The Detroit People Mover will shut down for 11 weeks after Labor Day to replace sections of track that are original to the 37-year-old system, according to a recent announcement.
The system, which is free to ride at least through the end of next year, is expected to reopen before Thanksgiving, and the Detroit Transportation Corp., the entity that oversees the system, has scheduled in-person and virtual public hearings July 25 and 30.
The almost $5 million project, which is to be covered through state and federal grants, is part of the elevated transit system's maintenance program and is the third such replacement in the People Mover's history, although the first involving these specific areas. An additional rail replacement is expected in the next five or more years, according to the fact sheet.
In addition to extending the life of the infrastructure, the track replacement should mean "a smoother and quieter ride" in the future, the fact sheet said.
Closing the system, rather than doing the work during overnight hours, for instance, is planned because of the complexity of the process.
"The rail will be cut and removed with a street-mounted crane. The new rail will then be moved into position for installations and welded into place and smoothed out. Additional measurements afterward will confirm the results and ensure a smooth ride," according to a fact sheet.
About 20% of the track on the 2.9-mile loop is to be replaced. That's almost 7,000 feet of rail on nine curves and adjacent connecting straight track, the fact sheet said.
The sheet lists these approximate areas for the work:
- Beaubien at Lafayette (Bricktown, Greektown)
- Beaubien and Macomb Street from Monroe around to Randolph (Bricktown, Greektown, and Cadillac Center)
- Park from Woodward to Washington (Grand Circus Park)
- Bagley near Clifford (Times Square)
- Cass near Lafayette (Michigan)
- Atwater and Hart Plaza from RiverWalk to across M-10/Lodge and Jefferson (Financial District)
- Jefferson and Beaubien from Randolph around to Larned (Millender, Renaissance Center)
Here are details on the public hearings, according to a news release:
July 25 public hearing:
In-person: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Huntington Place, Room 313 A/BVirtual: 6-7:30 p.m. via Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81599163350?pwd=UxFUwVnYjSY1jDHwfbwavaET5Oudf8.1or via phone: 646-931-3860 or 929-205-6099 USMeeting ID: 815 9916 3350Passcode: 330047
July 30 public hearing:
In-person: 4:30-6 p.m. Huntington Place, Room 313 A/BVirtual: 10:30 a.m.-noon via Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81235148854?pwd=Ahw3Ya2TDjN3yvp57Ch9ioViau9y0H.1or via phone 309-205-3325 US or 312-626-6799 USMeeting ID: 812 3514 8854Passcode: 131671
"These public hearings are a great way for residents and businesses to provide input which helps us make the system even better when service restarts for Thanksgiving," General Manager Robert Cramer said in the release.
Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.
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