Comments on: Mass Transit as a Job-Creation Machine

By: Andrew Hillebrand

Andrew Hillebrand — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:43:28 +0000

I couldn't agree more with this article. A mass transportation system is just what this area needs right now. I find it ridiculous that we haven't come up with anything in all these years.
It would greatly benefit the city of Detroit to have a mass transportation system because not only would it boost the economy, it would give people an alternative to driving everywhere. It would also reduce traffic, which is usually bad in this area.
I see no down sides to mass transit, and I hope this becomes reality soon.

By: Trainman

Trainman — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:55:20 +0000

The purpose of the SMART Property Tax Renewal next August 2010 is to shift over $400 Million from public bus operating subsidies to match federal grants to expand freeways.

This is a regressive tax that replaces state funds to support vast new freeways.

Please vote NO

Learn the facts about SMART and the loss of bus service.

savethefueltax.org

By: Mike Anthony

Mike Anthony — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:42:24 +0000

Passing on what my my friends from Ireland have observed: you cannot have a thriving nightclub scene without public transportation.

By: Dana Baldwin

Dana Baldwin — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:37:31 +0000

Good column, Phil. The data and conclusions reached based on the data are very positive for the greater Detroit area. Hope it goes through.
Earlier this year you wrote an excellent column on the ever-more increasing need for cooperation between the East side and West side of Michigan. A few years ago, Grand Rapids proposed a study similar to the one currently being done to justify light rail/rapid transit in the greater Grand Rapids area. Detroit area legislators vetoed it. Instead of stopping what should have happened in West Michigan, why didn't they piggy-back a parallel proposal for the Detroit area, and possibly the Lansing area? We need the cooperation, and it MUST not be one way! When West Michigan needs something, it has to be considered equally with the needs of the East side of the state, or we all lose.

By: Neil Karl

Neil Karl — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:59:02 +0000

I am glad to see some action from Mr Hertel. But, I am disapointed not to see a comprehensive overall plan to work for.

Livingston County wants to know where is the dedicated double-tracked rail (medium rail) to connect the county with Lansing and downtown Detroit?

Here are the priority steps that I see (this is systems engineering):

1. There are five major corridors out of Detroit, marked by major highways and freeways. Each of these corridors should have dedicated double-tracked rail (medium rail) right-of-way, out to Port Huron, Flint, Lansing, Ann Arbor, and Monroe.

2. Build one leg at a time by getting the right-of-way.

3. Figure how much the system is going to cost. How much is each leg going to cost?

4. Figure out how to pay for each leg.

5. Figure out how to manage the system devised.

6. Connect the bus system to service the rapid transit stations with the road system.

7. The most efficient rapid transit car is the Silverliner, self-propelled hybrid diesel-electric, top speed 125 MPH. Typically 1-10 car trains may be coupled together for 24-7 service.

By: Mike Bauer

Mike Bauer — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:18:24 +0000

Given budgetary realities is Mass Transit our best investment? We all have stories about good mass transit systems, my favorite is the Metro in Washington DC. Fantastic service, affordable, clean. But, is a mass transit system the best investment?

Alternative sources of energy, battery technology, manufacturing incentives for green manufacturing, improving tourism, local agriculture?

We have many options and few dollars. It is like that in my life, a lot of wants, but after the needs I only have so much left and I have to spend wisely.

To me the real benefit of a community conversation is how to leverage our strengths and have a strategic plan. Can we use our skills at manufacturing to build a ecologically friendly mass transit system and use the resultant skills and products as a product to export around the US and the rest of the world?

The dialog is the key, as long time resident I will pitch in to help no matter what but the conversations have to keep occurring.

Hats of to the Center for Michigan for giving us all that chance

By: Maryann Mihalic

Maryann Mihalic — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:33:23 +0000

How can I get more involved with this plan.This is a great thing for Michaigan.

By: Andy Schor

Andy Schor — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:29:10 +0000

This is excellent! I was in Denver over the summer, and saw first-hand people using the light-rail. It was young people, and it was impressive the number of them on it. I have also seen transit work in places like San Francisco, where people don't have cars. They want walkable communities, and use transit systems to move from place to place.

The Legislature needs to move on this, in partnership with John Hertel. And they need to do this statewide as well. People in Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor and everwhere need the benefits of transit-oriented development, with shops and retail surrounding stops.

I grew up on Long Island and would take the train to New York City. A lot. I would go to the train stop, buy the newspaper and a bagel, and relax for the 1.5 hours on the train. It works…for economic development and making it easier to get around!

By: David Waymire

David Waymire — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:23:31 +0000

How do we move forward with a legislature and major segments of the business community that refuse to take responsbility for these important infrastructure investments. When the Democrat-run House votes 107-0 to slash property taxes (and therefore lay off police and firefighters, cut spending for K-12 education, close parks and local museums etc); and the business community says the business tax should be eliminated, i.e., it has no interest in good education, safe streets, etc., the chances of getting people to take a positive stance for public investment is difficult. We need leaders who will stand up for Michigan's future — not their narrow re-election or personal pocketbooks. Other states are investing — and are whipping our butts.

By: Roger Martin

Roger Martin — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:50:41 +0000

Phil,
Your column is spot on. Every major U.S. city that has embraced public transit in a signficant way in the past 15 years is realizing thousands of new jobs and billions in new development and redevelopment near their transit lines and stations. Minneapolis, Dallas, Charlotte, St. Louis and (a bit earlier) Portland all have demonstrated the economic development power of transit. They also overcame many of the same political, policy and regional obstacles that have stalled transit in Michigan. We can't afford to wait any longer. John Hertel, Roger Penske, Dan Gilbert, the Michigan Municipal League, Transportation Riders United, the City of Grand Rapids, the City of Ann Arbor, state Rep. Marie Donigan, state Rep. Bert Johnson, and state Sen. Jason Allen all get it and are leading efforts to make it happen here. Thanks for helping move the ball down the field. Please keep a keen eye on this issue. We all expect lots of action on transit in the Legislature and in key cities across the state over the next few years.

By: Paul Massaron

Paul Massaron — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:51:23 +0000

Great column, Phil. I am happy to say that many of reasons you give are the same reasons the Wayne State Board of Governors (of which I am a member) unanimously voted to join the privately-funded plan you describe for 3.4 mile route up Woodward Ave to the New Center and committed funds to be part of it. John Hertel is doing a great job of pushing everyone to make mass transit a reality in Metro Detroit.

By: Andy Piper

Andy Piper — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:13:49 +0000

The time seems right for a mass transit plan for metro Detroit to gain momentum. Thanks for the good article.

By: Carl

Carl — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:49:58 +0000

I don't disagree that mass transit is a good thing and am in full agreement that we should enthusiastically support it as a region.

But I question your use of development dollars statistics as justification. Comparing development dollars near and away from transit lines does not support the argument that mass transit brings new development to the region. It only means that given a mass transit system exists, businesses prefer to invest near it.

Personally, I think your argument is true.

But I think we need better numbers to justify mass transit as a "job-creation machine."