People Mover takes lead on Corktown transit hub plan
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
A rendering of the Michigan Central campus, with the future multimodal facility on the right. Courtesy of Michigan Central.
Plans to build a new transit hub at Michigan Central are moving forward, with the operator of the People Mover now taking the lead.
Why it matters: The long-discussed transit hub tied to Michigan Central is a key piece of Detroit's mobility and economic development strategy, and a shift in leadership signals the project is moving into its next phase.
Catch up quick: Axios Detroit scooped last year that state officials were exploring the possibility of adding Amtrak and intercity bus service to Michigan Central — the 30-acre Ford-backed development in Corktown anchored by the historic train depot.
- MDOT, the city and Michigan Central later announced a plan to build a new transit hub at the site with about $40 million in funding.
- The project is envisioned to replace aging facilities and improve regional connections.
State of play: The Detroit Transportation Corporation, which owns and operates the People Mover, is leading the project.
- A request for proposals for preliminary design and engineering studies will be issued this summer.
What they're saying: "It was determined that DTC was uniquely positioned to lead this project as the local transit agency with years of expertise in rail construction and operations, station design, federal guideline adherence, placemaking, economic development, activations and events," spokesperson Ericka Alexander told Axios in an email.
Reality check: The project remains in early planning stages, and a timeline for construction has not been set beyond the design phase, according to DTC.
Flashback: The last train to depart Michigan Central left in 1988, bound for Chicago.
- At its peak in the 1940s, more than 4,000 passengers passed through the train station daily.
Follow the money: A combination of federal, state and local sources totaling about $40 million has been identified for the project.
- Public records obtained by Axios show earlier cost estimates in the $150 million to $212 million range, though DTC said those figures reflect a broader conceptual vision beyond the core project.
The big picture: Michigan Central says the transit hub remains a priority.
- The group is providing consulting services for the project and working with DTC and other partners, Beth Kmetz-Armitage, Michigan Central's director of commercial development, tells Axios.
- "The transit hub is integral to our vision for positioning Detroit as the international gateway for all of Michigan."