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Make Your Voice Heard on Public Transit Projects
It is no secret that Michigan has a less than desirable mass transit system. Even in our most urban areas, Michiganders are largely forced in to car-dependent lifestyles. By not offering an effective mass transit system in the state we are not only negatively impacting the desirability of our cities by not appealing to a growing segment of the population that is seeking less auto-dependent lifestyles but we are missing an economic development opportunity. Across the country we have seen transit projects, in particular light rail and multimodal facilities, spur economic growth and increase property values.
A growing appreciation of the importance of transit is starting to take root around the state with significant projects moving forward and plans for a better system being developed. Of course we can’t sit by idly and expect that the transit system of our dreams will miraculously develop. And we can’t expect to a new system to meet our needs and expectation if we don’t communicate what they are.
Here are a few opportunities to weigh in on the future of transit in Michigan:
A broad coalition of rail advocates are hosting a series of public forums taking place throughout Michigan to engage citizens in a vision for the future of Michigan's freight and passenger rail system.
The event include an overview of the existing system; an interactive rail mapping session' discussion of financing issues, and a big-picture vision of the future of Michigan's railroad system. It is hosted by:
- Michigan Environmental Council
- Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers
- Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
- United Transportation Union
- Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, and American Arab Chambers of Commerce, and
- Dearborn Economic and Community Development Dept.
Visit MichiganByRail.org for details on when are where the public forums will be taking place.
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is also developing the Michigan State Rail Plan. This plan will help build a long-term vision for passenger and freight rail transportation throughout the State of Michigan. To ensure the Plan reflects current and future needs, MDOT is holding several open-house-style public meetings, including:
September 21 —Michigan Iron Industry Museum, 73 Forge Rd. (off US-41), Negaunee
September 22 —Michigan Works! Service Center, 1209 South Garfield Ave., Traverse City
September 28 —Michigan State University Detroit Center Building, 3408 Woodward Ave., Detroit
September 29 —MDOT Transportation Service Center, 2660 Leonard St., NE, Grand Rapids
Learn more at www.michigan.gov/mirailplan.
Last month the federal government announced that it is moving forward with the planning and environmental process for a light rail system in Detroit down Woodward Avenue. The project would be a major leap forward for transit in Detroit and Michigan. However some folks, including metro Detroit largest transit advocate, Transportation Riders United have noticed some things in the initial plan they would like to see changed. Primarily the fact that the rail line would be in the far right lane of traffic. They argue that the Woodward light rail train should run in the left lane on its own wherever possible (design option A), as opposed to sharing the right lane and being delayed behind parking cars, boarding buses, and other traffic delays.
TRU points out that the South Lake Union Streetcar in Seattle is one of the only modern streetcars that runs in the right lane and it has had some significant problems:
"The streetcars' downside is they can get stuck in traffic, slowing the average speed to 9 or 10 mph. All the street activity creates occasional obstacles. . . .
During test runs, . . . track grooves have pitched bicyclists onto the street.
Streetcars have stopped for parked delivery trucks that protrude into the trackway; in one case, a train tore off a truck mirror. One train had to wait when a construction lift stalled on the tracks, until workers towed it off."
Look over the plans and be sure to chime in before September 13th.
http://www.woodwardlightrail.com/NEPA.html
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