This past Monday, DDOT held a press conference to officially announce Woodward Light Rail as the locally preferred alternative to launching the region’s rapid transit system. Check out the DTOGS webpage for the press release, FAQ and an excellent video.
Here’s some of the press coverage:
- April 22, 2008 – Detroit Free Press: Plan takes shape for travel by light-rail
- "Detroit took a small but significant step Monday toward a long-envisioned proposal to construct a two-rail rapid-transit system along Woodward Avenue from downtown to 8 Mile. . . . Patty Fedewa, a board member of the pro-transit Transportation Riders United group, said Woodward is a natural fit for rapid transit. . ."
- April 22, 2008 – Detroit News: Rail proposal a ‘first step’
- "It’s a very natural, very obvious place to build rapid transit," said Megan Owens, executive director of Transportation Riders United, a local mass transit advocacy group. "Being able to connect all of these together without all the driving and parking is critical for the region’s future."
- April 22, 2008 – Model D: Big Transit News Would Mean Big things for Woodward Corridor
- "This is very, very important to the future of southeast Michigan," Kilpatrick said at the press conference. "I don’t think we’ll have a future if we don’t do this." It seems that everyone is jumping on the transit bandwagon, and it’s about time. And putting transit along Woodward just makes sense.
- April 25, 2008 – Detroit Free Press editorial: All above-board on light-rail plans!
- "The city deserves great credit for trying to jump-start rapid transit in southeast Michigan. . . However, no one should believe the city’s plan is a done deal. . . Metro Detroit must speak with one voice on this vital issue. . ."
- April 21, 2008 – Crain’s Detroit Business: Mass-transit groups to meet
- The public and private plans need to work together, White said, and the pending talks will work toward that end.
In addition, TRU Director Megan Owens will discuss rapid transit on Detroit Public Television’s "Am I Right?" program with Detroit News editor Nolan Finley and co-host Debbie Dingell tonight, Friday, April 25 at 8:30pm.
Other transit efforts have been in the news as well:
- April 13, 2008 – Detroit Free Press: Map a new plan for transportation; Take a big turn to transit’s potential
- April 21, 2008 – Ann Arbor News: Crucial rail study to get going
- April 21, 2008 – YspiNews.com: Google Transit launches AATA map service
- April 21, 2008 – Ann Arbor News: AATA leaning toward becoming regional