$180 Million QLine Project Nearly Complete

One of the most exciting developments in Metro Detroit has real estate investors spending billions of dollars in the acquisition of properties on and along Woodward Avenue. With hopes that they will catch the wave of the Detroit Comeback, investors are purchasing properties in developing communities that hold promise of advancement and eventual appreciation.

The QLine, formally referred to as the “M1(Woodward) Rail” is a 3.3 mile stretch off a streetcar loop that will connect many communities in Detroit and eventually the suburbs of the city. The QLine has local businesses and residents excited for the future, as the rail line will provide opportunities for cultural growth, the growth of restaurants in the area and the ability for individuals working in the city to efficiently make trips in and out of the downtown district.

The project has been in the works for almost 8 years now, and has racked up a bill of $140 million. The total estimated cost for the project is close to $180 million, with all the funds already accounted for. The money has come through public and private funds, with Dan Gilbert leading the pack, and also winning the rights to name the rail after one of his most successful locally-ran ventures, Quicken Loans. The construction on the rail is very close to its conclusion, with a kickoff date for the first official ride of the rail slated to be in 2017.

Leaders of the QLine development hope that it will provide further stability to the local growing economy similar to projects in San Francisco, Chicago, and New York City. In 25 years, the rail is expected to reach as far north as Royal Oak, a popular suburb among the local millennial and college population.

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