I'm sure the major transportation system would be BRT or light rail. I hope this goes through, if he can't get the full $110m hopefully he focuses on that new transit line instead of buses.
1.) When I saw the proposal for a solar/hydrogen powered rail line to Detroit, I wondered why they would propose such a pie-in-the-sky plan. We'd really be fine with a diesel or an overhead-wire electric train like the Acela train in the Northeast. I'm sure a system like that would be much cheaper.
2.) Ironically, Lansing had a very extensive streetcar system before World War II. The Westside and Genesee neighborhoods grew out of that network. The small clusters of storefronts along Saginaw stand where the streetcar stops used to be. You could pick up some groceries as you stepped of the streetcar and walked a few blocks to your home.
The streetcar system also connected to a larger, statewide interurban network that took you to every other major city, like Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Jackson, and Ann Arbor/Detroit.
Just last year when the city was doing construction on Washington Ave, they found the old streetcar rails buried under the pavement. Of course, the rails got in the way of repaving the road, so they tore them out.
I don't think MagLev is pie in the sky, sure it is in it's infancy, but it is the technology of the future. I say if they can get it financed thats awesome for the state, we could be leading the country in transportation technology once again. I was actually suprised at how serious their taking it, I hope it pans out even if it is a long-shot.
Route 1 had more than 1.7 million riders in 2009. On a given weekday, it carries more than 10% of the trips along the corridor with less than 1% of the vehicles. It is 10-15 minutes between each bus, and it has 7-day service from early AM to late at night (depends on the day).
There's plenty to be excited about, and much more to learn about! Visit http://www.migrtrans.org/resourcepage.html to see all of the completed documents, and follow along with daily updates at www.facebook.com/TransportationStudy
It's my baby!! I'm the system planner for CATA and one of the assistant project managers on the study. Now that I've discovered this, i'll post updates as they come.
Welcome to the website. I heard that CATA has sold their trolleys. Does this mean that Entertainment Express is being re-purposed? Or have newer trolleys (or buses) been purchased to replace these?
Also, have you been working/living in the Lansing area for a while or are you new to the area? It's always great to get more voices in the discussions here.
Comments
1.) When I saw the proposal for a solar/hydrogen powered rail line to Detroit, I wondered why they would propose such a pie-in-the-sky plan. We'd really be fine with a diesel or an overhead-wire electric train like the Acela train in the Northeast. I'm sure a system like that would be much cheaper.
2.) Ironically, Lansing had a very extensive streetcar system before World War II. The Westside and Genesee neighborhoods grew out of that network. The small clusters of storefronts along Saginaw stand where the streetcar stops used to be. You could pick up some groceries as you stepped of the streetcar and walked a few blocks to your home.
The streetcar system also connected to a larger, statewide interurban network that took you to every other major city, like Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Jackson, and Ann Arbor/Detroit.
Just last year when the city was doing construction on Washington Ave, they found the old streetcar rails buried under the pavement. Of course, the rails got in the way of repaving the road, so they tore them out.
Michigan Avenue to Grand River Avenue Transportation Study
There's plenty to be excited about, and much more to learn about! Visit http://www.migrtrans.org/resourcepage.html to see all of the completed documents, and follow along with daily updates at www.facebook.com/TransportationStudy
Welcome to the website. I heard that CATA has sold their trolleys. Does this mean that Entertainment Express is being re-purposed? Or have newer trolleys (or buses) been purchased to replace these?
Also, have you been working/living in the Lansing area for a while or are you new to the area? It's always great to get more voices in the discussions here.