Renaissance

Quicken Names M-1 Rail Tuesday; Can it Do Better Than These Ideas from Our Readers?

November 21, 2015, 8:57 AM by  Alan Stamm


Concrete-pouring progress downtown is shown in late September. (M-1 Rail photo)

After a downtown announcement Tuesday, we can consider whether most -- or any -- Woodward Avenue rail riders will use the official name picked by Quicken Loans.

By kicking in $10 million as the streetcar project's biggest corporate underwriter, Dan Gilbert's team gets to replace the generic "M-1 Rail" with some sort of branding tag. 

We have a strong sense it won't be any of the nominees floated here on Memorial Day, when we solicited suggestions. That nickname challenge inspired lots of cleverness, often with a cutting edge.

Just over 100 comments were posted at our site and on social media. Yes, of course you still can play below, at @DeadlineDetroit or on Facebook

Among our favorites from a half-year ago:  

  • The Woodie -- Andy Covell, Warren 
  • The Quickie -- Eric Phillips
  • The Gentrification Express -- Kenneth Reed | The Gentrifier -- Evan Villeneuve, Ypsilanti
  • Desire -- Tim Pamplin, WDIV reporter/cameraman
  • DPM 2.0 -- Tony Barchock, Livonia photographer, and Matt Wiseman​

A brief update today in The Detroit News.

Two readers -- Gary Meerschaert of Harper Woods and "Fergus" -- suggest "DSR" as a historic throwback to the Detroit Street Railways of 1922-74.

The most enthusiastic players were "Kaprese Classic" (seven ideas, including Gilbert's Way) and Rebecca Powers of Birmingham (six, including The Shortcut as a nod to the Dequindre Cut). 

Skeptics and naysayers propose The Debacle, The Mile to Nowhere, The Money Pit and the Woodward Halfspeed Automatic Train and Fruit Operation Rail (the WHAT FOR).

Nominations from construction-weary Detroiters include The PITA (Pain in the Ass), The Obstacle and De Tour.



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