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Michigan Public Transportation or Lack There Of
– Monday, February 15th, 2010 | Posted in Transportation, Travel
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I’ve been spending so much time in my car lately that I started thinking about public transportation options. But then I realized I live in metro Detroit aka “The Motor City” and that there really aren’t many options here for public transportation. I know there has been some talk of more public transportation in the state, especially with all the commotion over the past year within the automobile industry. What really peaked my interest was an article in Inhabitat about a solar and hydrogen powered interstate rail in Michigan. The article was from 2008 and said that construction was set to begin that year and the rail system would connect Ann Arbor and Detroit. I haven’t heard or seen anything since, but that would be great if it became a reality!
The project was designed as a solar powered, hydrogen-fueled, zero emission mass transit system that would carry anything from people to cars. The highway would be made up of systems called the rail conduit cluster and would provide an integrated system for public/private transit and a municipal infrastructure network. Essentially, it would serve as a public transport system AND distribute electricity, potable water, liquid waste, fiber optics, hydrogen, oxygen, and fuels. I won’t go into more detail than that because frankly I’m satisfied just knowing it works lol! (See resource blow for original article.) To give you a little background on public transportation in Michigan, a professor of urban planning at the University of Michigan said that “if Michigan got a grade on its current public transportation system, it wouldn’t be pretty. Michigan’s public transit system would probably be given an F”. The reason being the predominant role of the big three in Michigan, there has been a hesitancy to put a transit system in place. It would be perceived as competition with the state’s largest industry which is why it has been ignored for so long. But hopefully that will change soon. With that being said, where do other states rank as far as public transportation? Top 10 States For Public Transportation
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Danielle, I hate to pop the bubble, *but*…
1) the Inhabit article must be confusing the Ann Arbor to Detroit commuter rail project with HyRail. The only plan to connect those two cities is by good ol’ railroad trains. The target date for the first train is October 30, 2010, just a year away.
2) In July (2009) I attended a public hearing at U of M on the HyRail project. A State Senator and two State Representatives were there, as well as Justin Sutton, the master-mind behind the HyRail concept. There is currently nothing being built, not even a test track. Partly this is because Mr. Sutton is opposed to using government money for the project, which is fine, but with the economy what it is, loans for untested projects are scarce as hen’s teeth.
I’ve left more detail in my blog entry from July 10, “Highball for HyRail?” (http://washtenawtod.blogspot.com/2009/07/highball-for-hyrail.html). I hope you’ll find it helpful, even if it’s a bit discouraging.
Oops! The link to the blog got an extra “)” at the end. It should be:
http://washtenawtod.blogspot.com/2009/07/highball-for-hyrail.html
Thanks for clarifying Larry and adding to the discussion! I agree it is discouraging to hear about projects that never leave the concept phase, I suppose a regular railroad will have to do for now!
Please feel free to keep us posted on any other projects in the area.