The Q-Line is now in it’s test phase in Detroit.  Stretching from New Center to Downtown, and through midtown, this red and white painted piece of machinery has been the rave and talk of citizens for the past couple of years or so as construction began to make room for Detroit’s new ‘trolley’ train system.  However, admist all of the excitement, of course their is mixed opinions from the local community.

I for one, may be one of those citizens with mixed opinion.

For one, I was rather disappointed in the last fall’s election when the proposal to build regional transportation had failed by a rather large percentage. It seemed to reveal the underlying sentiment that Detroit would once again be forced to fend for itself, without true regional support; access to jobs outside the city would continue to be null for the majority of Detroit’s poorer and working class citizens looking to enhance their economic outlook with more reliable transportation options.

It should be mentioned also, that Detroit has twice over had a trolley system as a key component of the downtown landscape, once in the late 1800’s and also in the early- mid 20th century.  This is of note, because it is one of the other reasons as to why I was so perplexed to why the Q-Line was lauded as this ‘new Detroit’ feature, when it was actually more of the same.

“The more things change… the more they stay the same.”

When we think of what Detroit’s future looks like, considering all that Detroit has been through, especially in the past 30 years or so, I think that it is easy to be impressed by most things shiny.  When we look around, we see new businesses, bars, stores, restaurants and other exciting things being built and propped up all around us.  The Q-Line may potentially serve to connect all of that for us… the serve as the economic machine (literally) that can connect neighborhoods and businesses along Woodward.  Perhaps it isn’t so bad looking into the future with a sense of nostalgia.  However, I for one, still wait to be convinced.