Mayor Mike Duggan has set his sights on the future mobility of Detroit, proposing an expansion of the city's People Mover to accommodate an increasing number of young professionals. While speaking at the Detroit Regional Chamber's annual Detroit Policy Conference, Duggan highlighted the need to re-envision the city's transit system, originally designed for a bygone era when a subway from Royal Oak or Pontiac was expected to materialize, as reported by The Detroit News.
"If the People Mover were to be built today, you'd be looking at these high-rises and you'd be connecting them to each other as a neighborhood," Duggan said. Furthermore, the mayor stated that the modification of the People Mover's routes is on the table to create a thriving downtown sector where residents can seamlessly live, work, and engage in leisure activities. Amidst this transit talk, he also disclosed a wage increase for bus drivers by $3 per hour and the introduction of paperless tickets for the city's bus system, as per The Detroit News.
Addressing Michigan's demographic and economic challenges, Duggan emphasized that Detroit is running low on large plots of land for manufacturing. This calls for a shift in economic development strategies, focusing instead on vertical construction to house future job sectors. Details of these plans were shared at the Detroit Policy Conference, where experts gathered to mull over recommendations by the Growing Michigan Together Council, as mentioned at DetroitYes.
The pivot toward transit overhauls and economic revitalization comes alongside Duggan's challenge to the Census Bureau's population counts for Detroit. Duggan remains insistent that the city's populace is on the rise despite figures suggesting otherwise, "There’s no doubt population is growing in Detroit. The Census Bureau is going to officially declare population is growing in Detroit," Duggan said. His confidence stems in part from the city's progress in reducing crime rates, with homicides hitting record lows not seen since 1966, according to Detroit Free Press.
Furthermore, the mayor is championing a solar initiative aimed at furnishing renewable energy to city-owned buildings and the planned University of Michigan Center for Innovation, which is expected to play a significant role in creating jobs and retaining talent. As Detroit gears up to showcase its vibrancy with the 2024 NFL draft, Duggan is committed to ensuring that the event serves the community at large, supporting local businesses, and showcasing the city's rejuvenated waterfront areas.
