Secretary LaHood visits Detroit to talk rail (and more)
Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood was in Detroit this morning to announce the federal governments support of the M1 Rail project on Woodward. Crain’s Detroit covered the announcement.
As expected, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced this morning that the $400 million to $500 million Woodward Avenue light rail project is launching the required environment study process needed to qualify the effort for federal funding.
This study process will include discussions on how rail and bicycles will co-exist on Woodward. Mixing the two can be challenge. It would be best addressing those challenges from the start.
And biking can greatly improve access and use of the M1 Rail. Someone might walk a half-mile to use the train, but they might bike three times that, especially if the trains can carry bikes.
Secretary LaHood didn’t just talk about M1 Rail. He mentioned livability and the importance of biking and walking opportunities.
Also, the city of Detroit applied and received $25 million in TIGER funding from the U.S. DOT last year. That funding is going towards the initial development of the M1 Rail line. TIGER II grant applications are due this month and the city is applying again. This time for a major non-motorized project that will tie into the M1 project.
Stay tuned!
August 4th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
Bicyclist involvement will be critical in the study process. If the privately sponsored downtown-New Center segment is built as currently planned, with rails in the second lane from the curb, Woodward will cease to be a usable bicycle corridor, in contradiction of the City’s Non-motorized Plan.
Putting rails down the middle of Woodward, as called for in the City’s initial planning for a line to 8 Mile, is a better alternative for a number of reasons; in addition to allowing bike traffic, it would allow faster transit travel, and new median stations would ease pedestrian crossings. Let’s hope the feds can help M1 see the light.