Regional Transit in Detroit: An Idea Whose Time Has Not Yet Come

"Regional transit for the Detroit area will have to wait," reports Eric. D Lawrence.

"The Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan board bowed Thursday to the reality of divisions between leaders in Macomb and Oakland counties and those in Washtenaw and Wayne counties and the City of Detroit and avoided a vote on whether to send a millage request to the ballot this year," adds Lawrence.

Negotiations for a new millage fee are expected to continue after voters consider a property tax for the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART). "Macomb and Oakland leaders raised concerns about confusion between an RTA vote and that 1-mill property tax measure. But transit supporters called that argument a red herring," according to Lawrence.

The article refers to the $5.4 billion, 20-year Connect Southeast Michigan, which grew out of earlier failed attempts at regional transit. Still, the idea of improving regional transit in and around Detroit will wait.