Randy Essex details why it is that "rely" isn't a word that comes to mind for many Detroiters when they think about downtown's QLINE streetcar system.
Detroit's QLINE streetcar system may have opened in 2017, but it still isn't as reliable as "the 30-year-old, rattly, squeaky, dependable People Mover," Randy Essex writes. And that's a problem, because "this matters to continued progress in restoring the vitality of the city core."
As a case in point, Essex cites a recent Lions game in which QLINE trains took more than thirty minutes to arrive. "While that's a high-traffic time, it's also exactly the sort of event during which the trains should be packed and people should be able to count on a reliable alternative to personal vehicles."
Living in or visiting the city core becomes easier and more pleasant when people can get around without a car, Essex writes. But as it stands, "serious attention, not incremental tweaking, is needed to keep the QLINE from being a white elephant rumbling up and down the city's fabled main drag, the butt of jokes like the People Mover — though the latter is, in fact, quite reliable."
FULL STORY: Get serious about fixing the QLINE or admit that it's just for show
Nostalgia for Detroit's Public Transit History
Five historic projects encapsulate a transit-oriented version of Southeastern Michigan that almost could have been.
Lane Closure to Occasionally Make Space for Detroit's QLine Streetcar
Woodward Avenue will get a temporary road diet during special events in response to safety concerns connected to the QLine.
Unified Fare Payment in Detroit
The QLine streetcar joins the fare payment system of DDOT and SMART buses in the Motor City.
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Private Donations Propel Early Restoration of Palisades Playground
Los Angeles has secured over $1.3 million in private funding to restore the Pacific Palisades playground months ahead of schedule, creating a modern, accessible space that supports community healing after recent wildfires.
From Blight to Benefit: Early Results From California’s Equitable Cleanup Program
The Equitable Community Revitalization Grant (ECRG) program is reshaping brownfield redevelopment by prioritizing projects in low-income and environmental justice communities, emphasizing equity, transparency, and community benefits.
Planting Relief: Tackling Las Vegas Heat One Tree at a Time
Nevada Plants, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit, is combating the city’s extreme urban heat by giving away trees to residents in underserved neighborhoods, promoting shade, sustainability, and community health.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Ascent Environmental
Borough of Carlisle
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service