REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY

Gas prices are through the roof around the U.S., and in Michigan, but the cost of using public transportation hasn’t changed. Most may not even realize the options that are available to them.

WESTLAND, Mich. – New plans are coming together for redevelopment of the old Eloise hospital property in Westland. The historic Eloise property was sold by Wayne County back in 2018 for just $1. John Hambrick, who purchased the property, pitched new plans to the Westland Planning Commission, which includes splitting the 16-acre property into five parcels to house a different use. History of EloiseThe Eloise began as the Wayne County Poorhouse, which opened in 1839 in the now defunct Nankin Township. Nankin was a part of Wayne County, originally named Bucklin Township, and it included what are now the cities of Livonia, Inkster, Dearborn, Redford, Wayne and Westland.

But theyre typically overseen by one transportation authority, just like our Regional Transit Authority. Over the last 100-plus years there have been many attempts to improve regional transit. A second transit report was submitted in 1917, which included a downtown subway system and a far reaching rapid transit system. Despite the warning that purchasing the streetcar system would leave no funds to build a rapid transit system, he pushed forward anyways. 2016 RTA PlanIn 2016 the first RTA plan to raise funds for regional transit went before voters.

Regular public transit between Detroit and Ann Arbor is sorely lacking. The Regional Transit Authority (RTA), which oversees transportation services across Southeast Michigans four counties, is looking to fill that gap. The RTA, in partnership with the Ann Arbor Area Transit Authority (TheRide), announced today that it will pilot a Detroit to Ann Arbor commuter bus in 2020. The RTA has also scheduled two public hearings to present and take comment on the new bus. Public comment period closes January 13.

A well-funded regional transit system has been a dream of certain leaders in Southeast Michigan for years. A new plan announced this week could make that goal more likely by excluding the areas most resistant partner: Macomb County. Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties could then propose a tax millage on the 2020 ballot to fund regional transit. The new plan does not involve the Regional Transit Authority, which has been working to update its own plan. Coulter, who succeeded Patterson as Oakland County Executive, is firmly behind regional transit.

DETROIT Getting around Detroit, you can use a car, a bus, the People Mover or the Q-Line, but theres a new push for more people to just use public transportation. Johnson said the Regional Transit Authority of Southeastern Michigan plans on doing that by asking more people to use public transportation and document the experience online. It was basically created to showcase the positive fun, sometimes quirky stories of the transit riders, Johnson said. Were really trying to put it in peoples minds, that public transportation is for you, Johnson said. Its less expensive to ride the bus as opposed to having a car, paying a car note and paying high car insurance.

After failing to pass a regional transit millage in 2016, the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) has unveiled its updated plan for Southeast Michigan. There would also be a commuter rail service between Ann Arbor and Detroit, an airport express line, and bus rapid transit along Woodward Avenue. Theres also some aspirational goals that call for an expansion of the commuter rail line to extend it all the way from Mount Clemens to Chelsea and a light rail line from downtown Detroit to Detroit Metro Airport. The RTA will first continue to engage with the public to advocate for the plan and hear suggested changes. The RTA will likely ask the Michigan Legislature to change its charter so that it can choose who to taxonly those that would receive service.

Voters in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw counties will decide on Regional Transit Authority funding at the polls next month. Our roundtable argues for and against funding. Plus -- how are voters supposed to decide among the 63 candidates vying for seven positions on the Detroit School Board? Guests this week include:Shaun Wilson Citizens for Connecting Our Communities