FeedsDecision nears on train station location
The battle between Wayne, Westland, and Inkster for a stop on an upcoming commuter rail system may soon be over—at least temporarily.
Carmine Palombo, director of transportation programs for the Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), said Tuesday that efforts to determine the final stop on a planned rapid-transit rail system connecting Ann Arbor to Detroit are nearly complete.
Several communities, including Wayne, Westland, and Inkster, have been vying for a chance to serve as the Detroit Metro Airport stop.
“The purpose of the stop, no matter which location is selected, is primarily to service the airport—both employees and potential passengers,” he said. The other stops on the route will be located in Detroit, Dearborn, Ypsilanti, and Ann Arbor.
Westland City Council members voted Monday to formally retract their prior motion of support in favor of locating the stop in Wayne, a move that State Rep. Richard LeBlanc (D-Westland) said “will be very beneficial for us” to help sell the project. He added that a stop placed on Michigan Avenue near Henry Ruff Road in Westland, if approved, could potentially be operated out of the existing Wayne County Library for the Blind building.
“Quite frankly, I think it would be wonderful,” said Westland City Councilman Michael Kehrer. “I think we should be happy, proud, and glad that we’re being considered.”
Palombo declined to comment on the action.
“There hasn’t been a site formally selected as yet,” he said, adding that the city leaders in the various municipalities would be the first notified. “We are very, very close.”
That notification is expected to go out within the next two weeks.
There are still several other issues that need to be tackled, from finalizing agreements with the third railroad track owner involved to determining the environmental impact of the project, but Palombo said that a working model is in sight.
“We’re working on the timetable that by the end of 2010 we will have some portion of the project in place,” he said. He clarified that the goal is to have service to the entire route; there could potentially be fewer round trip runs available per day than ultimately planned until track use conflicts are resolved.
The rapid-transit rail system will initially operate as a demonstration model for the project for the first two years, Palombo said. After reviewing the usage data, the sponsors will have a better grasp on whether the number of riders would support the pursuit of federal funding to expand the project, remaining a small project, or being discontinued due to lack of interest. At the end of the demonstration period, the location of the various stops will also be reassessed.
However, State Sen. Glenn Anderson (D-Westland) said that he is hopeful the project will prove beneficial to the region.
“I think it can be a stimulus for that area,” he said.
As importantly, he said, the system could offer society a viable form of alternative transportation.
“I think that the cost of driving has risen to the point where people who, 10-15 years ago, would never have considered using public transportation are looking at it now,” he said.
