Talk of mass transit heats up in Washtenaw County
Local officials from across Washtenaw County are discussing how best to capitalize on transit-oriented development that often follows big projects like the Aerotropolis and the Detroit to Ann Arbor commuter rail line. They’re also looking at smaller more traditional arteries, such as redoing the Washtenaw Avenue corridor.
Local government officials across Washtenaw County are starting to gear up for transit-oriented development, or put more simply: The projects that follow planes, trains and buses.
That’s understandable with big projects like the Aerotropolis, Detroit to Ann Arbor commuter rail line and Ann Arbor to Howell commuter rail line on the horizon.
Officials from the county, city and township levels have recently been talking about the hundreds millions of dollars in development that can follow transit lines and how best to prepare for and capitalize on them.
“We’re looking at reviewing our master plan to fill the void when something (like the Detroit to Ann Arbor commuter rail line) looks like it will happen,” says Karen Hart, planning and development director for Ypsilanti.
They’re also looking at how to improve infrastructure outside of the mass transit lines that transit-oriented development is usually attributed to, such as retooling Washtenaw Avenue between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti so it maximizes more of its space. It’s all just talk right now, but at least they’re talking about it ahead of time.
Source: Karen Hart, planning and development director for Ypsilanti
Writer: Jon Zemke
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