Posted on 07/23/2010 10:31:08 AM PDT by Willie Green
Detroit Mayor Dave Bing says the $425 million Woodward Light Rail Project -- which will run from Hart Plaza to 8 Mile -- "is going to happen" and that Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood should be in town soon to announce additional backing.
Bing made the announcement Thursday during a "big four" round table discussion hosted by Paul W. Smith of WJR-AM 760, suggesting the line could help reverse economic and population trends.
"I think it's about more than just transportation," he said. "It's about economic development. Cities that I've been in that have a light rail system, you've seen all kinds of businesses pop up around the system itself -- whether it's the young people that are living in that area, whether there's entrepreneurs that come to the area."
A group of private investors -- including Peter Karmanos, Dan Gilbert, Roger Penske and Mike Ilitch -- previously committed more than $100 million to construct the first phase of the line, known as the M-1 Rail project, which will run from Jefferson Ave. to the New Center.
That group says a similar 3.6 mile light rail project in Portland cost $103 million to construct and resulted in roughly $2.5 billion in local development
(Excerpt) Read more at mlive.com ...
Those Electroliner cars ended their careers on the Upper Darby-to-Norristown line outside Philadelphia -- minus bar facilities, unfortunately.
I see.
I have a Lionel packed up in the garage - maybe I ought to set it out on the picnic table for a few days. That heavenly cash will help fund that new, larger garage I've always wanted!
My passion is Aerospace, I work for and own stock in a major Aerospace Company and that prevents me from talking much about anything the company does or may work on. I just happen to make a living from what I consider a hobby.
Anyway, this is his passion.
And that brings back the memory of the greatest college prank I've ever seen.
The old Pennsylvania Railroad Main Line west out of Philadelphia, electrified in 1915, is now owned by Amtrak. Back in the Seventies, some frat boys from one of the colleges on the Main Line took a rail bridge on that line that ran over a local street in Bryn Mawr -- and painted the Lionel logo on it. It looked absolutely professional.
To their eternal credit, the Amtrak people didn't paint it over, and it was still sitting there a few years ago when I last passed through Bryn Mawr.
Anyone who knows how the demographics of the Detroit area have changed over the last 50 years would laugh at this proposal. The “talent” rippled out into the suburbs many years ago, and it just keeps moving further out.
The people mover seems to get use during sporting events at Ford Field and Comerica park but my brother in law says it doesn’t get a lot of use during the week.
He parks in a parking garage attached to the building he works in and there are resturants in the same building so he never leaves during the day.
Darkwing, I've never seen you call another poster a “bigot” for having the gall to disagree with you. I've never seen you post a comment mocking another's desire to resist socialism, stating it's inevitable but “I at least get to enjoy some modern mass transit.”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2538221/posts?page=206#206
Willie has even called posters who've signed up before 2006 and fail to share in his delusions, “newbies.”
Regardless, I'm glad Willie's here. He's one of FR’s greatest treasures. He reminds me of my “libtard” older brother. My brother craves Other People's Money (OPM), too!
“It’s a better way to travel than being crammed onto a private Mexican bus with goats and chickens.”
Actually, no.
A market-integrated private jitney bus system would work better than any current transit vector. Fussy folks could avoid those vehicles which permitted the carriage of livestock.
This little beauty could charge for a ride, I reckon!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DebJ3A1ounk
No chickens, neither!
My lovely bride and I visited my family a few years ago and rode “The People Mover” to Greektown. Besides us, and my sister and brother-in-law, the only other people on the train were three thugs. They tried to shake us down for money. They were unsuccessful.
I went to a ball game at Comerica park and we rode the entire route of the people mover on the way in. (Because it only goes one way) We were the only people in the car and never saw anyone else at any of the stops.
It was crowded after the game.
Bring back bar facilities and people-friendly transit, I say. Party hearty, actually - commuting should be fun!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdAYrDeuDmQ&NR=1
Portland, OR comes to mind - and I wasn’t necessarily referring to cities currently healthy and robust either...
Portland, OR comes to mind - and I wasn’t necessarily referring to cities currently healthy and robust either...
Portland, OR comes to mind - and I wasn’t necessarily referring to cities currently healthy and robust either...
I guess you are intolerant of my beliefs. By your own definition, that makes you a bigot!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2557026/posts?page=36#36
Do you ever hold yourself to the same standards that you expect from others? This behavior is the mark of a hypocrite and hypocrisy is a liberal trait. It's always been about your behavior; that's the reason so many accuse you of being a Marxist and a liberal.
The moment someone dares to suggest that government funded passenger rail is a bad idea you immediately dissolve into insults, including childish name calling, like a school yard bully.
Yesterday, you accused someone of being a bigot because, in your words, they are intolerant of urban transit. Gee, calling someone a bigot when you're losing the argument; now that's progressive!
Darkwing, I'm sure you have a very good reason for defending Willie. However, there's a lot of FReepmail traffic flying concerning him. Many posters have had their curiosity piqued.
I’m sure it gets plenty of use during certain events. Unfortunately, it does not generate enough revenue (including stimulating local business) to even meet its cost. Without government subsidies, it couldn’t operate.
Therefore, the taxes taken from local businesses to support this boondoggle do not give them any return. Now that’s progressive!
Just a little over a generation ago, when Detroit was a real city, with real jobs, and residents who really cared, it had one of the finest rail systems in the world. For years, the Detroit Arrow was one of the fastest steam trains on earth (and was a whole lot faster then the Amtrak train of today, even pretending that the Amtrak train ever ran on time).
Detroit committed suicide, taking with it the investment in infrastructure which had contributed to its greatness. If you want your jaw to drop, go to Google and type in "Michigan Central Station now". You won't believe it.
Before I was hired in my current job I worked for a Crane maintenance company worked mainly in Nuke plants but also at a few train yards. The cranes, lifting tables and jacks may have American names and may of been assembled here but the vast majority of the manufacturing was done in China.
Right now in South Florida the Feds and State are paying for a high speed commuter rail to go from Orlando to Tampa. The Materials and engines will come from China. The design and construction will be outsourced also. The jobs created will be fleeting. This is going to the biggest white elephant ever in the history of Florida...This is happening while Amtrak is making excuses why it cannot reopen the track from Jacksonville, Florida to New Orleans (Formerly known as the Sunset line). Never mind the dilapidated rails in the Keys.
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