DetroitBrad

Northern rail idea gathers money Ruling on $1 million from feds expected at month's end Tuesday, August 14, 2007BY JOHN MULCAHY News Staff Reporter Federal, state and local funding is beginning to take shape for the proposed commuter rail service between Ann Arbor and Howell, but when the trains will start running is still an unanswered question. A state official said the rail service likely would be eligible for about $1.4 million in operating subsidies once it starts. And the group leading the effort expects a decision by the end of this month on whether or not it will receive $1 million from the federal government to help operate the line. Meanwhile, backers are moving forward with establishing a rail authority to run the service. The authority could be in place by the end of September or early October, according to the chairmen of Washtenaw and Livingston counties boards of commissioners. ..... http://www.mlive.com/news/annarbornews/index.ssf?/base/news-24/1187102495158600.xml&coll=2 MORE AT THE LINK ABOVE

Rapid transit may pull into Detroit Grant will help city plan for new system, which could include bus service, street cars or a rail line. Andy Henion / The Detroit News DETROIT -- Armed with $3 million in federal funds -- and hoping to reverse more than 50 years of failure -- Detroit is studying a rapid transit system that may hook into a proposed regional route to Ann Arbor. The Detroit Department of Transportation has hired URS Corp., a San Francisco-based engineering design firm, to create a feasibility plan by the end of 2007 for faster, more convenient public transit through the city, said Dan Meyers, project leader for URS. http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061103/METRO/611030350/1003

Working on the railroad It’s the last mile that’s the sticking point for Ann Arbor proposal By Bill Shea 6:00 am, August 7, 2006 Crain's Detroit Business A $27 million proposal to establish a commuter railroad service designed to alleviate traffic congestion on U.S. 23 north of Ann Arbor faces a snag of its own because the rail company leasing some of the track involved isn’t interested in being a part of it. The project, the brainchild of Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje, initially would ferry commuters on a line between Ann Arbor and a large park-and-ride lot on Eight Mile Road near Whitmore Lake in Livingston County’s Northfield Township while U.S. 23 is torn up for construction next year. Owosso-based Great Lakes Central Railroad would provide converted railcars and much of the track involved. more at: http://www.crainsdetroit.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060807/SUB/60804009/-1/toc

Excellent photos, looks like you had a good time in Atlanta.

Legislation would fund mass transit, roads Resolution asks voters to amend Constitution to allow state tax, gives them local levy option. Jennifer Chambers / The Detroit News LANSING -- Two state senators have introduced a resolution to allow Michigan voters to consider a one-half-cent sales tax to fund a transit system and another one-half cent for road improvements. The joint resolution, introduced Wednesday by Democratic state senators Gilda Jacobs of Huntington Woods and Liz Brater of Ann Arbor to the Michigan Legislature, is twofold: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060518/POLITICS/605180369/1016/METRO05

Plans for train station rolling forward BY GREG KOWALSKI STAFF WRITER What passes for a railroad station along the tracks on the far east side of Birmingham will be replaced with a $4.5 million complex within four years in the city of Troy, just a short ways down the track. Doug Smith, economic development director, and Brian Murphy, assistant city manager for services, both with the city of Troy, updated the Birmingham Planning Commission on Wednesday on the status of the project. Morea t: http://observer-eccentric.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060514/NEWS02/605140424/1019

This was posted originally over at Detroityes.com. I find it sad when cadidates feel they have to bash other cities to get votes, especially in Toledo of all places. Candidates traverse county in final drive for commissioner job By JOSHUA BOAK BLADE STAFF WRITER April 30, 2006 Wherever voters were yesterday - shopping in East Toledo, enjoying a weekend at home, watching Little League baseball, or accelerating between stop lights along Reynolds Road - a candidate for Lucas County commissioner was sure to be nearby. The ballots for Tuesday's primary election will list two Republicans, Pam Haynam and George Sarantou, and three Democrats, Phil Copeland, Ben Konop, and Tim Wagener, all of whom were looking for that last-minute advantage at the polls. http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060430/NEWS09/604300416/-1/NEWS Contact Joshua Boak at: [email protected] or 419-724-6728.

Detroit-Ann Arbor mass transit would get funding from new deal By Amy Lane 6:00 am, May 1, 2006 LANSING — Local funding for light rail or other mass transit between Detroit and Ann Arbor could be back on track, under an agreement struck between Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Republican legislative leaders. The agreement breaks a political logjam and will allow for a to-be-created Southeast Michigan transit authority, and others in Michigan, to levy property taxes for up to 25 years to provide a federally required local funding source to operate projects like light rail, commuter rail and bus rapid transit. More at: http://www.crainsdetroit.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060501/SUB/60428042/-1/toc

Another great photo thread Chris, Pittsburgh is lookin' good.

Excellent photos Chris, it seems that you did alot of traveling last month.

Governor, legislative leaders agree on transportation package April 20, 2006 - 7:19PM LANSING (AP) - Millions of dollars can be pumped into local road projects now that Governor Jennifer Granholm and Republican legislative leaders have reached an agreement on how some of the money should be spent. Under the plan, the state will give grants to local governments that they can use to match federal transportation dollars, getting $400-million in projects underway. More at: http://www.wwmt.com/engine.pl?station=wwmt&id=25643&template=breakout_state.html

Awesome collection of photos!

It was a nice day yesterday so I decided to head to Little 5 Points and Chamblee and take some photos. First up is the Inman Park/Little 5 Points neighborhood. It's a streetcar suburb that dates from the lates 1880s. Little 5 Points is the bohemian commerical district of the neighborhood that is centered around the intersection of 5 streets, although most the businesses in the district line Moreland Avenue and Euclid Avenue. Inman Park Little 5 Points Chamblee is a little suburb about 16 miles northeast of DT Atlanta. It was mostly dairyland until WWI, when the military built a camp there. The camp closed after the war, but was reopened during WWII to train navy fighter pilots. The base today is Peachtree-DeKalb Airport, the second busiest in the state. After WWII, the city attracted alot of industrial development. Frito Lay, General Electric and Kodak opened plants in the 1950s, but by the 80s most of the plants had closed. In the 90s, Chamblee began to attract large numbers of Latino and Asian immigrants becuase of its cheap housing. The city is probably one of the most diverse in Metro Atlanta having gone from being 90% white in 1970 to 56% Latino and 14% Asian today. Chamblee Lofts@5300 Peachtree Chamblee is also known for its antique shops, one of the largest collection of antique shops in the South. Heritage Lofts New infill development

Nice shots!

They did a nice job with the sign, but I still find it lame.