Fix A Road, Finance Rapid Transit In Michigan

Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm works with Republicans to break new ground on funding public transportation.

1 minute read

May 3, 2006, 10:00 AM PDT

By David Gest


"The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments is preparing to announce a preferred route and technology for a proposed Ann Arbor to Detroit transit line that is eligible for $100 million in federal funding. The organizers of Detroit's successful Super Bowl week in February are now prominent public transit advocates. Rising fuel prices have helped put alternatives to driving at the top of the list of public priorities in metropolitan Detroit."

"And late last month came the most significant sign yet that Michigan's resistance to rapid transit looks to be ending. On April 20, Democratic Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and the Republican leaders of the state House and Senate completed weeks of negotiation and reached a groundbreaking agreement on building roads and financing rapid transit. For the first time in Michigan's history, the governor and the lawmakers married rapid transit financing to road and highway construction. They agreed on an infrastructure development pact that views highways and transit as equally critical pieces of the state’s development strategy."

Thanks to Keith Schneider

Wednesday, May 3, 2006 in Michigan Land Use Institute

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