Community Corner

Ferndale Patch Readers React to Detroit Scrapping Light-Rail Project

Plan loses out to high-speed buses because of costs and state's finances.

It appears Detroit won't be getting a light-rail system any time soon.

The Detroit Free Press reported Tuesday night that the plan for light-rail from downtown Detroit to Eight Mile was scrapped for a high-speed bus system.

Detroit Free Press: U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told Detroit Mayor Dave Bing that doubts that Detroit could pay operating costs over the long term for the light-rail line because of its and the state’s financial problems swayed him against the plan.

Find out what's happening in Ferndalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Here's some reaction to the news from the Ferndale Patch community:

  • Eliza Sorise-Sawyers: Ugh.
  • Vance VanGogh: Terrible news.
  • Jessica Melnik-Gauvreau: What?!?! Ughhhh indeed.
  • Virginia L. Robinson: Seriously?!?!
  • Jason Piro: Bye young educated people, enjoy Chicago. Send a postcard.
  • Erika Cole Pratt: NOOOOOOO. I could cry. This is heartbreaking. ... Can anyone name one great, vibrant city in the world that doesn't have rail as the solid, building block of a great mass transit system? For populations over 500,000. I seriously can't think of one.
  • Amanda Levitt: I think the rail line would be awesome but in reality having a functioning bus system like the ones in Chicago could happen sooner and be great for the people who need / use the bus.
  • Michelle Foster: If (bus rapid transit) gets implemented it will be better than a single light rail line... this could be very exciting.
  • Scottie Stone: They just cut a bunch of routes. Couple of my friends now have no way to get to work. Yea for busses!
  • Doug Lake: I can't believe anyone is surprised by this. Once again, instead of investing in the future, they take the easy route. Looking for a quick cheap fix. Honestly, I'll be surprised if the bus idea even happens.
  • Katie Miller: Not surprising, but I also don't think it is all that bad. The multi-route bus service will be much quicker to implement & prove more useful! Let's hope it materializes!!
  • Connor Valone: The light rail sounds exciting, but may prove as useful as the people mover when restrained to Woodward.
  • Kim Dz: Buses are the future. Well, they are in metro Detroit anyway. Seriously, we already have buses. What's to guarantee that the new buses will run any better than the old? Very disappointing news.
  • Michael R Valentine: Did anybody honestly think light rail was going to happen in Detroit? Seriously- our political leaders never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. I'll be dead and in the grave a half-century from now, and there won't be any light rail in Detroit.
  • Michael Purdy: Thank you (Detroit Mayor Dave) Bing, (Gov. Rick) Snyder, and (U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray) LaHood for leaving our city in the dust yet again. I have no more hope for Detroit, game over.
  • Nathan Downing Phenicie: Detroit still have billions of investment dollars flowing into it. Buses will be able to get deployed quickly with maximum impact. God willing, we will see the (regional transit authority) replace our current broken systems, buying up the bus fleets and fixing them. Once we have a decent bus system that is regional and fully funded, and we see good demand for it, we MIGHT have a hope of light rail in the future.
  • Linda Schaller Murray: In light of the recent SMART bus service cuts, this is a joke, right? They are seriously relying on bus service?
  • Paul Levendoski: Well really did anyone think it was going to cross 8 Mile anyways? They just invested all that money on that three-rise bridge. Remember a few people here in Ferndale wanted to level it so a future light-rail could be done. When they rebuilt that bridge I knew we would never ever get any type of rail system.
  • Don Bishop: This is wonderful news for the city and the area. Detroit did not need another expensive train with no real use. The city is bankrupt now, where would they have come up with $10 (million) + annual operating costs? Busses are cheaper and quicker to implement.

What do you think?

Find out what's happening in Ferndalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Stick around Ferndale Patch as we explore what this might mean for suburban improvements to mass transit.


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