MI: M-1 Rail Operating and Construction Agreements Unanimously Approved by Detroit City Council

Detroit City Council on June 24 unanimously approved M-1 Rail's operating and construction agreements.  Below is a statement made by Matt Cullen, President and CEO, M-1 Rail:

With Detroit City Council’s unanimous approval of construction and operating agreements today, the M-1 Rail project is officially set in motion. This action will allow us to start construction on this transformative 3.3 mile modern streetcar program in July. Specific groundbreaking and construction details will be announced in the coming weeks. In the meantime, M-1 Rail will be launching a public information campaign to prepare residents, businesses and patrons throughout the Woodward corridor for upcoming construction.

M-1 Rail will play a major role in shaping a better future for Detroit.  This world-class rail system will serve Detroit’s largest job centers and most visited destinations. It will ignite tremendous new economic development and job creation and will provide a foundation for improved and expanded public transit throughout the region. The project will also create construction and permanent jobs for Detroiters.

Special thanks are extended to the members of the city council, Mayor Duggan, Group Executive of Jobs and Economy Tom Lewand,  and the entire city administration for their support of this project. Gov. Snyder, MDOT Director Steudle, Wayne County Commissioners, County Executive Ficano, our Southeast Michigan Congressional Delegation, and the U.S. Department of Transportation have also played critical roles in making this project a reality.

M-1 Rail would not be at this major milestone without our committed and generous donors and visionary board of directors led by Roger Penske, Dan Gilbert and Rip Rapson.

It takes time to make history. M-1 Rail is a public private partnership that is unprecedented anywhere in the United States. The civic, philanthropic and business leadership that has come together to make M-1 Rai a reality is a testament to the spirit of collaboration and perseverance that defines the city of Detroit.