May 24, 2017

Midtown mobility on the move

Recent mobility initiatives — including the QLINE streetcar and the MoGo public bike share system — are making it easier than ever for Wayne State students to get around Midtown and beyond. As a partner in both projects, Wayne State furthers its long-term commitment to the city and its ongoing revitalization.

Both the QLINE and MoGo offer convenient ways for students to commute and connect across WSU’s expanding campus, which now spans from TechTown and the Integrated Biosciences Center in New Center to the main and medical campuses in Midtown and to the Mike Ilitch School of Business in The District Detroit.

“Wayne State is committed to being a multimodal campus,” said Emily Thompson, senior project administrator with Wayne State’s Office of Economic Development. “The QLINE and MoGo — along with DDOT, Zipcar and our own shuttles — provide another way for our students and employees to get around our campus and neighborhood and to access the many resources downtown.”

The QLINE, which opened May 12, travels a 6.6-mile loop along Woodward from the New Center district to downtown. There are 12 stops — including two WSU stops at Warren Avenue and Ferry Street — that are located near some of Detroit’s landmarks, including the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Detroit Public Library, the Detroit Medical Center, Comerica Park and Ford Field, and the Fox Theatre and Campus Martius. The QLINE’s highly anticipated launch has been well received, with M-1 Rail officials reporting 50,000 riders during its first weekend.

The fleet of streetcars — the first of its kind in Detroit since 1956 — is owned and operated by the M-1 Rail and was made possible by a diverse group of donors and partners, including a $3 million investment from Wayne State. M-1 Rail will offer free rides through June 30, after which a variety of hourly, monthly and annual ticket options are available for purchase. Streetcars are equipped with heating, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and bike storage, and are monitored by an on-board camera system.

For those looking to travel shorter distances or get some exercise, Detroit’s first public bike share system — known as MoGo — launched May 23. MoGo — named to honor Detroit’s Motor City history and its mobility future — started as a feasibility study led by WSU’s Office of Economic Development in 2012. That study, funded by WSU and local partners, served as a road map to implement the bike share program, which is now a nonprofit affiliate of the Downtown Detroit Partnership.

MoGo includes 430 bicycles that can be rented and returned at any of 43 stations across the city, including on campus. Passes — either daily, annual, or for a 30-minute period — can be purchased online or via a mobile app. WSU has partnered with MoGo to offer discounted annual passes to members of the Wayne State community. To take advantage of the offer, enter your WSU email address and the code “Warriors” during registration.

“We’ve already seen that these initiatives are spurring development,” Thompson said. “We look forward to seeing additional growth and the benefits that these initiatives will bring to our campus and community.”

To learn more about other exciting projects and Wayne State University’s Office of Economic Development, visit economicdevelopment.wayne.edu. Additional information is also available about the QLINE and MoGo.