Detroit Riverfront Railyard 1952

Ten years prior to the attached picture, Detroit was earning the name "Arsenal of Democracy". When this picture was taken in 1952 there were five different railroads that were using various parts of this location and Detroit was becoming known as the "Motor City". Fifty Nine years later this rail facility on the Detroit River front along with several others that were located in the Metro Detroit area do not exist. In 2012 Detroit has an opportunity to re-establish its railroad infrastructure, create untold numbers of jobs along with new industrial development. The formation of an international intermodal hub in Southeast Michigan will accomplish this and more.

The opportunity is at hand. Southeast Michigan has the one time chance to become the third partner that would include the "Port of Halifax" and the "Canadian National Railroad" to bring unit trains loaded with double stacks of ocean containers crossing the international border using our area as the distribution point for all of middle America. New foreign trade zones would be created. The construction of warehouse/distribution facilities to accommodate both the import of goods from overseas and the export of commodities to foreign lands. This could only revitalize Michigan's importance in the worlds global supply chain while relieving the rail and truck congestion that is currently experienced in the Chicago area. The mission of the "Great Lakes Global Freight Gateway" is to establish this area as an inland port.

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[PatrickTomaszewski10]

Canada will have FREE TRADE with the EU signed by the end of 2012 and FREE TRADE with India in 2013. Many ports in Atlantic Canada are preparing themselves for heavy traffic. Most US Atlantic ports are operating at capacity so most cargo will be coming in by Atlantic Canada.

Its also interesting to note that freight shipping in the great lakes is really declining as nobody builds cargo ships that could fit in the locks in the great lakes. Rail transport is really taking over.

[urbanecondetroit]

@PatrickTomaszewski10 Most definitely. Take a look at my video posted on my plumstreetmusic channel: "Great Lakes Freight Gateway." It is about a plan to partner with CN Rail to develop the corridor from Southeast MI to the deep water port at Halifax Nova Scotia.

[reddnec]

Well done with the map. I dont know where the money would come from, do you?

In the meantime lets farm that town.

[urbanecondetroit]

@reddnec I like the idea of urban farming on the scale of WWII Victory Gardens. The issues that concern me are the soil pollution and air polution. However, some people are experimenting with hydroponic agriculture inside the many abandoned industrial buildings.

[msu957]

That would be great....