Bus rapid transit system could boost metro Detroit, experts say

[professorscott]

The money pie is only so big and its not growing, its shrinking in many ways.

Good point, 'Planner, and in order for us to be able to do anything, we have to figure out how to bake our own money pie. One of the reasons transit is so thin here is that Uncle Sugar allocates money to regions based on, among other things, regional match and regional cooperation. In the past, we've been weak on both counts. We do have the opportunity right now, this moment, to somewhat fix both.

[antongast]

We do have the opportunity right now, this moment, to somewhat fix both.

Can you elaborate?

[DetroitPlanner]

Can you elaborate?

There are a series of bills going through the State Legislature that will hopefully improve how things are operated and funded in regards to transportation. These vary from a wide range of issues such as why locals can't raise thier own taxes through other means than millages to dedicate to transportation to why a mile of road that gets a lot of traffic in an urban area gets the same amount of funding as say a road in the UP. Also included is an RTA and a revision to how gasoline is taxed. Currently gasoline taxes have remained at 19 cents per gallon since the mid 1990's while inflation has eaten up its buying power. Remember this is used for buying stuff like fuel for buses or buying buses. Back in the Mid 1990's gas was selling for no more than a buck and a half a gallon, busses cost $200k. New buses with hybrid or bio features or CNG can cost $400k on up. We are falling behind and out transit and roads reflect this.
http://www.semcog.org/LegislativeIss...tionBills.aspx