Detroit — Construction Complete

December 2016

The mlive.com site reports tht the M-1 RAIL and Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) teams celebrated a milestone for the QLine streetcar line at a December 1 press conference noting the completion of Woodward Avenue's reconstruction.

"The partnership between M-1 RAIL and MDOT is transforming the Woodward Corridor and surrounding neighborhoods," said M-1 RAIL CEO Matt Cullen. "I want to thank MDOT for bringing this vision to reality and helping set the stage for continued residential and business growth over the next 30 years.

"The QLine is already activating the sidewalks and with the completion of roadway construction, we'll soon begin to see streetcars traveling up and down Woodward Ave."

QLine officials said in a news release that Woodward remains on schedule to reopen before Detroit's Thanksgiving Parade, and that the third of six streetcars should arrive later in November.

Cullen envisions a modern Woodward Avenue as a means of tying the community together and adding economic development. "We've looked around the country, around the world, and we saw a lot more investment," Cullen said at the Penske Tech Center. "What you invest in transit, you get back in economic development." He added, "we have $140 million invested in the QLine, there's already almost 10 times that level of investment that is taking place on this corridor."

The QLine, operated by M-1 RAIL, is a 6.6-mile circulating streetcar with 12 location stops on Woodward Avenue from downtown through Midtown, New Center and North End. Crew members are working to finish the transit stops. 

The projected launch of the QLine remains for spring 2017.