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newflyerinvero

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 4 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Here is what I spotted in Downtown Detroit on September 21, 2011 in about 5 to 6 PM

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Sorry for inadequate quality. Most of the photos I did through the glass of a motorcoach (tour bus) which took me there all the way from New York

PS are the buses like 4155 powered on CNG or are Hybrid (diesel Electric)

very good pix, 2 buswizard

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  • 1 year later...

I am currently working on a DDOT map for OMSI, but currently, it is only including route #39, which is probably the system's shortest route. However, some of the cross streets will have AI-only DDOT and SMART routes. Now, if only someone would make an RTS, a D40LF or a Gillig Low Floor for OMSI...

http://www.omnibussi...&threadID=15526

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  • 1 month later...

I have no tie to Detroit at all, but am following this bankruptcy as it is just immensely interesting too me. This post will be in one paragraph as EI10 and CPTDB don't get along very well. Anyways Detroit's transit system is very heavily funded by the State and Federal government, and like many American cities doesn't depend on near full municipal subsidy as Canadian systems do. As such, the chance to cut at the system is substantially smaller. Additionally the system has arguable hit about the lowest point it can get too. A few days ago a new management team was introduced, and a very interesting statistic was brought up by the new boss - almost 1 of 3 scheduled runs do not leave the garage. That, as we all know, is insane! Moreover the system is not well connected with the rest of Detroit's neighboring municipalities which causes difficulties. Despite the doom and gloom we read about in Canada Detroit is actually surrounded by several nearby municipalities which are financially very sound, at least in contrast. It will be interesting to watch Detroit's transit as the city moves forward with its (now very delayed) bankruptcy. I suspect, based on the information I have been able to find, that this realistically just means no change to a system that very much needs some TLC and a better resource base.

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Thanks for the discussion. And people should be aware that there are positive signs for transit in the Detroit Metro area. A regional transit agency is in the process of forming--after decades of being blocked.

Also the planned rail line on Woodward Avenue is going forward. This is a very big deal as a symbol of process--although by itself it won't do much for most people.

http://www.huffingto..._n_3133955.html

http://www.crainsdet...despite-delays#

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  • 9 months later...

Well, it appears that this summer, the new Woodward Avenue light rail line will finally break ground-this includes a complete closure and reconstruction of Woodward from downtown northward to the New Center area.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140520/METRO01/305200020/M-1-track-groundbreaking-Detroit

Do you guys think some of Detroits transit service will be on the chopping block after its bankruptcy declaration?

The only major post-bankruptcy service change so far-route #36 has been discontinued and has been replaced by extensions to two other routes-#43 and #49.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Some pics from my venture to the Rosa Park's Transit terminal. Never seen so much street crime all in one place during a short time!

https://www.facebook.com/patrick.shepherd.794/media_set?set=a.10154192725140375.1073741871.506640374&type=3


Some pics from my venture to the Rosa Park's Transit terminal. Never seen so much street crime all in one place during a short time!

https://www.facebook.com/patrick.shepherd.794/media_set?set=a.10154192725140375.1073741871.506640374&type=3

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Some pics from my venture to the Rosa Park's Transit terminal. Never seen so much street crime all in one place during a short time!

https://www.facebook.com/patrick.shepherd.794/media_set?set=a.10154192725140375.1073741871.506640374&type=3

Some pics from my venture to the Rosa Park's Transit terminal. Never seen so much street crime all in one place during a short time!

https://www.facebook.com/patrick.shepherd.794/media_set?set=a.10154192725140375.1073741871.506640374&type=3

Sorry, but that link would only work for members of that site. Can you try posting them somewhere else?

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Sorry, but that link would only work for members of that site. Can you try posting them somewhere else?

Ditto, or maybe change the settings?

Overall how was/is the DDOT system and downtown Detroit for fanning? I'd like to visit Detroit someday. I don't mind sketchy areas, I'm just wondering how it is for getting photos.

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Ditto, or maybe change the settings?

Overall how was/is the DDOT system and downtown Detroit for fanning? I'd like to visit Detroit someday. I don't mind sketchy areas, I'm just wondering how it is for getting photos.

The settings is on public, so as long as you have a Facebook account you will be able to view them. I would go in a group, I would not go there alone!

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  • 3 weeks later...

DDOT update from investigative journalism in Detroit:

Detroit struggling to get enough buses on the road

http://michiganradio.org/post/detroit-struggling-get-enough-buses-road#.U6rIQRXFk-8.twitter

Detroit needs 270 buses to properly serve its 100 thousand passengers a day. The city only has 228 buses and a lot of them are broken down.

Dan Dirks is the director of DDOT.

“Right now we are getting out a little bit over 200 – 201, 202. And that contrasts when the mayor took office, we were in the 150-160 range.”

. . .

And new buses might be coming. During Mayor Duggan’s State of the City address in February, he indicated the Obama administration was helping Detroit get 50 new buses.

“And we’re going to have these buses on the street this fall. We’re going to start to make a difference,” the Mayor declared.

That was then. Now, Dan Dirks tells our Detroit Journalism Cooperative partnerWDET that Detroit won't get the buses in the fall as hoped. It'll be later. But, until the feds actually deliver, there's the chance that it could all fall apart.

Dan Dirks says Detroit has a more certain opportunity to get 10 to 13 other buses through an EPA air-quality program.

“So, if we’re lucky, we could get anywhere between 60 and 63 new. Worst-case scenario, we’ll get 10 to 13," Dirks explained.

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Here's to hoping these are diesel-electric hybrid Gillig BRTs-but if articulated buses are returning to DDOT for the first time since the last Neoplans were retired in 2003-I hope they're either XDE60s or diesel-electric hybrid Nova Bus LFS Artics.

I'm with you. I love me some hybrids!

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  • 3 weeks later...

Pictures from today in chronological order.

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The next two shots were taken from the window of a People Mover car.

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The following shots were taken while walking.

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The final two shots were taken from inside the Motz's Hamburgers restaurant on the southwest side.

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EDIT: It appears that there was a drunk driver on one DDOT bus some time ago: http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/detroit-bus-driver-accused-of-driving-while-drunk-had-father-3yearold-son-onboard/26983204

Edited by mattb816789
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I pasted this from the windsor star

Woodward Avenue streetcar to connect Windsor commuters, bolster Detroit


Construction of a cutting-edge $140-million streetcar service that investors believe will play a vital role to help revitalize Detroit is poised to begin within days.

Known as the M-1 Rail, the new transit line will be installed and operate on a five-kilometre section of Woodward Avenue stretching from the riverfront at Jefferson Avenue north to Grand Boulevard and the Fisher Building.

“We are excited,” said Paul Childs, chief operating officer for the project. “We have spent a lot of time planning. We have been waiting seven years to get on the ground. Now we are looking forward to doing the work and anxious to go.

“It’s a feel good project, but also back to the future. The streetcar last ran here on Woodward in 1956.”

But the new sleek multi-car, computerized service is not your grandfather’s streetcar.

The modern design offers Wi-Fi, bike storage and climate-controlled cars that will pass through each of the 20 stations every seven to 10 minutes. The anticipated cost for a ride will be $1.50 with discount rates to be offered to seniors and frequent users.

Belief in the project and what it will mean economically for Detroit is so strong that over $100 million of the project’s cost is being paid through private donations by some of Detroit’s wealthiest individuals including billionaires Roger Penske and Dan Gilbert. The rest of the funds are coming from the U.S. federal government.

“These projects have proven to be great economic development tools,” Childs said.

“It’s been proven around the U.S. and the world when a streetcar like this comes into play it activates the sidewalk, which activates commercial development. When you do that, it activates residential. We are expecting 10,000 new housing (units) in the next 10 years just in this new corridor.”

Windsorites will also play a vital role in making the new streetcar a success as a connection location will be provided with Transit Windsor’s tunnel bus.

The best benefit will likely be for local post-secondary school students who frequently cross the border, largely those who attend Wayne State University. Many currently wrestle with traffic and parking, but will soon be able to use the tunnel bus, jump on the M-1 rail car and be on campus with the school being one of the streetcar’s planned primary stops.

“Some students use the tunnel bus, but there are greater number driving,” said Pat Delmore, director of operations for Transit Windsor. “This will open doors for people travelling day-to-day (to Detroit) currently not using our service.”

The M-1 rail cars will also pass close to both Comerica Park and Ford Field, but Delmore anticipates the tunnel bus will still go directly to both Tigers and Lions games.

The introduction of similar rapid transit streetcar lines have been a huge success in many cities across North America in terms of both ridership and creating economic revitalization by attracting residents who desire to live in close proximity because of the convenience it provides.

“This is going to open so many doors for people in Detroit,” Delmore said. “Some say we should have something like this in Windsor, but we are not there yet. Cities that do have them, it is a huge help to traffic congestion.

“A project like this really changes who uses public transit service.”

Childs also believes Windsor will see an economic benefit by having a greater number of Detroiters using the M-1 Rail streetcar to connect with the tunnel bus and visit downtown in this city.

“I really think there is a benefit to both sides,” he said. “This will interface the service with the tunnel bus together. It will be a short hop to the two locations.”

Construction is expected to take about 27 months to complete putting the anticipated opening date in late 2016 for the M-1 Rail service.

In the short term, those planning to travel through downtown Detroit should look for construction updates as different sections of Woodward will be closed to traffic during construction.

The first closure will be the stretch between Campus Martius Park and Adams Street which is just south of the Fox Theatre and Comerica Park for about 120 days, Childs said.

Temporary pedestrian bridges will be provided over the construction zone on Woodward and traffic will still be allowed to flow east and west across the road.

All road closures, suggested detour routes and more information about the streetcar project are available on the website M-1rail.com.

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  • 1 month later...
  • 1 month later...

The city is going to place several unused DDOT buses as well as the old Washington Boulevard Trolley cars on sale.

http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/detroit-bankruptcy/2014/10/23/detroit-surplus-vehicle-auction/17805047/

Wow. 79 buses out of a total of about 300, or more than 25% of the fleet. Would ridership in Detriot be low enough that the sale of these buses would go largely unnoticed?

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Wow. 79 buses out of a total of about 300, or more than 25% of the fleet. Would ridership in Detriot be low enough that the sale of these buses would go largely unnoticed?

These are probably some of the buses that are in disrepair and not being used anyway. (see the article from June posted above) And Detroit does have 60 new buses coming at some point.

But yeah, your point is well taken. Its a very bad situation that would not be tolerated in a city that wasn't bankrupt. Thankfully, it appears that Detroit has bottomed and does have a better future to look forward to.

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