50 Officials Send Letter to Executive to Encourage Vote on Transit

50 Officials Send Letter to Executive to Encourage Vote on Transit
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Aug. 4, 2016)
Pontiac, MI – Last week members of the Regional Transit Authority Board from Oakland and Macomb Counties voted no to putting a regional transit plan on the ballot for voters to decide upon.  The plan would add many transportation options across Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and Washtenaw Counties.
Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel released statements with reasons they wanted their appointed representatives to block the vote, including that more services would be in Wayne County than in theirs.  Officials from various communities in Oakland County – including Ferndale, Royal Oak, Pontiac and Novi – have sent an open letter to Patterson in hopes of supporting a potential compromise that would make a vote possible.  Several publications have shared editorials encouraging the growth of transit in the region.
The Detroit Free Press has more information about a potential deal that could happen.  The RTA board is meeting Wednesday to vote. For more details see “Metro Detroit Leaders Reach Deal on Transit.”
Here is the letter:
Dear Executive Patterson and Deputy Director Poisson:
As elected leaders representing numerous Oakland County communities, we are raising our voices in unity in support of the Regional Transit Authority’s regional master plan and placing its accompanying millage proposal on the November 2016 ballot. We are encouraged by recent reports that you have come to an agreement that will meet your needs and expectations.  As a result, we fully expect the RTA board to vote to place the proposal on the ballot at its August 4^th special board meeting. We have advocated endlessly for the chance to see this vital improvement to truly connect our communities, grow our region’s shared economy and get workers to jobs, and support independence for seniors and those with disabilities. It’s time for county leadership to allow our residents to vote on rapid, reliable, and regional transit for our area.
Research and outcomes in other states have shown that some of most powerful drivers of regional growth that will benefit Oakland, Macomb, Wayne and Washtenaw counties are public transportation improvements. The regional master transit plan and millage have wide support from businesses, health and hospital systems, education institutions and nonprofits. Our residents have repeatedly asked us for better transit service that connects people to jobs, school and entertainment. Our future workforce wants it, businesses need it, and our seniors deserve it.
The regional master plan is a thoughtful, viable plan, which will effectively pivot the region from underfunding transit to adequately paying for enhanced transportation to connect east and west, city and suburb, and provide new, essential bus rapid transit along major corridors as well as rail service to the airport.
By blocking the proposal from even coming to a vote, the county is denying our citizens the chance to weigh in and preventing regional transit from going forward. To support a stronger, thriving region, we urge you to allow and direct your RTA appointees to vote putting the proposal’s language on the November 2016 ballot. Our county’s voters need and deserve to have their voices heard.
Sincerely,
Vincent Gregory, State Senate, District 11
Tim Greimel, State Representative, District 29
Jim Townsend, State Representative, District 26      
Robert Wittenberg, State Representative, District 27
Jeremy Moss, State Representative, District 35
Christine Greig, State Representative, District 37
Phil O’Dwyer, Mayor, City of Berkley
Steve Baker, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Berkley
Jack Blanchard, Council Member, City of Berkley
Colleen Graveline, Council Member, City of Berkley
Alan H. Kideckel, Council Member, City of Berkley
Eileen Steadman, Council Member, City of Berkley
Dan Terbrack, Council Member, City of Berkley
Michael Bridges, City Council, Farmington Hills
Randal Bruce, City Council, Farmington Hills
Theresa Rich, City Council, Farmington Hills
Samantha Steckloff, City Council, Farmington Hills
Dave Coulter, Mayor, Ferndale
Melanie Piana, Mayor Pro Tem, Ferndale
Greg Pawlica, Council Member, Ferndale
Raylon Leaks May, Council Member, Ferndale
Dan Martin, Council Member, Ferndale
Jan Parisi, Mayor, Hazel Park
Andy LeCureaux, Council Member, Hazel Park
Michael Webb, Council Member, Hazel Park
Jeff Keeton, Council Member, Hazel Park
Tom Selman, Council Member, Hazel Park
Bob Paul, Mayor, Huntington Woods
Joe Rozell, City Commissioner, Huntington Woods
Jeff Jenks, City Commissioner, Huntington Woods
Kelly Garrett, Mayor Pro Tem, Lathrup Village
Brian Hartwell, Mayor, Madison Heights
Andrew Mutch, City Council, Novi
Gwen Markham, City Council, Novi
Marian McClellan, Mayor, Oak Park
Carolyn Burns, City Council, Oak Park
Kiesha Speech, City Council, Oak Park
Andy Meisner, County Treasurer, Oakland
Helaine Zack, County Commissioner, Oakland
David Bowman, County Commissioner, Oakland
Gary McGillivray, County Commissioner, Oakland
Marcia Gershenson, County Commissioner, Oakland
Dave Woodward, County Commissioner, Oakland
Janet Jackson, County Commissioner, Oakland
Jim Nash, Water Resource Commissioner, Oakland
Kurt Metzger, Mayor, Pleasant Ridge
Ann Perry, City Commissioner, Pleasant Ridge
Bret Scott, City Commissioner, Pleasant Ridge
Deirdre Waterman, Mayor, Pontiac
Jim Ellison, Mayor, Royal Oak
Kyle Dubuc, City Commissioner, Royal Oak
Sharlan Douglas, City Commissioner, Royal Oak
Michael Fournier, City Commissioner, Royal Oak
Pat Paruch, City Commissioner, Royal Oak
Jeremy Mahle, City Commissioner, Royal Oak
Ellen Hodorek, City Council, Troy
Edna Abrahim, City Council, Troy
Jules Olsman, City Commissioner, Huntington Woods
For previous transit stories see: https://oaklandcounty115.com/?s=transit.

 
 

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