Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

The project is now allowed to move forward to the next phases of design, right-of-way acquisition and construction. This is the last approval step under the National Environmental Policy Act process.

Planners are seeking public input on a proposed 27-mile route that would operate along the proposed 3.4-mile Woodward Avenue light rail project.

The funds support construction of a planned 3.3-mile streetcar line to help revitalize Detroit’s historic Woodward Avenue corridor.

Last month, the state legislature established a regional transit authority for Metro Detroit, in response to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s requiring one before he would release funding for M-1 light rail streetcar project.

Neil Greenberg said Detroit’s M-1 rail project is more about real estate development than transit, and that improving the bus system is key to making transportation better in Detroit. He also presented his vision for transit in Southeast Michigan online.

The majority of respondents to a Detroit news survey who rely daily on the bus system described it as “irritating, frustrating and time-consuming.” Sixty-two percent of respondents proposals to build a light-rail system in the city.

Despite missing out on the $25 million TIGER grant, the 3.3-mile streetcar line is still in the running to receive that amount from other grant programs, according to Transportation Secretary LaHood.

DOT Secretary Ray LaHood asked Mayor Dave Bing, Gov. Rick Snyder and members of the private M-1 Rail group about Detroit’s 3.3-mile, $137 million rail line project costs and who would eventually run it.

Backers now estimate the 3.3-mile streetcar line will cost $137 million to build.