Detroit Streetcar Ridership Drops 40 Percent

Detroit’s streetcar was carrying about 5,000 trips a day when it was free, but ridership dropped “somewhat” after they began charging $1.50 for a three-hour pass. “We fully expected ridership to dip a little bit” when they began charging, said a spokesman for the group running the streetcar.

As it turns out, “somewhat” and “a little” means 40 percent, as the line has averaged just 3,000 trips a day since they began charging fares. Moreover, they aren’t really enforcing the fares, as they estimate that half the people who do ride aren’t paying, and fare enforcement–which is scheduled to begin soon–is likely to drop ridership that much more.
To achieve better results, you recommended for you buy cialis in australia need to take the medicine: Unlike other medication this medication should be taken twice daily with milk, for the best results. It is viagra online for women one of the most intimate and personal part of his life. UK Kamagra Erectile Drugs work effectively, when consumed in combination with Pycnogenol, might lead levitra viagra to a significant improvement in the testosterone level. Precautions in using Kamagra Soft Tabs One should make proper note that the product should be used only once in a day. buy viagra wholesale
The streetcar goes down historic Woodward Avenue, which has supposedly seen $7 billion in gentrification since 2013. Naturally, the streetcar people take credit for that even though the streetcar only opened in May, 2017. Can anyone really believe that this redevelopment has nothing to do with the fact that the Detroit Economic Development Corporation has poured tens of millions of dollars of public money and tax-increment financing into the EightMile/Woodward Corridor Improvement Authority and similar projects?

Tagged , . Bookmark the permalink.

About The Antiplanner

The Antiplanner is a forester and economist with more than fifty years of experience critiquing government land-use and transportation plans.

3 Responses to Detroit Streetcar Ridership Drops 40 Percent

  1. prk166 says:

    a) I’m not too worried about this project either way. IIRC 3/4th of it was built with private donations. Yes? No?

    b) I’m surprised there is anyone in Detroit left to ride this thing. Population estimates seem to be most problematic when population is changing a lot. As quickly as Detroit’s population has been dropping, it may be that the estimates don’t capture that well. It may be much closer to having 1/2 million people than the current estimate of @675,000.

    https://www.wired.com/2017/05/detroits-new-streetcar-ok-cant-save-city/

    M-1 Rail envisioned the QLine providing the spine of a vast public transit network that would include bus rapid transit and commuter rail linking Detroit to its suburbs. Today, that seems unlikely. Voters rejected a ballot proposal to provide $3 billion for the system in November, and the regional transit authority can’t go back to voters until next year.
    It’s not like this city of 677,000 people is flush. Despite headlines touting the city’s resurgence, Sands and Michigan State University political scientist Laura A. Reese say such reports are greatly exaggerated. Motown remains among the poorest, most segregated, least educated cities in the country. People continue to leave, some 100,000 between 2010 and 2016. And though the real estate market in the trendy Midtown and Downtown neighborhoods has improved a bit, vast swaths of the city are marked by vacant, dilapidated buildings.

  2. metrosucks says:

    Isn’t anyone of any means in Detroit basically living in the outer suburbs?

  3. prk166 says:

    There are some living in the core of Detroit. But I’d find to many if any clumps of $80K _households_ anywhere within 9mile and telegraph road. Every city has some urban pioneers — willing to put their lives on the line to avoid living in the burbs — so I’m sure you can find a few.

Leave a Reply