Mass Transit Summit Scheduled for March 3
by Jaime Pfeffer
February 18th, 2008 in Ann Arbor, Conservation, Detroit, Energy, Environment, Events, Green
A champion of mass transit, Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks-Kilpatrick is hosting, “Mass Transit: Gateway to the World” at Wayne State University next month.
This special transit summit will focus on the efficiency, efficacy and energy behind a coordinated effort to create a commuter rail system between Detroit and Ann Arbor. The day-long event, scheduled for March 3, will bring together regional, state and national experts who will discuss why metro Detroit needs such a system and best practices for bringing it to fruition.Elected officials and community members are invited.
Speakers will include transit experts from Denver, Houston and Charlotte, who will discuss their cities’ rail systems, as well as how they funded their systems and how they gained regional support. The afternoon will also feature a panel including participants like John Hertel, Southeast Michigan’s transportation czar; Carmine Polumbo of SEMCOG; and Megan Owens, executive director of Transportation Riders United, a dynamic non-profit committed to improving transportation access and mobility in metro Detroit.
All the details, such as time and exact location, haven’t been worked out yet. Check TRU’s website in the coming days for complete information on this important summit.
One of Detroit's biggest cheerleaders, Jaime Pfeffer moved to the Motor City from suburban Detroit five years ago. She started a blog, Girl in the D, in September 2004 to promote the positive aspects of Detroit and hasn't stopped touting Motown's good side since. Jaime left corporate America in 2007 to pursue her first love, writing.
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- jame: thank you
- Yee-haw!: in March, MiLifeMiTimes’ Nikki Stephan wrote candidly about the event — dubbed...
- jpfeffer: Thanks for the comment and information, David. It is definitely worth weighing all of your...
- Benny: When is this place gonna open already!!?!?!??!?!?!
- Heather Carmona: This is a great list! Thanks for sharing. I participated in the Green Street Fair...
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Thom Phillips writes:
February 26th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
SEMCOG is doing a good job maintaining roads but their mission does not translate to expertise developing new RRT systems. Some senior folks there have no faith it can or ever will happen in Michigan yet they are pushed out in front of every one of these efforts! Why? Speakers from successful transit authorities around the country are critical components needed to generate any meaningful progress. And while speakers are great, Michigan needs to hire people like this - in fact there is no substitute for an experienced team who has SUCCESSFULLY originated an RRT transit system in another city. ….not transit extensions either, but a new system with all the challenges involved. Great news that Congresswoman Kilpatrick is hosting but missing from this group are those who have any chance of changing federal requirements that now effectively prevent Michigan from funding - Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow. And where is the governor’s office? Without changes to Michigan law creating a regional planning structure that can tie all these communities together, it will remain an nonstarter! Because the legal system is really the first step, a future seminar might focus on planning law and how it has been changed and adapted in other states. Also missing are the big three, who are long rumored to crush any serious attempt at RRT planning through SEMCOG, who’s board they permeate. Fine -lets invite them and ask! See you March 3rd if possible.