Sven Gustafson - Daily Detroit (Page 18)

Here's How The RTA’s Plans To Improve Detroit Regional Transit Are Shaping Up

There would still be shortcomings and gaps, but plans to shore up our embarrassingly inadequate public transportation system in metropolitan Detroit carry the distinct whiff of a credible and functional system that can compare with those found in other big cities. On Thursday, I stopped by the second of two public workshops held by the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan to view plans for express service between the suburbs and city along Woodward and Gratiot Avenues. I spoke with...

Bike Share Contract Adds To 'Pretty Damn Fast' Growth For Detroit Bikes

Homegrown bicycle maker Detroit Bikes LLC hopes to be able to soon turn its first profit in the wake of a new contract to supply bikes for the nation’s largest bike share operator, the upcoming release of a new model and other developments. Founder and President Zak Pashak said he’s also hopeful his five-year-old company will be chosen to supply bikes for the upcoming Detroit bike-share program, which could launch later this year. Detroit Bikes announced Wednesday it has partnered with Motiv...

On May 20, Bike To Work Day Will Have Three Locations In Detroit

Local organizations and bike commuters will mark the start of the bicycling season and highlight the region’s growing bike culture on Bike to Work Day Friday, May 20. This year’s event will feature a new location for the main morning gathering in downtown Detroit along with satellite pit-stops in the New Center and Midtown. Participants are asked to register for the event, which will feature free coffee, snacks, free T-shirts and other giveaways, vendors and local discounts at the following lo...

MLS Franchise Would Be "Crushing" To Detroit City FC, Says Motown Soccer Podcaster

Even as it tries to expand on its foothold in the U.S., the beautiful game sparks complicated debates among its supporters, and this week’s revelation that billionaires Dan Gilbert and Tom Gores are prepared to spend $1 billion on a new Major League Soccer franchise, stadium and entertainment district in Detroit is already creating fault lines among local diehard fans. The initial announcement Tuesday already raised questions about the future of Detroit City FC, the semi-pro team that has ridd...

DetroitMass Transit RTA

Metro Detroit's Future Mass Transit Needs To Be Simple To Use And Seamless

This November, the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan is expected to propose a millage request to voters in Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties to improve public transit in metro Detroit. The plan calls for constructing dedicated bus rapid transit lanes along Gratiot, Michigan and Woodward avenues (see video here); creating commuter rail service between Ann Arbor and Detroit; and establishing transit to Detroit Metropolitan Airport. The RTA is expected to release its ma...

Detroit City FC Opening New Hamtramck Storefront Office Friday, Addresses MLS Buzz

An unassuming brick building with papered-over windows in Hamtramck will become the new mixed-use home of the Detroit City FC soccer team, which is preparing to move into nearby Keyworth Stadium for the 2016 season. The new headquarters, at 2750 Yemans St., will serve as combination office space for the team’s business operations, a community gathering space and retail store selling branded DCFC merchandise, such as replica jerseys, T-shirts and scarves. It opens to the public Friday at 11 a.m...

FordFord motor company New Ford Motor Company Campus

Why Ford’s Plan To Uprade Its Dearborn HQ Is Great News For The Detroit Region

Ford Motor Company made a major statement with its announcement that it plans an ambitious redevelopment of its Dearborn headquarters and product development campuses into walkable, environmentally friendly hubs to better encourage collaboration and innovation. It signals its commitment to Michigan, but it’s also a smart bid to lure top talent and remain competitive amid rapidly intensifying competition from Silicon Valley. The project involves a mind-boggling 7.5 million square feet of new co...

9 Things To Know About The (Very Urbanist) Future Of Eastern Market

Eastern Market already occupies near-mythic status in the fabric of Detroit’s civic life. But if you want to ponder some fascinating ideas about the future vision for the district (or you’re a wonk who loves urban planning studies, like me), then you’re in for a treat reading “Eastern Market 2025 Strategy.” I went through the whole 114-page report, which was done by Philadelphia- and Los Angeles-based urban planners Olin, and compiled these takeaways. 1. Even as consumers embrace smaller-sca...

What Can Be Done About Detroit’s Disgusting Litter Problem?

Springtime is supposed to be about the re-emergence of life and beauty, with daffodils, crocuses and forsythia blossoms replacing blackened snow, the songbirds back from their winter homes, and longer, sunnier days displacing the gray gloom. Tender flower buds giving way to delicate new foliage and all that. But in Detroit, it’s hard to see past the layers of filth that accumulate during the long, dark months. Yes, people, it’s time to talk about Detroit’s litter epidemic. It’s springtime,...

DeclineMichigan Michigan Turnaround

Michigan’s Decline, In Three Reports

I love my home state, but sometimes it just exhausts me. Case in point: The woeful condition of our cities. And roads. And schools. But I repeat myself. So this past week was a particularly painful exercise in holding up a mirror to Michigan’s collective failures and depressing, decade-plus slide in prosperity. Let’s review: Monday The week kicked off with the Michigan Municipal League releasing a shocking report that found the Mitten with the dubious distinction of being the only state i...

Ferndale Aims To Get More Bike Friendly With New Lanes, Wayfinding Stations And More

Ferndale should see construction begin next month on new bicycling infrastructure under the 17.1-mile Woodward Corridor Neighborhood Bicycle Network loop with five neighboring cities, even if it’s going to cost more than initially planned. The City Council this week OK’d an extra $47,000 after the lowest construction bid came in 16 percent higher than the original estimate. The money is the city’s local match to a federal Transportation Alternatives Program grant awarded in July 2015 to Fernda...