Another useful resource

The Michigan Land Use Institute, which appears to be an organization with broad representation on its board, both developer and activist alike, has a spiffy website that makes me wonder who is funding the Institute's operations. In any event, the site has an interesting, although apparently rarely updated, page on transit.

Chicago Transit Discussion

For an interesting discussion comparing the Chicago Transit Authority system to the proposed light rail systems in Detroit, I'd suggesting reading this blog entry from the South of 8 Mile Blog. The discussion centers around whether the SEMCOG study of potential light rail in Detroit was flawed from its inception, by focusing on a too-long route, through suburbs without sufficient density to promote ridership. Light rail up Woodward is suggested as a more viable alternative. Remembering that the Detroit People Mover was supposed to serve as the final piece of the transit puzzle, circulating the ridership of the proposed Pontiac to Detroit light rail system, this suggestion still makes sense to me.

Detroit Mayor Focuses On Transportation

In a speech on January 12, 2007 to the Economic Club of Detroit, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick focused particular attention on regional transportation.

Specifically, Kilpatrick indicated he would like to focus efforts on two proposed light rail systems, one between Detroit and Ann Arbor, and the second between Detroit and Pontiac. As some might recall, the Detroit People Mover was originally intended to be served by a Detroit-Pontiac light rail system, which was to feed riders to the loop transit system within the downtown Detroit area.

In addition, Kilpatrick indicated he would seek to form a committee to study regional transit. Those who have already expressed an interest in participating are: (a) Atanas Ilitch, the head of Olympia Development, who organized the successful 2006 Foxtown Tigers Train promotion for the Detroit Tigers, incorporating rail and bus transit to boost Tigers attendance; (b) Chris Ilitch, brother of Atanas, and President of Ilitch Holdings, Inc., the holding company for Little Caesars, Olympia Entertainment, Olympia Development, the Detroit Red Wings, and the Detroit Tigers; (c) Roger Penske, owner of, among other entities, United Auto Group, the head of the Super Bowl Organizing Committee, and the chairman of the board of the Downtown Detroit Partnership; and (d) Dan Gilbert, the head of Quicken Loans, a company the City has been attempting to lure downtown for over a year.

MDOT's Five Year Plan

MDOT has released its 2007-2011 five year plan. As an initial note, many, although officially titled the "Michigan Department of Transportation," MDOT should more accurately be referred to as MDORB, or "Michigan Department of Road Building." Although former Director Gloria Jeff, now the head of transportation in Los Angeles, took some steps to broaden MDOT's focus to include other modes of transportation, in the opinion of some, she was forced out of her position at MDOT at the behest of the Michigan road builders lobby.

The focus of MDOT remains firmly entrenched in road building. Of the approximately 8.9 billion (with a "b") budgeted by MDOT for the 2007-2001 period, a whopping $100 million, or 1.1% is budgeted for rail transportation. Even worse, that $100 million is mainly focused on freight transportation, and not passenger transportation.

I will endeavor to link or upload the .pdf of the 5 year plan on the companion website to this blog, Michigan Transportation, in the near future. Obviously, the website remains a work in process.

Troy Future Vision Includes Better Public Transportation

A citizens task force in Troy spent almost a year discussing the vision for the future of the city. The result of the task force's work is incorporated in Troy Futures - Vision 2020. One of the main findings of the task force was the need for better and more widely available public transportation, including a new transit center. Further evidence that public transportation is desired by the masses, and not just regional planners.

Website For Detroit-Ann Arbor Transit Study

SEMCOG has a website that contains more information on the Ann Arbor to Detroit Transit study, a study that some believe did not contain enough "hard" numbers to justify its conclusions, and therefore was based upon "perceptions" and not reality.

Univ. of Detroit, WSU, and Grand Valley Part of University Tranportation Center

The United States Department of Transportation, together with the Michigan Department of Tranportation, the member universities, and corporate donors are funding a Michigan-Ohio University Transportation Center, which will have funding of approximately $1,000,000 per year. The goal of the Center is to address the transportation capabilities and competitive position of the region and the nation.

The member universities are: University of Detroit, Wayne State University, Grand Valley State University, University of Toledo, and Bowling Green State University.

The focus of research at the Center will be in eight areas:

1. Ethanol from Peat
2. New Transportation/Supply Chain Graduate Program
3. Hydraulic Hybrid Education
4. Traffic Congestion Relief
5. Biodiesel Stability
6. Congestion Avoidance for Supply Chain Improvement
7. Evaluation of Intelligent Transportation System in Oakland County
8. Alternative Fuel Education for High School Students

A Word About Regional Cooperation

My last post may have left the impression that I hold L. Brooks Patterson, or the lack of a Macomb County chief executive, responsible for the lack of regional transportation in the Detroit metropolitan area.

That impression is only partly accurate. While I do think that Patterson, for example, has been an impediment, I do not particularly think he has done anything "wrong." His view, for what it is worth, is that what is good for Oakland County is good for Oakland County, and what is good for the Detroit area is not necessarily good for Oakland County.

Put another way, it is "Oakland County First and Only." And that mindset, deeply ingrained in this metropolitan area has been the greatest impediment to developing a coherent regional transportation system, or regional cooperation itself, on a broader scale. This is not a zero sum game. If something is "good" for Detroit, it does not, by definition, make it "bad" for Oakland County. But that is the mindset of many politicians and residents in the Detroit area. ..

So, given the mindset, I perfectly understand the viewpoints of the Oakland County Executive, and the Macomb County political leaders. I just disagree with the mindset.

Lack of Macomb County Executive Delaying Regional Transit?

A recent Free Press editorial opines that the lack of a Macomb county executive is slowing the pace of regional decision-making, including cooperation on regional transportation issues. Macomb county is currently governed by its Commissioners, the leader of which is the chair of the Commission, who serves as the de facto voice for Macomb County in regional discussions.

Is the lack of a Macomb county executive a greater impediment to regional cooperation than the vocal opposition of L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County executive, to any plans that don't benefit Oakland County, and ONLY Oakland County?

Just asking. . .

Commuter Train From Ann Arbor to Detroit By Summer 2007?

A possible demonstration project to establish firm ridership numbers for future light rail transit between Detroit and Ann Arbor is under discussion between SEMCOG, Amtrak, the state of Michigan, and Norfolk Southern Railroad.

SEMCOG is an intergovernmental entity which is the advocate for increased mass transit in southeast Michigan.

Amtrak would be the operator of the rail line, proposed between Ann Arbor and Detroit, with stops, cost, and schedule still to be determined.

The state of Michigan would be the likely funding source to subsidize the demonstration project to establish ridership numbers which could provide the basis for a permanent light rail or existing rail commuter line between Detroit and Ann Arbor. A recent study allegedly demonstrated that ridership numbers would be too low. This project would either confirm or repudiate the findings of the study.

Norfolk Southern Railroad is the owner of the rails upon which the line would operate.