Boondoggle in the Motor City: Detroit's Train to Nowhere

[BrentWil]

Run time: 05:48 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld05-5OOLRg   Posted on YouTube: October 13, 2010 By YouTube Member: ReasonTV Views on YouTube: 27385   Posted on DU: October 18, 2010 By DU Member: BrentWil Views on DU: 490

 
While the source of the video may be questionable, I really can't argue with the point. Right now, does detroit REALLY need a train down an abandoned street? I mean, 500 million?

[handmade34]

1. well,

that was interesting.

"...the rail didn't build Manhattan, Manhattan built the rail..." chicken or the egg??

[BrentWil]

2. Well, I think the video got the direction right...

The economic development of Manhattan was not caused by the the subway. It helped the city later on, but the first thing you need is a city that is alive.

[handmade34]

3. I used to own a business

in a small town in Vermont... I argued with the town... they were spending lots of money on a 'come and visit us' campaign and I suggested that maybe we needed to create a little something better to come visit first... I lost, and the campaign was a waste of money.

I am originally from Michigan and I have seen first hand the downfall of the state... I will be working in Detroit for 3 weeks, starting Nov. 12 and expect to get an even closer look. I do know that they have been talking up "urban homesteading" and I think that is a good message to build on.

[BrentWil]

4. I would be very interested in how busy this street is and how much the current train is used

This could very well be a one sided video. However, I have been there to Detroit. If you are going to help the city, I could think of a few things before a train that costs 500m.

[JohnnyCougar]

5. Very misleading

While it may or may not be the right thing for Detroit, recent commuter rail lines in Charlotte and Minneapolis did spur enormous economic development along the rail corridors they were put in.

That video does a good job of casually dismissing the prospect of commuter rail building a city without offering any reasoning behind it. Which is ironic, since it seems to be part of "Reason TV". Instead of producing evidence, the video's main objective seems to be to cynically and unjustly poke fun at intellectuals. That's not an effort grounded in reason; it's an effort grounded in cynicism.

[BrentWil]

6. I disagree...

The editors clearly state that in certain cases it makes sense. However, it doesn't make sense to build it to a dead city. The basics have to come first. Charlotte, for example, has been booming since the 90s. Providing a rail service to a city like that makes sense. Detroit needs to go the basics.

[BrentWil]

7. I found this interesting...

Just want to see if anyone else wants to talk about it?