Why does Detroit have almost no transit, and certainly not any rail.?

Question

Maybe some streetcars can solidify neighborhoods, and a subway can be built.

Answer 1

My guess is that the "Big Three" probably have something to do with it, directly or indirectly.

Answer 2

There are some bus systems.  There are Detroit buses and Smart buses.  The fun thing about Detroit is that they cant get along with any other cities in the area to create a regional bus system.  Lately in case you missed it almost everywhere is broke.  There is no money to build a subway or rail system.

Answer 3

VERY GOOD question!

I can not provide you with the most accurate answer, but I do know of a certain dirt bag piece of **** politician in Michigan who hated trains so he got a bill passed that shut down half of the passenger rail routes in Michigan.

As far as local rail and bus system that can benefit inner city residents and suburbanites alike, just like the other answerer said, the big three probably had something to do with preventing any real public transportation from serving Detroit metro area residents for their own sake.

I think it's funny how the state of Michigan (especially Detroit) fell into their little song and dance, but the BIG three, and several other major corporations like America turned there back on them after pursuing the residents that they were as faithful to the city as the residents.

Answer 4

It really goes back to when Henry Ford first developed the assembly line and mass car production that turned trains as a means of transportation and any other method were limited or ceased.  Every family could have a car and the liberty to go as they so choose and not rely on trains.  That was back then, now it is almost a necessity to connect city and suburbs in a region in any city.  They are currently doing a study to see what it will take to have light rail up and down Woodward Avenue and a system that would connect Ann Arbor to the Airpot to Downtown.  

The main reason that this hasn't happened earlier is low gas prices, the Detroit 3 are headquartered in the region and if people use public transportation, they may not need to buy their products any more.

Something is going to be done, but when and how is the question.  It takes a lot of time, money and a guaranteed return.  I thiink they need to start with a "pilot" route and see how received that is and then expand from there.  It is certainly easier in newer cities in other parts of the countries because they are still solidifying their infrastructure, however, Detroit being over 300 years old, it is much more difficult.

Answer 5

Hey Barn, how the h**l are you? Back in the twenties( i think), the city had a good streetcar system, and ( also I think ) GM bought them all out, and naturally put them all in cold storage. Kind of a smart move on their behalf, in theory, it caused more of a demand for the automobiles.

(Yeah they had the sense to do that , but couldn't buy out any of the Japanese car makers in the 70's, they had the money to do it, they just couldn't;t believe there would be a day when half the cars on the road would be Japanese)

I think the reason why a regional mass transit system isn't implemented today, is because, the suburbs won't or wouldn't vote it in, for fear that it would let to many Detroiters in their neck of the woods.

Say hi to Betty and Bam Bam

Answer 6

Probably because it's the Motor City and it is known for cars. They wanted everyone to buy cars and drive everywhere they wanted to go.

Answer 7

It is the motor city. The major industry here is the auto industry. Public transportation would hurt the industry which, in turn, hurts the local economy...

Answer 8

have you ever checked the bus routes. my grandma lived in detroit for years and took the bus everywhere. she just moved out last year.

the reason it has been cut back a bit though is because no one used it! why pay to upkeep a system that's not used often enough to make the money back!

Answer 9

Its called the power that the Big 3 has had since Detroit became the Motor City. They had strings attached to all the politicians of Metro Detroit and are the reason why we rejected 600 million dollars from President Ford to build a reliable mass transportation system in the 70s. We have an underfunded bus system, both in the city, DDOT, and in the suburbs, SMART. DTOGS, the most successful group, is trying to get light rail on Woodward by 2015 at the latest, and they are working very well. That is in conjuction with DDOT, Detroit Department of Transportation. They have plans for light rail on Gratiot, Michigan, Grand River, and 8 Mile by 2025, and hopefully, by 2030 all lines, except for 8 Mile, will be extended into the suburbs; maybe by that time too the suburbs would have put into place light rail on some of their major streets, the bus sytem will be improved significantly adding new routes and getting better buses, and their will be a commuter rail system to Ann Arbor, Flint, Toledo, and Port Huron. We have transit, just not a good one.