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Steve
Site Admin
Joined: 21 Mar 2009
Posts: 409
Last Post: 07 Sep 10
Location: Dearborn
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|  | Posted Thu, Jan 28, 2010 1:29 pm, Edited Thu, Jan 28, 2010 1:36 pm |
Back in August, Gov. Granholm applied for federal funding to help pay for the construction of a new Amtrak train station in west Dearborn. This would be the first phase of a proposed "intermodal" (train, bus, cab) transportation hub to be constructed on Michigan Avenue at Brady, across from Andiamo. A commuter train has also been proposed to run from downtown Detroit, through Dearborn and the airport, and ultimately drop passengers in Ann Arbor.
Well, Crain's Detroit Business is reporting today that Pres. Obama is expected to announce in Tampa this afternoon that the federal stimulus grant that Granholm applied for five months ago will in fact be awarded to build a new train station in Dearborn.
From the Crain's article:
Quote - "The $40 million for Michigan is part of a larger $244 million award to the Michigan, Indiana and Illinois state transportation departments to fund a high-speed rail initiative that would link Pontiac and Chicago.
The money is coming from the $862 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The Pontiac-Chicago line will also get $133 million for station and track improvements in Illinois and $71 million to reduce passenger train delays linked to freight train traffic that shared the same tracks.
...
The Pontiac-Chicago route is part of the proposed Midwest Regional Rail Initiative introduced last year as a joint effort by Michigan and Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota to develop a high-speed rail network. "
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Ant
Joined: 12 Aug 2009
Posts: 154
Last Post: 09 Aug 10
[homepage]
| | Posted Thu, Jan 28, 2010 2:51 pm |
Nice. A commuter train to the airport (and Ann Arbor and Downtown Detroit as well) would be very handy. So when's all of this supposed to be happening? |
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SpecialK
Forum Moderator
Joined: 01 Jun 2009
Posts: 1130
Last Post: 07 Sep 10
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| | Posted Thu, Jan 28, 2010 3:12 pm |
Tits, this is what I was talking about!! Hopefully the whole thing will be complete before I'm dead but I'm not going to count on it.
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triscuit
Joined: 23 May 2009
Posts: 314
Last Post: 01 Sep 10
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| | Posted Thu, Jan 28, 2010 3:34 pm |
I'd imagine there's going to be some time frame attached to the federal money, so unless you die in the next year SpecialK, I m willing to bet you'll live to see it completed. |
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triscuit
Joined: 23 May 2009
Posts: 314
Last Post: 01 Sep 10
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| | Posted Thu, Jan 28, 2010 3:35 pm |
And might I add: YESSSSSSSSSSS! |
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SpecialK
Forum Moderator
Joined: 01 Jun 2009
Posts: 1130
Last Post: 07 Sep 10
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| | Posted Thu, Jan 28, 2010 3:40 pm |
I meant the whole thing...not just the Dearborn station, ha ha. It would be nice to still be young enough to enjoy jumping on a train and taking it to Pontiac to get wasted & go dancing & then take the train back. It is this that I fear I will never get to do...I will not be that 50 year old woman at a club pretending I'm still in my 20's.
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pm
Joined: 19 Aug 2009
Posts: 26
Last Post: 02 May 10
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| | Posted Thu, Jan 28, 2010 7:17 pm |
A commuter rail test project is supposed to start this coming October. Of course I think it was supposed to start for the last 2 years. It will be 2 roundtrips a day plus the Amtrak's Wolverine Line trains. I'm not sure the airport is going to be part of the test project since it requires at least a platform and a direct bus connection down Merriman from Michigan. So don't expect to use this to go to the airport or out for the night in Detroit, Ann Arbor or Pontiac.
Unfortunately I don't think any of this money is going to improve the track between Dearborn and Detroit. That is really needed to improve conditions for commuter rail.
The new station, however, I think will be a great addition to that part of town and should, if implemented correctly, trigger development there. Plus if they ever get a light rail or bus rapid transit down Michigan to that station it will help development in both west and east a lot.
Of course if the city doesn't implement a masterplan that accounts for any of this it will all be for nothing. |
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TimothyT
Joined: 30 Mar 2009
Posts: 470
Last Post: 30 Aug 10
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| | Posted Thu, Jan 28, 2010 10:32 pm |
Agreed that there needs to be a master plan from the city. But if this comes to fruition, along with plans for student housing and a movie theater, it should make things immensely more interesting in downtown west Dearborn. But until I start seeing some dirt flying and hard hats, that's still a mighty big "IF". |
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cocoapuffs
Joined: 21 Jul 2009
Posts: 74
Last Post: 26 Aug 10
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| | Posted Fri, Jan 29, 2010 9:13 am |
Timothy - I'll believe all of this when I see retail stores opening, college kids moving into student housing and I am sitting in the movie theater - and only then. |
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Johnny.Christmas
Joined: 24 Dec 2009
Posts: 26
Last Post: 16 Jul 10
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| | Posted Fri, Jan 29, 2010 10:03 am |
good grief people, I'm all about keeping a critical eye on things, but I just don't understand this constant level of cynicsm I see on these websites. Can't we just be excited abouot the prospects for a while before throwing out the "Yeah, rights"?
This is great news for Dearborn. But everytime we get great news there's a constant stream of "We don't need that!" and "That'lll never happen!" and "I'll believe it when I see it!" and "That's a stupid idea!"
Good lord, people, either run for office so you can actually put your money where your mouth is, or go to city council meetings and tell them what's on your mind, or move to a city that already has the things you want.
Personally, I think this is great news, I'm EXCITED about it (along with the student housing plans and movie theater plans), and am telling all my friends what's in store. |
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Greely
Joined: 05 Aug 2009
Posts: 186
Last Post: 18 Aug 10
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| | Posted Fri, Jan 29, 2010 1:23 pm |
Seems really great, hopefully the city can get this done. I do wish it was more than 2 round trips a day. Hopefully it will eventually become more like the el system in Chicago where people can use it for a night out in downtown Detroit or Ann Arbor. I imagine 2 trips a day won't necessarily be all that convenient. |
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cocoapuffs
Joined: 21 Jul 2009
Posts: 74
Last Post: 26 Aug 10
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| | Posted Fri, Jan 29, 2010 1:26 pm |
Anyone know where the train stops in Detroit? |
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Greely
Joined: 05 Aug 2009
Posts: 186
Last Post: 18 Aug 10
[homepage]
| | Posted Fri, Jan 29, 2010 1:40 pm |
At West Baltimore and Woodward.
That's way north of downtown, I believe it's midtown. I wonder if they would be able to re-route it so that it would just drop people downtown eventually. |
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cocoapuffs
Joined: 21 Jul 2009
Posts: 74
Last Post: 26 Aug 10
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| | Posted Fri, Jan 29, 2010 1:55 pm |
Thanks Greely, that is away from everything. |
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Steve
Site Admin
Joined: 21 Mar 2009
Posts: 409
Last Post: 07 Sep 10
Location: Dearborn
[homepage]
| | Posted Fri, Jan 29, 2010 2:13 pm |
Greely, I don't think this is going to be anything like the el in Chicago, more like the Metra-- commuter train, as opposed to light rail.
I asked city spokesperson Mary Laundroche for some additional insights on the project, and it's still a little premature to have any concrete details. This is what she said:
Quote - "We are still waiting for details of the grant amount and conditions, but
we believe that we will have two years to complete the project. The
extent of the project depends on the amount of money available of the
$40 million allocated to the three communities.
To qualify for the grant, our project had to have completed preliminary
designs.
Our tentative timeframe is 6 months to select a company for the final
design, and then completion of the final design.
That leaves 18 months for the construction of the station.
The project was envisioned to comprise four main components:
The new station
Pedestrian bridge connecting to The Henry Ford
Rail, signaling and platform improvements
Intermodal components (taxis, buses and shuttles)
Depending on the level of funding we have actually received, we will
prioritize the four components and include those elements in the overall
project as money allows.
This is a great investment for the City of Dearborn, and our partners,
The Henry Ford, U of M Dearborn and Ford Land. The project has economic,
environmental and transportation benefits, and will help draw additional
interest in our businesses and attractions."
Right now, as Greely noted, the current train station in Detroit is located north of downtown on W Baltimore, which I've heard may be re-built, but I don't know about a downtown re-location. That would take laying new tracks, which would probably not happen.
However, a light-rail system is also in the works which would run along Woodward from downtown north to the New Center area (or maybe even into Oakland County). So, in theory, you could eventually take the commuter train to the Detroit station on W Baltimore, and then take the light rail down Woodward into downtown. Eventually.
Here's a story written last fall with some more details. |
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triscuit
Joined: 23 May 2009
Posts: 314
Last Post: 01 Sep 10
[homepage]
| | Posted Sat, Jan 30, 2010 9:51 am |
I've heard about the light rail and think that would be cool too, especially if the Detroit Amtrak station is no where near downtown.
How about getting a light rail to run down Michigan Avenue? From west Dearborn to east Dearborn to downtown Detroit? |
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Bababooey
Joined: 11 Dec 2009
Posts: 414
Last Post: 08 Sep 10
[homepage]
| | Posted Sat, Jan 30, 2010 1:48 pm |
I'v never riden a train before. Not sure I can find a reason to start now. But, hey, anything that creates jobs and brings attention to the city of Dearborn seems like great news to me! |
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Fargus
Joined: 12 Apr 2009
Posts: 326
Last Post: 07 Sep 10
Location: Dearborn
[homepage]
| | Posted Sun, Jan 31, 2010 4:01 pm |
Commuter trains aren't as exciting as a light rail system I guess. Light rail could be used more for recreational purposes, while commuter rail is used more for uh, commuting.
But what is exciting about this story is the construction of the big new transportation hub right there on Michigan Ave. Having taxis and buses run to and from there will encourage a lot more traffic to Dearborn. If cabs were easier to find, nightlife will pick up cuz people won't be as concerned about getting home safely. |
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SeanDuffy
Site Admin
Joined: 27 Mar 2009
Posts: 200
Last Post: 13 Jul 10
Location: Michigan
[homepage]
| | Posted Thu, Feb 4, 2010 9:07 am |
I really hope they can get something together that will allow less car usage in the area. This is one reason i constantly think about moving to Chicago. I'd love to get rid of my car, or at least use it less, and rely more on public transportation, but this area just has a lousy public transportation system right now. Plus, I would much rather use trains than busses to get around. I know this probably won't happen in the near future, but hopefully for the next generation, there will be a better rail infrastructure in place for commutes and getting around. |
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TimothyT
Joined: 30 Mar 2009
Posts: 470
Last Post: 30 Aug 10
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| | Posted Thu, Feb 4, 2010 4:45 pm |
I agree Sean that that would make this a much more desireable area, but seriously don't expect that in your lifetime!
I do think that a series of light rail routes, running down roads like Michigan Avenue, Woodward, Grand River, Telegraph and Outer Drive would be great for the area. Obviously those would be the Wayne County routes, I don't know what roads would most make sense for Oakland and Macomb. |
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hermione
Joined: 05 Feb 2010
Posts: 248
Last Post: 05 Sep 10
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| | Posted Fri, Feb 5, 2010 11:21 am |
A rail system would be great, I don't always have access to a car, and haveing an option other than the bus or a cab woul d be nice. |
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4812Four
Joined: 17 Nov 2009
Posts: 66
Last Post: 08 Aug 10
[homepage]
| | Posted Fri, Feb 5, 2010 4:55 pm |
Speaking as someone who has used the little Amtrak station behind the police station many times in the past: I can't wait!
Our current station is so small, ugly, and depressing. Not exactly something to be proud of when it is potentially a traveller's first impression of our city. |
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Fargus
Joined: 12 Apr 2009
Posts: 326
Last Post: 07 Sep 10
Location: Dearborn
[homepage]
| | Posted Mon, Feb 8, 2010 11:36 am |
Yeah actually having a nice train station in a highly visible area next to downtown might actually encourage more people to use the train. That little shack Amtrack currently uses in east Dearborn is really pretty sad. |
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