Joe Louis People Mover stop goes green with new roof

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