Southeast Michigan voters will be asked Nov. 8 to consider a millage on the ballot to support coordinated and expanded public transportation services in Southeast Michigan.
In August, the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan put forward a master plan designed to enhance regional transit while expanding access to jobs, health care and education. Enhanced mass transit opportunities also aim to aid the region in reducing energy consumption and its impact on the environment.
The RTA is asking for a 1.2-mill property tax levy, equal to a $1.20 in tax for every $1,000 of a home’s taxable value, in Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw and Wayne counties.
“I believe the creation of a regional transit system for Southeast Michigan, including the coordination of existing services and the strategic implementation of new services, could improve the connectivity between the Ann Arbor campus and U-M medical centers with the rest of the Southeast Michigan region, which would benefit the university community and our patients. In addition, I recognize the health and environmental sustainability values of mass transit,” says President Mark Schlissel.
Under the plan, thousands of U-M employees in eastern Washtenaw County and western Wayne County communities could have new rapid-transit options coming into Ann Arbor.
There also are approximately 1.6 million patient visits to U-M hospitals and medical centers a year from the four counties.
The plan includes the following for Washtenaw County:
• Bus rapid transit along Washtenaw Avenue.
• Ann Arbor-to-Detroit regional rail service that delivers a rapid transit link between Washtenaw and Wayne counties.
• Commuter express service connecting Ann Arbor, Plymouth and Livonia, and expanded service between Ann Arbor and Canton.
• Airport shuttle express stops in Ypsilanti, as well as Ann Arbor.
The plan was developed after more than two years of work including more than 130 meetings with the public.
According to the RTA, the plan supports nearly 68,000 new jobs in the region and connects 1.1 million residents in the region to 1 million jobs, 22 hospitals, 23 colleges, 310 schools and more.
Todd Austin
Details of the plan are available at http://www.rtamichigan.org/masterplan/