Metro downtowns working together on transit, other issues

The cities of Detroit, Hamtramck, Ferndale and Royal Oak have come together as the Motown’s Downtowns partnership in an unprecedented spirit of collaboration and goodwill. The partnership, managed by the non-profit City Connect Detroit, recently submitted a grant application to the State of Michigan for funding that would be used toward improving transit between Detroit Metropolitan Airport and the four Motown’s Downtowns.

The collaborative began meeting in March 2005, with meetings attended by representatives from each of the four cities. If funded, the two-year project intends to survey airport visitors, increase their familiarity with the downtowns, and develop transit choices that will facilitate visitor access to each of the Motown’s Downtowns.  

Regardless if the grant gets funded or not, the collaborative will continue to meet to explore opportunities for an overall improved regional coordination. “We’ve put politics aside — this is an economic development issue,” says Erik Tungate, director of community and economic development for the City of Hamtramck.

Source: Erik Tungate, director of community and economic development for the City of Hamtramck
Enjoy this story? Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.