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Newsroom
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT ON WOODWARD AVENUE RECOMMENDED DETROIT—The Detroit Transit Options for Growth Study (DTOGS) is recommending a light rail transit (LRT) line along an eight-mile stretch on Woodward Avenue as the best opportunity to begin building a regional rapid transit system in the Detroit area. Public meetings are scheduled March 12th, 13th and 14th for people to comment on the proposed Woodward line. The transit study is led by the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) and is the first step in the Federal funding process to build a rapid transit system in the Detroit area. The 18-month study is following guidelines established by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) New Starts Program. The proposed Woodward line was chosen based on a comprehensive set of criteria that projected ridership, potential development opportunities, operating and capital costs and community support. The Woodward line has been ranked as the top pick at every public meeting held in the past year. Light rail was the most preferred mode. The proposed Woodward line would follow an eight-mile stretch running from downtown to the Michigan State Fairgrounds with stops at 13-15 stations, depending on the final downtown alignment. It was selected through a process that started in September 2006 by evaluating several transit modes and 14 corridors within the cities of Detroit, Dearborn, Hamtramck and Highland Park. The 14 corridors reflect the 2004 regional transit plan adopted by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG). Led by DDOT, oversight of the DTOGS project has been provided by a technical committee comprised of representatives from a cross-section of government, civic and transit agencies. They include Wayne County; the cities of Detroit, Dearborn, Hamtramck and Highland Park, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT); Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG); the Regional Transit Coordinating Council (RTCC); and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC). The analysis conducted as part of the DTOGS project determined the proposed Woodward line meets criteria to qualify for the FTA New Starts Program which funds the planning, design and construction of rapid transit systems throughout the United States. A key element that will make the proposed Woodward line a likely success is strong local support. Initial cost estimates conducted as a part of the DTOGS project estimate the proposed eight-mile Woodward line would cost nearly $372 million in 2007 dollars and would carry an estimated 11,100 riders per day. Under the New Starts Program, Federal funds would pay for approximately 50%-60% of construction costs, with the remaining funds coming from a variety of state, local and other funding sources. A series of open houses are scheduled March 12th, 13th and 14th. The presentations will include a multimedia simulation of what LRT service on Woodward could look like. Meetings are scheduled at the following downtown, central, east side and west side locations:
The DTOGS project began in September 2006 and is scheduled to conclude in April 2008. The project will then transition into the preliminary engineering phase. Construction could begin as soon as 2010 and is dependent on unified local support, Federal approvals and securing funding outside of the FTA New Starts Program. The consulting team for the DTOGS project is led by URS Corporation, an international planning and engineering firm with expertise in public transit systems and is helping navigate DDOT through the extensive Federal review process. URS, whose Michigan offices are located in Detroit, Southfield, Grand Rapids and Traverse City, has been successful in assisting major cities across the United States including Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Dallas, Denver and Portland with the planning, design and building of rapid transit systems. For more information: www.dtogs.com. |
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