01516560

Component

A modern street car project has been on the works in Detroit Michigan since 2007 and is possibly the largest contemporary private investment in public transit in the United States. The proposed line goes along 3.4 miles of Michigan State Highway 1, which is Woodward Avenue, and will connect downtown with the New Center area. Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2015. The local match for the capital expense is provided primarily from private individuals and foundations. As the project has been privately planned and financed, unique issues emerged related to the development of the concept, and the interaction with existing transit planners and providers, and the public. The lessons for transit planning are much different than for traditionally planned transit projects. It is an example of how public-private partnerships can succeed in historically formidable circumstances. The involvement of business leaders proved to be an important change in the political dynamic. Their venture which appears philanthropic also improves the economic climate for their businesses. The M-1 plan will have the business leaders operate a public transit system in public right-of-way until a regional authority possibly takes it over.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AP025 Public Transportation Planning and Development.

01503729

14-1132

English

13p

2014

Transportation Research Board 93rd Annual Meeting

Digital/other

References; Tables

Financing; Public opinion; Public private partnerships; Public transit

Detroit (Michigan)

Finance; Public Transportation; I10: Economics and Administration

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2014 Paper #14-1132

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Jan 27 2014 2:26PM