Detroit Amtrak Station Remodel Article
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ConrailDetroit
- Railroadfan...fan
- Posts: 5923
- Joined: Sun Apr 29, 2007 10:04 pm
- Location: Detroit
Re: Detroit Amtrak Station Remodel Article
Not limited to, but individuals who work for the media and for the government sometimes lack practical sense or have a tendency to only have limited empirical evidence, maybe under the false impression their college degree is an appropriate substitute or entitles one to believe their proposals and decisions are superior and always correct.
Most who are driving to the station would choose Dearborn over Detroit, given the short distance away. No train station that currently stands or once stood in Detroit was ever designed for the automobile, even when built after the automobile. It sounds like the proposed new station would not be anyway, given the higher number of Detroiters still without cars.
Other than consolidating Amtrak and Greyhound (which already stops at the new Dearborn Station), is this proposed new station really worth it? Or just something for the current federal government to show as a contribution to their "greater good"? By providing something to someone, under the premise of "helping". Maybe upgrading elevators, wheelchair ramps, platform crosswalks, or even renovating the current station is a more efficient use of the funds.
If the parking lot on the south side of the tracks that is used by Tech Town and Wayne State is turned into a mega station, does Wayne State have the parking capacity to absorb the loss of Parking spaces?"more parking close to key institutions including the Detroit Institute of Arts, TechTown and Wayne State University."
Within 2 blocks of the station on Woodward is Yum Village, Supinos Pizza (now open for dine in), Cooking with Que, Baobab Fare, Joe Louis Southern Kitchen, and whatever may soon occupy the former space of New Center Eatery. And a little further of a walk or Lyft ride in the area is Z's Villa, Bucharest, and Northern Lights Lounge. Should Waiting or arriving passenger want a meal, there are plenty of locally owned, higher quality, food establishments than the fast food, convenience garbage (for food quality and health reasons), than what would pop up inside of a multimodal station.
"The nearest food option is a White Castle store across busy Woodward Avenue."
Given the relatively lower passenger volume, have never seen the trains stop twice. Amtrak is usually lined up to Main 1 for the wye at Federal Jct anyway. The newer Control Points at Federal and Avery were meant to allow more flexible routing and allows Amtrak to get around any CN Freights.Current platform limits also force the trains to stop twice, so all passengers can board or exit, according to MDOT, adding time to each trip for a service that is already challenged with delays, often caused by the way freight and passenger rail must share track.
Most who are driving to the station would choose Dearborn over Detroit, given the short distance away. No train station that currently stands or once stood in Detroit was ever designed for the automobile, even when built after the automobile. It sounds like the proposed new station would not be anyway, given the higher number of Detroiters still without cars.
Other than consolidating Amtrak and Greyhound (which already stops at the new Dearborn Station), is this proposed new station really worth it? Or just something for the current federal government to show as a contribution to their "greater good"? By providing something to someone, under the premise of "helping". Maybe upgrading elevators, wheelchair ramps, platform crosswalks, or even renovating the current station is a more efficient use of the funds.