Detroit & Michigan: Go-Town Transportation Lowdown

[animatedmartian]

Originally Posted by mrnyc

^ nice to see -- i hope those stations will be heated like in the twin cities? yes?

Not sure. Haven't seen any mention of it yet.

Final touches on Detroit's QLine project, could bring $3 billion in development
By Dana Afana. December 1, 2016. Mlive Detroit.







The M-1 RAIL and Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) teams celebrated a milestone for the QLine car at a Thursday press conference after noting the completion of Woodward Avenue's reconstruction.

"The partnership between M-1 RAIL and MDOT is transforming the Woodward Corridor and surrounding neighborhoods," said M-1 RAIL CEO Matt Cullen. "I want to thank MDOT for bringing this vision to reality and helping set the stage for continued residential and business growth over the next 30 years.

"The QLine is already activating the sidewalks and with the completion of roadway construction, we'll soon begin to see streetcars traveling up and down Woodward Ave."

...

The QLine, operated by M-1 RAIL, is a 6.6-mile circulating streetcar with 12 location stops on Woodward Avenue from downtown through Midtown, New Center and North End. Crew members are working to finish the transit stops.

The projected launch of the QLine remains for spring 2017.

....

http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/in.../m-1_rail.html

[JonathanGRR]

I'm a bit conflicted on the design and intricacies of the stations. Obviously everything that is included will be appreciated and will help entice people to use the line, but I can also see many detractors pointing to this and calling it excessive. Tram/streetcar stations across Europe typically do not have this level of sophistication and instead spend the money elsewhere. While an argument could be made that all stations should be designed like this in a modern system, I think that it also can inaccurately give the impression that the line is intended to operate in a fashion similar to rapid transit...which is not the case here.

Detroit streetcar stations begin to take shape, new rendering released
Daily Detroit Staff | December 8, 2016

If you’ve been driving down Woodward in greater downtown Detroit, you may have noticed that there are now platforms and partial shelters sticking out of various places. They’re for the QLINE, Detroit’s new streetcar.

On Thursday a new rendering was released for the stations for the streetcar line. They look very modern, with an information screen and a glowing light bar.

The stations will be 98-by-12 foot and made of glass and concrete. They will be Wi-Fi enabled, heated and equipped with security cameras, emergency phones, and next vehicle alert screens.

Each station will recognize their sponsor with a custom Pewabic tile corresponding to their corporate brand along with a plaque commemorating their contribution to the project. ROSSETTI, a Detroit-headquartered architecture firm, developed the concept and design for QLINE stations. The largest contributor was the Kresge Foundation, at $50 million.

A mobile app is also under development that officials say will include rider-friendly alerts about the QLINE and how to connect with other modes of transit along the Woodward Corridor.
...

http://www.dailydetroit.com/2016/12/...ring-released/

[subterranean]

Given that this is Woodward Ave and not some secondary street, I don't see any issue whatsoever with the design. Not only is it the state's most important arterial, it's also Detroit's face to the world. Furthermore, a huge portion of the funding came from private donors. If anything, I am ECSTATIC that one station isn't shaped like a Little Caesar's pizza and another like a Ford F-150.

[JonathanGRR]

^
Fair point. I was wanting to offer both sides, but I wholly agree with you. I'm also impressed that the sponsorship on the stations (and the streetcars themselves, for that matter) will not be overly pronounced. It is also great to know that over $36 million was collected through station sponsorship (was this number known before?). Hopefully that will continue if/when the system continues to grow.

[animatedmartian]

Track testing began today. The first streetcar left Penske station under it's own power, but from thereon it was towed. Today was mostly testing of the underground electrical utilities.

• Video Link

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...run-in-detroit


Also of note, Tiger's Opening day is April 7th. Operational service is expected to begin either a few days after or that week after.

Also here on out, there's a $650 fine for anyone parking on the train tracks.

[subterranean]

I wonder if they had to tow cars parked on the track. Over the last few months, people have been parking along the curb over the tracks. Which is to say I'm not surprised. Remember that big debate when this project was announced whether to put the stations in the center of the street or along the sides?

[animatedmartian]

T-minus one month before the QLine officially opens for passenger travel.

Video Link

QLine start date announcement a few weeks away
By BILL SHEA Crain's Detroit. March 6, 2017.

Backers of the QLine say they'll announce within a few weeks when the streetcars will begin moving passengers along Detroit's Woodward Avenue.

It's been expected for some time that the streetcars, which have been running tests along the route, will launch formal service in April after the Detroit Tigers begin their season — barring any problems during the testing process. The launch will formally mark the end of a decade of work to develop, fund and build the line.

"We are going through a very thorough training and testing program. It's always been our expectation to start operations at some point after Opening Day and we remain on track to do that. A launch date isn't expected to come for a few more weeks, but streetcars will be on the road nearly every day from now until passenger operations," QLine spokesman Dan Lijana said via email.

The reddish-orange and white streetcars began test runs in December along the 6.6-mile Woodward loop, and about 1,000 federal and state checks will have to pass muster before service is authorized to begin. Construction of the line's 20 stations will be 95 percent done by the end of March, Lijana said.

Matt Cullen, CEO of the nonprofit M-1 Rail that operates the QLine, told Crain's at that time he'd prefer to not start passenger service close to Opening Day for the Tigers, when downtown is a mass of fans. The team begins the 2017 season at Comerica Park on April 7, and Cullen said ideally service will begin — and any early quirks worked out — while the Tigers are on the road. The Tigers are at Minnesota April 11-13, and then gone again April 17-23, so those are possible windows for service to begin.

In the meantime, M-1 Rail has launched a public education program for pedestrians and motorists to share Woodward with streetcars. A safety video is being circulated and the next seminar is Thursday.

...

Digital crawl marquees on either end of the car will be used to list the upcoming station along the rail line. The stop names also will be broadcast inside the car, as is done on the Detroit People Mover.

The system, which is intended to be handed over to the regional transit authority in coming years, will be operated by Lombard, Ill.-based Transdev Services Inc., a private transportation management firm, under a five-year, $15.5 million contract signed in 2016.

Base fares will be $1.50 and end-to-end rides are predicted to take 22-25 minutes. There are 20 stations, which will be heated and branded for the system's various corporate financial backers. M-1 estimates 5,000-8,000 riders per day. Hours will be 6 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 6 a.m.-midnight Friday; 8 a.m.-midnight Saturday; and 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. Those could be adjusted after service begins and M-1 Rail has data on passenger usage, Cullen said.

,,,

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...few-weeks-away

[animatedmartian]

Ah, T-minus 2 months. Official start date is May 12th for the QLine.

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...o-begin-may-12

[lrt's friend]

Have timetables been released? I hope that service will be frequent at all hours so that people can easily rely on it. Not like some cities where trains are spaced every 30 minutes.

[electricron]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Have timetables been released? I hope that service will be frequent at all hours so that people can easily rely on it. Not like some cities where trains are spaced every 30 minutes.

They bought six (6) streetcars, and the length of the rails in the street is less than 3.5 miles. Let's assume a round trip totals 7 miles. Assuming only four (4) are in service at any particular time, there's more than a streetcar for every two miles of track. At a top speed of 35 mph, which will probably average about half that, or let's say 15 mph, there will be a streetcar every 8 minutes. There will also be buses along the line co-mingling with the streetcars, so there will be transit available even quicker.

[animatedmartian]

According to a local youtuber, all 6 trains are now at the Penske Center and testing.

• Video Link

Here's a video from March 13th of testing.

• Video Link

[subterranean]

Those are sharp looking vehicles. What an exciting time for Detroit.

[animatedmartian]

Still another month before the QLine opens. M1 Rail is reminding drivers and pedestrians of traffic safety.

Video Link

Video Link

Also, this video gives you an idea of the stopping distance from what looks to be near top speed.

• Video Link

[animatedmartian]

DDOT Announces Final Phase of Major Service Expansion

• Changes to be implemented beginning Saturday, April 22
  
• New Mid City Loop route to connect central city neighborhoods with jobs and amenities of downtown and midtown
  
• Popular W. Vernor route extended to reach Michigan & Schaefer in Dearborn

Starting this Saturday, DDOT customers will see a series of service improvements that represent the final phase of a larger planned service expansion announced by Mayor Mike Duggan last summer.

Since September of last year, the Detroit Department of Transportation has implemented six new 24-hour routes, six brand new routes that help connect Detroit neighborhoods to major job centers and a series of other improvements that have added 1,300 additional weekly trips available to DDOT riders.

On April 22nd, DDOT will launch the 3rd and final phase of this major expansion and bring to 1,500 the total number of weekly trips added to the DDOT schedule.

One major new improvement is the addition of the #42 Mid-City Loop route. This brand new route will allow continuous service to Highland Park, the North End, DMC, Wayne State University, New Center, Henry Ford Hospital and Virginia Park while also providing easy connections to other major routes.

Another change DDOT customers will see in April are major improvements to the existing route #49 Vernor which will extend to/from Michigan & Schaefer in Dearborn.

“This latest service expansion is another step forward for DDOT and its efforts to make sure our residents have access to reliable transportation and opportunity,” said Mayor Duggan. “We still have work to do and will continue to expand service every chance we get.”

There are also minor adjustments to a number of routes providing improved schedule reliability, according to DDOT Director Dan Dirks.

“Some of these changes may seem small, but they directly impact a lot of people. Many of the changes we make are a result of direct input from our passengers,” Dirks said. “We have very passionate and vocal customers and they are helping to make our service better for the 600,000 passengers we carry each week.”

....

http://www.detroitmi.gov/News/Articl...vice-Expansion

AFAIK, Detroit has never really had a bus route that was exclusively a looped route, as in, the buses only travel in one direction along the route and there's no specific starting or ending stop.

Also, the scale of the map seems kind of deceptive. The route is a pretty decent length at around 12 miles total. They certainly could have added a couple more stops to this route than what's pictured, but then again this also might be kind of an experiment just to see how much ridership this route could generate. The placement of this loop and what it includes is very curious to me.

[SkahHigh]

Great to see Detroit getting a brand new light rail line. Is anything else in the planning? I believe one of the keys to revitalizing the inner city is implementing better public transit (amongst other things).

P-S: Funny how detroit has similar street names to Montreal. Just on the map you showed, Beaubien and St. Antoine are two major Montreal streets.

[animatedmartian]

Originally Posted by SkahHigh

Great to see Detroit getting a brand new light rail line. Is anything else in the planning? I believe one of the keys to revitalizing the inner city is implementing better public transit (amongst other things).

P-S: Funny how detroit has similar street names to Montreal. Just on the map you showed, Beaubien and St. Antoine are two major Montreal streets.

Well, hey, Detroit has French roots so of course a few Frenchmen needed some streets named after them.

As far as major rail projects, the only other thing that could technically be considered in development is the Detroit to Ann Arbor commuter rail line which would use a part of the existing Amtrak route. Though it's been a complicated mess largely due to lack of funding so at this point there's little more than some upgraded Amtrak stations in Dearborn and Ann Arbor (and a new station in Troy though the commuter rail will not extend that way).

Interestingly, there hasn't been much on any potential upgrade of the Detroit Amtrak station even though the QLine has a stop adjacent to it. At this point in Detroit's transit circumstances I'm not sure how necessary it'd be but there could be a nice state-of-the-art transit center there.

[mousquet]

Originally Posted by animatedmartian

Well, hey, Detroit has French roots so of course a few Frenchmen needed some streets named after them.

In fact, lots of ancient major streets are named after Catho saints like St Antoine that must be like a French-speaking version of Anthony or Antonio. I wouldn't bet that many of these religious characters were from France proper. For instance, St Augustin, a huge figure of early Christianity was actually born in what's currently Algeria in North Africa.

Just to say that Catholic religious customs are widely responsible for that branding / naming thing to the streets. You'll notice that Protestantism and later religious reformations partly broke that old tradition, taking it as some sort of idolatry, which is wiser IMHO.

Names like nth avenue/street are certainly much more consensual, but I think the French basically deeply despise consensus. It doesn't fit their concept of so called revolution. They probably find it boring and like rough debates and tough political controversies better. That's more entertaining to them.

[animatedmartian]

After a little bit of research:

"Beaubien and St. Antoine originated from the two Beaubien brothers, Lambert and Antoine, each of whom received half of the family farm after the death of their father, Jean Baptiste Beaubien...

...

Antoine chose to name his property after his patron saint, St. Antoine. "

http://historydetroit.com/places/streets.php?I=S

Jean Baptiste Beaubien (originally Cuillerier) was actually born in Montreal in 1709. Specifically in Lachine. So yea, there's a little bit of Monteal - Detroit connection in the Beaubian name.

[subterranean]

Originally Posted by animatedmartian

After a little bit of research:


http://historydetroit.com/places/streets.php?I=S

Jean Baptiste Beaubien (originally Cuillerier) was actually born in Montreal in 1709. Specifically in Lachine. So yea, there's a little bit of Monteal - Detroit connection in the Beaubian name.

Cool!

[The North One]

Antione de la Mothe Cadillac (the founder of Detroit) was also from Montréal (well, he wasn't born there but lived there and was very involved in Quebec).