Developers normally flock to where the passenger trains go when it comes to big-city development. Think of light rail cars as the pied pipers for development dollars. This decades-old trend is as true today as it was in the 19th Century and will be the focus of Transportation Riders United big summer meeting on Tuesday night (July 24).
The non-profit dedicated to improving mass transit in Metro Detroit will present examples from across the country about how major cities have harnessed billions of dollars in investment for dense, urban, mixed-use development by developing mass transit systems, such as light rail and commuter rail.
"Because so many people like to live, work, shop and play near rapid transit lines, many cities have seen billions of dollars in new investment along those lines," says Megan Owens, executive director for Transportation Riders United. "There is no reason why Detroit can't do the same."
The highly successful Dallas Area Rapid Transit system is one of the primary examples that will be highlighted during the meeting. Dallas' system includes light rail, commuter rail and busses. More than $3.3 billion in new private money has been invested along the initial light rail line since its opening in 1996, creating 32,000 new jobs. Property values rose 53 percent for office space while residential property jumped 39 percent.
Transportation Riders United also plans to highlight a number of other success stories of how mass transit has led to big-time investment in major cities across the U.S., such as Portland, Denver and St Louis.
"Similar results have been seen elsewhere," Owens says. "But those places haven't quantified it as much as Dallas has. I know Portland talked about more than $1 billion in new development"
Similar efforts are underway in Metro Detroit. The Michigan Suburb Alliance started the Golden Spike program to promote fixed rapid transit options that historically attract investment, such as light rail and commuter rail, to in turn encourage more private investment by building dense, pedestrian-friendly, inviting and safe city cores.
One of the major areas of focus for this effort is the corridor connecting Detroit, Metro Airport and Ann Arbor. The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments is working to set up a commuter rail line connecting those three communities, along with Dearborn and Ypsilanti. The option of extending it to Ferndale, Royal Oak, Birmingham/Troy and Pontiac in the near future is also being examined.
The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the lower mezzanine of the Guardian Building, 500 Griswold, in downtown Detroit. A light dinner will be served and a $5 donation is requested from members, $10 from non-members. For information, send an e-mail to trumember@detroittransit.org of call (313) 963-8872.
Source: Megan Owens, executive director for Transportation Riders United
Writer: Jon Zemke