1.2 Mill Proposal to go on Nov. 8 Ballot for “Rapid, Reliable, Regional” Transit
(Crystal A. Proxmire, June 1, 2016)
Southfield, MI – The RTA unveiled their Regional Master Transit Plan on Tuesday, including information on a proposed 1.2 mill tax to fund it.  Voters in Oakland, Macomb, Wayne and Washtenaw Counties will have their say on Nov. 8.
The proposed 20 year millage would bring $2.9 billion to the $4.6 billion project, at a cost of about $7.92 per month ($95/year) for the average home (based on $78,000 average assessed home value).
The plan calls for current transit operators to work together, creating a seamless payment system and coordinated routes and schedules.  Components of the system include:
~Bus Rapid Transit along Woodward, Gratiot, Michigan Ave. to the Detroit Metro Airport, and Washtenaw Avenue between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.
~Regional Rail to connect Ann Arbor, Ypsillanit, Wayne, Dearborn and Detroit New Center. This connects to the Amtrak service that already exists between Pontiac and Detroit, and that extends West beyond Ann Arbor to Chicago.
~Cross-County Connector bus routes.
~Commuter Express Routes including along M-59 and I-75 from Detroit to Auburn Hills.
~Airport Express service will provide express service to Detroit Metro Airport
~New and expanded local bus services
The lack of transit that is “rapid, reliable, and regional” has long been a concern, not only for those who want to connect workers and employers, but for that many other segments of the population who would chose transit if it were rapid, reliable and went where they needed to be.
In 2014, Southeast Michigan spent $69 per capita on transit operations. That compares to $119 per capita in Atlanta, $177 per capita in Cleveland, $232 per capita in Pittsburg, and $471 per capita in Seattle.
Learn more about the plan at http://www.rtamichigan.org/.
Download the Executive Summary at http://www.rtamichigan.org/wp-content/uploads/RMTP_ExecutiveSummary_web.pdf.