Detroit's M-1 Rail, under construction since 2014, has bumped back its project delivery date. Blame for the delay is assigned to weather, streetcar delivery delays, and the roll out of a federal transportation law from 2012.
"A year after construction began on the M-1 Rail transit line, officials say passenger service should begin in spring 2017 rather than late 2016 as initially predicted with more time needed to work through updated federal safety regulations," reports John Gallagher.
Interestingly, the delay is partly blamed on the roll out of MAP-21, the 2012 law that added new regulations to process of testing and certifying the 3.3-mile streetcar route.
Paul Childs, chief operating officer for M-1 Rail, is quoted in the article: "MAP-21 is now just being implemented throughout the whole transit area….It's going to be a learning experience. We think we have a sense of it, but it's new and it's the government."
FULL STORY: M-1 Rail start-up delayed until early 2017
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UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research