Detroit transit has been getting some important press attention recently, especially related to federal investment:
As these articles note, Michigan will be getting $40 million for three new train stations and another $25 million for Woodward light rail from the federal government’s High Speed Rail and TIGER grant programs.
While $65 million is nothing to sneeze at, it is a tiny fraction of what other states are receiving. Why? Largely because other states have demonstrated their commitment to transit with legislatively supported plans and, most importantly, state investment.
Tim Fisher from the Michigan Environmental Council explains it very well in a Free Press viewpoint:
"Last month, President Barack Obama announced $8 billion in competitive grants for high-speed rail in the U.S. California got $2 billion. Florida and Illinois each got more than $1 billion. Michigan settled for $40 million to upgrade three train stations. But Michigan’s leaders shouldn’t play the victim.
These high-speed rail grants were competitive. The states that pulled in more rail funds were the ones that made investments of their own in sustaining and expanding existing passenger rail systems. . . . While the Illinois Senate was approving that $400 million to expand passenger rail, our senators were looking to cut rail funding in half. . . ."