DETROIT STREETCAR

[daveklepper]

PART OF REPORT FROMM JULIAN WOLFE FROM DETROIT FREE PRESS

The M-1 project's chief operating officer, Paul Childs, indicated that the line could open by fall, 2016. No indication was given whether an order for the 6 streetcars has been given. Much of the article focused on what this might mean for an expansion of the light rail line, or at least something, to the suburbs, but the article indicated that "less costly" bus rapid transit is still the preferred mode. But, it also mentioned that the RTA, still with no operating or construction funds available to it, would (or might?) go to the voters for a millage some time in 2016, so perhaps, as the article stated, some experience with the new rail line might influence how they  vote. My take is, "sure". I've been watching this game for 46 years and see no reason to think that anything has changed.
 
The article did not mention any of the other urban streetcar lines now proposed, operating or under construction in the U.S., but did mention the Health Line in Cleveland, in the context of how they gained revenue from naming rights, which the M-1 people hope to do, too. As I have mentioned before, the general consensus in this region (local and state politicians, the press and TV) is that the Health Line Bus Rapid Transit mode is the model the RTA should be planning for (my comment - if and when they can even plan - it hasn't been lost on at least me that the RTA today, in 2014, is in the same position that SEMTA was in when I was hired, in 1968, namely, it was created by the Michigan Legislature, but given absolutely no funds to operate or plan with. The only way I could be hired, or the rent paid, was via UMTA (US DOT) planning grant funds for a review of the DSR system and the 4 main private bus carriers in the region. It was a long time ago, but as I remember it, Colverdale and Colpitts was our engineering consultant, and one of their employees at that time was John Wilkins).
 
Another interesting tidbet is quoted here verbatim, from the paper - in a Q & A column about the line, this was printed, "Q, How will the cars be powered?; "A" - By a combination of batteries or other rechargeable power packs and, in one or two places, by overhead wires." Thus it seems, from what this states and from what others have told me, that they plan on using hybrid battery-electric streetcars - this may indeed save a lot of capital funds for overhead wires (6.6 miles of it, as the two tracks on this 3.3 mile line will mostly be at opposite sides of Woodward Ave. and thus thru span wires would not be used, most likely.) However, how much this complicates the design and purchase of the streetcars is not something I can comment on. We will have to wait, I guess.
 
When the weather gets a bit better I plan on "covering" Woodward Ave. with Ken Schramm to get shots of it sans tracks (and wires?), and to shoot any current work going on downtown.
 
Julien         

[MidlandMike]

It's interesting to note this is unusual in that a current streetcar project is a public-private project, with mostly private funds (about 3/4 private).  Also interesting are some of the contributors: Ford Foundation $4 million, and Chrysler Foundation, Chevrolet, and Penske, each for $3 million.