a 1 mile loop as you stated. The DPM is actually approximately 3 miles in length, damn near the same as phase 1 of this M1 project. If built, this could be the beginning of phase II of the people, planned over 3 decades, though never materializing. DPM was to serve as the main loop, with lines running out all the spokes of the wagon wheel. Just build the damn thing, expand it to Pontiac, then start first phases on Jefferson, Gratiot, Grandriver, and Fort. Build it in phases so that Detroit can build in waves, with the center being downtown.
It would have been great to see the DPM system built out. But it won't be. Elevated rail is too expensive a solution for Detroit for going all the way to Pontiac or Macomb County. And my point was that M1 will be more effective than the DPM because it travels along a linear path, covering more area than the loop through downtown. It has been said that you could walk from Greektown to Cass & Michigan, two stations at opposite "ends" of the loop, faster than the DPM can take you there. This is probably true. It's not the case, however, when talking about walking from Foxtown to Wayne State. The M1 rail will serve countless more people than the DPM downtown loop simply because it travels a much longer linear distance, reaching into the neighborhoods instead of looping through some select areas of downtown.