An ongoing discussion led by the Midwest High Speed Rail Association on creating a modern, high-speed passenger rail network. We also discuss national and international transportation policy.
Last night, PBS debuted it's 86 minute special on the future of Detroit and the importance that transit and improved passenger rail will have to the Motorcity and the Midwest.
Once the tallest train station in the world, Michigan Central Station now stands vandalized and isolated in a littered field west of downtown Detroit.
Below is an outstanding segment about Detroit's once grand and thriving train station.
As beautiful as this colossal structure was, it was a victim not only of the automobile's growing popularity in Detroit of all places, but of poor location. The station was built 2 miles west miles of downtown, which turned out to be a death sentence years later, as it's neighborhood grew increasingly desolate and impoverished. The reason for the placement this far from downtown was a hope that the station would be an anchor for prosperity to follow. When the suburbs boomed and downtown's bright spots shrank closer together, Michigan Central Station was left out in the dark.
It is a shame to further neglect a historically significant and once beautiful landmark, although Michigan Central and Buffalo's Central Terminal, the later of which is being included in the HSR discussion, beg the question is it more important that a major city's primary train station is a preserved landmark or a practically located transit hub? Nothing would make me happier than to see the emergence of High Speed Rail catalyze the restoration of these once great stations and spark new development between their front doors and the downtowns they are separated from. However, the Midwest needs high speed trains delivering passengers to the city center where commerce and growth stem from, not on the outskirts where a failed anchor for prosperity quietly lies in ruin. If historic stations cannot be included in practical high speed rail planning, we must regrettably, for the sake of progress, move on without them.
High Speed Rail safely and efficiently carrying passengers to and from the larger-than-life stations enjoyed by older generations -- my fingers are crossed!
Toldeo's Democratic mayoral candidate, Keith Wilkowski, has the right idea. He knows that Toldeo is ideally positioned to redirect trains coming from Detroit on to Cleveland, Columbus and Fort Wayne and trains from Ohio and Indiana on through Detroit to Ann Arbor or Ontario. The possibilities are beautifully illustrated on this map provided by the Midwest High Speed Rail Assoc.
It is important that planners, legislators and advocates remember to include midsize cities, like Toledo and Fort Wayne, in the discussion. Those cities will serve as vital transfer points throughout the network, thus allowing passengers a more direct trip instead of always having to transfer in Chicago.
