Quote Originally Posted by ghettopalmetto View Post
This is a good starting point. If the line is extended up to 8 Mile [[or beyond), then I imagine service would mimick that of light rail in places like Baltimore or Minneapolis, where trains run at faster speeds in the outlying areas, and run just a bit slower in the downtown area.

From a technical standpoint, both light rail vehicles and streetcars operate on the same gauge track and are powered by overhead catenary. The only modifications that might be required to run light rail vehicles on the Woodward line would be some sort of boarding/alighting platform extension.
You know, that was one [[of many) of the "killers" that destroyed the fabulous and comprehensive interurban system that Detroit once possessed. The city pols always dictated that once in the city limits, the interurban cars couldn't run express to the downtown, but had to stop at every street corner to pickup and discharge local passengers just like a street car [[at local fares). They did not allow bypass tracks so that the interurbans could speed to the downtown.