We should never put our eggs in a federal basket. Speaking honestly, transportation projects will be one area to see more consistent cuts going forward. Also, it is unpredictable as to what projects federal money will favor. The Obama administration has sought to spend a great deal of money on "high speed rail" projects that I would argue serve massively fewer people than bus & light rail transit projects. Republicans will favor road funding or cuts. We should make plans with money we can raise in Michigan; if federal money comes, great. We can use it. You don't plan your home improvement projects on the assumption you'll inherit money when grandma kicks the bucket: you can't be sure when that will happen or that you'll be in the will. Federal money also tends to come with strings, such as with California High Speed Rail: they are planning* to build the most useless portion first to qualify for federal money. Mandating bad planning to get money is a horrendous way of making transit decisions and good reason to make your own plans.
*The project is not currently moving forward due to a court decision, and unlikely to proceed.
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