Matt Cullen: QLine Should Go Longer Than 3.3 Miles

From the get go, there had been talk of extending the QLine beyond the 3.3-mile stretch from Congress in downtown Detroit to West Grand Boulevard in Midtown. Then the talk sort of faded, at least publicly.

On Thursday, M-1 Rail CEO Matt Cullen said during a media gathering that "it should absolutely go longer." Cullen is also a principal of Dan Gilbert's Detroit-based Rock Ventures LLC.

Cullen's comment may be heartening to many, particularly for critics who have viewed the streetcar line as a modern-day People Mover with limited reach and little growth potential, if any.

But how much longer it will take to expand is unclear. Part of that may depend on voters in the region revisiting the Regional Transit Authority millage proposal that was defeated on Nov. 8.

The press gathering on Thursday afternoon began with M-1 executives talking about the system at the sparkling clean Penske Tech Center, where the trains will undergo maintenance. Officials then gave the media a walking tour along a sliver of the route on Woodward Avenue. Road construction is completed, and Woodward is finally clear.

Presenters talked about the $60-million collaboration between the Michigan Department of Transportation and M-1 Rail which they described as curb-to-curb reconstruction of 2.5 miles of Woodward from Sibley Street to Chandler Street. That also included replacement of the Woodward overpasses at I-94 and I-75.

Additionally, M-1 Rail, which is the agency that oversees the QLine, also worked with utility providers to install a drainage system, streetlights and traffic signals.

The target for public ridership to start in April 17, says Paul Cjilds, M-1 chief operating officer. Launching then depends on successful test runs and meeting all government standards.

Digital signs at each of the 20 stations will show when the next streetcar is due. A mobile app with timetables and ticket-buying capability. Besides security officers, cameras will also monitor the train system and stations will have heaters in the cold months.