The M-1 RAIL and Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) teams celebrated a milestone for the QLine car at a Thursday press conference after 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."
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.
MDOT spent $60 million to reconstruct the 2.5 mile stretch of Woodward from Sibley Street to Chandler Street and replace the Woodward overpasses at I-94 and I-75. New drainage systems, streetlights and traffic lights were also installed.
"This is more than reconstructing a road, it's working with local partners and utilities to ensure public infrastructure investments provide the biggest bang for the buck for taxpayers," said Tony Kratofil, MDOT metro region engineer. "Modernizing the corridor will bring benefits for the next 40 years beyond the streetcars running up and down Woodward."
Over the next 10 years, Cullen said there will be another $275 to $300 million worth of projects underway. The QLine is projected to generate $3 billion in development, involving 10,000 new housing units and 5 million square-feet of commercial space.
Several businesses struggled to bring in customers through the construction phase, however, one small business owner said the QLine is what businesses have been waiting for.
"I want everyone to pay us a visit," said Miles Nelson of Praise Him Beauty Barber and Nail Salon on Woodward Avenue. "I know once the QLine is up and running, we'll attract more customers, new residents and we'll keep providing great services that we have in this neighborhood."
Eric Larson, CEO of Downtown Detroit Partnership, called the collaboration a formula for other projects around the community, and inclusive for people who are trying to make their way in the city of Detroit.
"This is the way we continue to think about working together as a community and continuing to build on the bricks and stones that have been laid in the street," Larson said.