Light Rail Detroit-Ann Arbor

[franko]

Solar + Hydrogen Power Interstate Rail coming to Michigan!

by Mahesh Basantani

What do you get when you combine the innovation of MagLev technology with solar power, hydrogen fuel, and a futuristic aesthetic? The Interstate Traveler Hydrogen Super Highway, or the Traveler- a ground-breaking solar powered, hydrogen-fueled, zero emission mass transit system that would carry everything from people to cars in sustainable style and carbon neutral function. The construction is set to begin this year, and would connect Ann Arbor and Detroit.

The highway is made up of a slew of systems called the rail conduit cluster and will provide a comprehensive integrated system of the public/private transit system and municipal infrastructure network. It would serve as public transport system AND distribute electricity, potable water, liquid waste, fiber optics, hydrogen, oxygen, and fuels.

The public transit component would combine high speed magnetically levitated (MagLev, which we

[Gangway1111]

Um, can we keep this website strictly to projects that actually exist, and not just a very wet dream of a lot of Detroiters please. This kind of made up stuff only gets a lot of people mad.

Thanks.

[tracer1138]

Yeah, this proposal keeps popping up on various sites and seems to be little more than fantasy. I've been hearing about it for several years now and there doesn't appear to be any power behind it whatsoever. Kind of ugly too.

[wolverine]

I remember awhile back we had one of the people working behind this post here on U/P. Kind of stopped when we questioned some of the logistics behind this project.

[Michi]

The one good that came of this project is that there's evidence that creativity and innovation still ACTIVELY exist in Detroit!

[Jasoncw]

That's true!

[hudkina]

But the problem is the pessimism here will destroy that sense of creativity, and eventually they'll move on to Portland and build the prototype there...

[Michi]

Also a valid argument.

[wolverine]

Or we can save ourself from failure if it doesn't work at all....instead invest in mass transit technology that is more realistic

[monsoon]

There is no federal funding for this project. It isn't going to happen despite what that website says. Furthermore a cut and paste from another website onto this one is against our rules.

If you are interested to see what projects ARE funded by the federal government you can see the list here for 2009.

[tapezord]

Or we can save ourself from failure if it doesn't work at all....instead invest in mass transit technology that is more realistic

[wolverine]

^ Thank you for joining us Detroit People Mover. Thank you for NOT accepting federal funding to become whole. Way to set an example lol!

[hudkina]

I still think the People Mover should be updated and expanded. I don't see how it can be that much more expensive than tearing up the streets and building light rail. Afterall, it's just a bunch of concrete. I know the current DPM technology is outdated, but couldn't they just use the current loop and put a more modern system on it? Hell, they can steal the idea of using it for secondary uses such as utilities, etc.

[Michi]

^That's my argument. Get funding to update the technology, expand the PM to match the plans for street right-of-way light rail and badda bing, we have elevated light rail right-of-way strictly for the interrupted passage of trains.

[monsoon]

You can use more traditional forms of transit to feed the People Mover. This is what is done in Miami.

[tapezord]

^That's my argument. Get funding to update the technology, expand the PM to match the plans for street right-of-way light rail and badda bing, we have elevated light rail right-of-way strictly for the interrupted passage of trains.