M-1 Rail gets approval from Detroit City Council; Construction to begin in July

DETROIT – Detroit's M-1 Rail project is on track.

Project president and CEO Matt Cullen on Tuesday said the Detroit City Council unanimously approved operating agreements, meaning construction is scheduled to begin in July.

Cullen said more project details and a groundbreaking would be announced in the coming weeks.

Read full statement: M-1 approval statement

"It takes time to make history. M-1 RAIL is a public-private partnership that is unprecedented anywhere in the United States. The civic, philanthropic and business leadership that has come together to make M-1 RAIL a reality is a testament to the spirit of collaboration and perseverance that defines the City of Detroit," Cullen said in a statement.

About the project:

The 3.3-mile streetcar route will include 20 stations serving 12 locations and connect riders to key destinations along Woodward Avenue. The streetcar will serve curb-side stations for nearly the entire length of the route, transitioning to center-running at the north and south ends of the system.

  • Congress Street
  • Campus Martius
  • Grand Circus Park
  • Foxtown
  • Sibley Street
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
  • Canfield Street
  • Warren Avenue
  • Ferry Street
  • Amsterdam
  • Amtrak
  • West Grand Boulevard