Light Rail Coming To Detroit
The Detroit Transit Options for Growth Study (DTOGS) released a press release outlining a plan to secure federal funds to build a light rail transit system along the Woodward corridor in Detroit. The rail system would be a starter line for a more regional transit system. Imagine going from Pontiac to Birmingham, to Royal Oak and Ferndale, and all the way down to Detroit’s New Center, Wayne State University, and Fox Town all on light rail?
The initial line would run up Woodward Avenue starting next to Comerica Park, Ford Field and the Fox Theater, and run up to the State Fairgrounds at 8-Mile road. The idea is that Oakland county would be able to extend the line further up Woodward and into the surrounding cities. This is definitely something the region needs.
Here’s a demonstration of what it might look like:
At an initial cost of $371 million, the DTOGS Project, led by the Detroit Department of Transporation (DDOT) is looking to secure up to 60% of the funds from the Federal Transit Administration. The remaining funds would come from “other Federal, state and local funding sources”. DDOT is working with the URS Corporation, a consulting firm with previous success in helping cities through the Federal review process.
Construction on Woodward Avenue could begin as soon as 2011. Finally! Mass transit in Motown!