 
Gistok
Member
Username: Gistok
Post Number: 2120
Registered: 08-2004
Posted From: 4.229.6.167
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 2:55 pm: |    |
I'm a little late in this debate.... but I did want to point out one fallacy.... 16 Mile is NOT a major commercial/business hub in Macomb County. It is a major traffic artery with MOSTLY residential all along its length. Only at major cross streets are there strip malls, and other businesses, and there are factories along the Mound industrial corridor.
But because of the Huron Clinton Metropolitan Authority ownership of the right of way along 16 Mile, Macomb County is basically devoid of businesses along 16 Mile.
So putting a mass transit line down 16 Mile in Macomb County would be problematic at best, unless they put a lot of north/south feeder lines along the route. |
Jsmyers
Member
Username: Jsmyers
Post Number: 1717
Registered: 12-2003
Posted From: 209.131.7.68
| | Posted on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 3:06 pm: | |
quote:So putting a mass transit line down 16 Mile in Macomb County would be problematic at best, unless they put a lot of north/south feeder lines along the route.
Of course.
I'm not as familiar with the area as you are, but I see that it connects Birmingham to Somerset to the Industrial Corridor to Mt. Clemens to Metrobeach (with some swings at the end.
Those are all major destinations that could be served by transit. Of course it is not transit supportive along the way, so it would basically only be useful if it connected other modes or lines together. |
Detroitplanner
Member
Username: Detroitplanner
Post Number: 112
Registered: 04-2006
Posted From: 64.12.116.204
| | Posted on Saturday, May 20, 2006 - 12:28 am: | |
Transit HAS to connect people to jobs. Putting in a crosstown line that would connect recreation (Metrobeach, Freedom Hill), Commercial (Gratiot, Somerset/Big Beaver, Birmingham), Govt (Mt Clemens (Macomb County), Troy City Hall) with housing seems to make a lot of sense especially when you have all of those churches whose parking lots are only full on weekends to double for park and ride lots. |
Royce
Member
Username: Royce
Post Number: 1616
Registered: 07-2004
Posted From: 69.215.66.87
| | Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 12:46 pm: | |
For mass transit to return to Detroit, two things have to happen in my opinion. The first is that downtown Detroit has to become a hub for more jobs and business activity. The streetcars brought people downtown to shop. Shopping is gone from downtown therefore there is no need for mass transit. If downtown Detroit became the hub for financial services like in NYC, then light rail lines leading into downtown along the major arteries might be feasible. Accept for sporting events, what other reasons would a large throng of people need to enter downtown Detroit?
Secondly, for any mass transit system to work in Detroit, you need express trains. For example, an express line from Woodward and Eleven Mile/I-696 straight into downtown Detroit and vice versa during rush hour would appeal to more suburban workers than one that made periodic stops along Woodward.
In deciding if mass transit is feasible in the metro Detroit area, one has to think about who are the people who would be willing to use it, and are there enough of them willing to pay for this mode of transportation. Without more activity in downtown Detroit, mass transit makes no sense at this time. |
Ltorivia485
Member
Username: Ltorivia485
Post Number: 2655
Registered: 08-2004
Posted From: 199.74.87.98
| | Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 1:38 pm: | |
Royce, that is why commuter train service will work best for the metro Detroit region.
For example, if the "Woodward commuter line" has express stops at 8 Mile, New Center, Wayne State, Stadiums, and Downtown Detroit, it will work and the rest of the stops are in the suburbs and eventually up to Flint, people will use it. |
Apbest
Member
Username: Apbest
Post Number: 63
Registered: 03-2006
Posted From: 68.40.65.66
| | Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 2:00 pm: | |
but similarly, once we get into the greater downtown area, ie past new center, we would probably want streetcars that can make stops in midtown, etc to promote TOD and make the PM functional |
Detroitplanner
Member
Username: Detroitplanner
Post Number: 116
Registered: 04-2006
Posted From: 64.12.116.204
| | Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 9:52 pm: | |
we need three levels of transit:
1) High: Carrying folks long distances with few stops (you know all the options by now BRT, Light Rail, Heavy Rail....
2) Linehaul; for medium length trips and to connect to higher levels of service (30-40 foot buses)
3) Paratransit: Vans to help the elderly hand handicapped get to places safer, without long walks to and from linehaul routes.
Remember folks, primary riders of transit will be the poor, those who can't drive due to age or ability, or people with more time on their hand than money (students, tourists).
This is who the system should be designed to serve. If it serves this population, then it will serve all of us. |
Apbest
Member
Username: Apbest
Post Number: 64
Registered: 03-2006
Posted From: 68.40.65.66
| | Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 10:28 pm: | |
our goal is to create a system to serve typical commuters...not just the poor. That's what the AA-Detroit system is, there arent 40,000 poor people making that trip everyday now, but 40,000 middle class commuters |
Upinottawa
Member
Username: Upinottawa
Post Number: 376
Registered: 09-2005
Posted From: 70.28.0.197
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 11:29 pm: | |
The system should be designed for commuters, people without vehicles, people who have vehicles but want an alternative (including those who want to go downtown for a game or want to go out for dinner in Royal Oak and have a few drinks, etc.), tourists and students.
And, of course, for all those who enjoy quality mass transit! |
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