Unless you're standing on the roof of Joe Louis Arena, you wouldn't likely notice the new roof at its
Detroit People Mover
stop. But it's notable because it is far from just a replacement;
instead, the Detroit Transportation Corp., the railway's
owner/operator, decided to go with a green roof.
The timing was
right to take on such a project, as the DPM is currently closed for one
month for track repairs. The closure is also affording maintenance to
be done on the trains themselves.
The pros for the green roof
are several: environmentally, the roof absorbs rainwater, it requires
little upkeep after two years of watering and it lasts double the
20-year lifespan of a metal roof. The only downside is a higher initial
construction cost. "We're in pretty good shape: its short-term expense
is perhaps a little bit more, but in the long run we get twice as much
usage," says DPM manager Dennis Green.
The People Mover reopens August 18.
Source: Dennis Green, DPM
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
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