Corridor Studies
Woodward Avenue Light Rail Study

Project Sponsor
Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT)

Description
This study has identified and evaluated rapid transit options to improve access and mobility in the Detroit area. The study is the first step in the formal process established by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for metropolitan areas seeking federal grants to plan, design, and build rapid transit systems. The study has concluded the Alternatives Analysis (AA) by identifying the transit mode, general alignment, and realistic financial plan where costs are consistent with the expected benefits.

Status
M1 Rail, the City of Detroit, and the Michigan Department of Transportation are working together to coordinate their efforts to construct the project. One of the key issues is the ability of the private sector investment of over $100 million to be used to leverage additional dollars from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) New Start Program once the Detroit portion of the project has addressed all of the FTA requirements. In December 2009, language was included in the final version of the Transportation/HUD Appropriations Conference report to allow an estimated $125 million in private and non-federal public funds to be applied toward the local match for the Woodward Avenue Light Rail project.

Consultant(s)
URS
Pierce, Monroe & Associates, LLC
Berg, Muirhead & Associates
Parsons Brinckerhoff

Contact
Tim Roseboom, DDOT
(313) 833-1196

Woodward Avenue Light Rail Study