Detroit -- The Detroit City Council today passed a resolution to support regional mass transit.
The council, by a 6-3 vote, urged the creation of a Regional Transit Authority. Some see it as the first move toward starting the conversation on finding a dedicated source for mass transit in the region.
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It's a huge step in the final outcome because Detroit can't fund light rail or a regional system [[alone)," Council President Pro Tem Gary Brown said. "The money has to come from the region. This is the first step in getting the region talking about getting the funding in Michigan." Wayne and Macomb counties have passed similar measures, Brown said. Council members JoAnn Watson, Brenda Jones and Kwame Kenyatta opposed the resolution.

"I wholeheartedly support the spirit of the resolution to finally move decidedly toward the establishment of a regional transit system for the Metro Detroit region," Kenyatta said in a released statement. "The need has never been more necessary to support the 33 [[percent) of Detroit residents who must secure transpiration without access to a vehicle of their own.
"[[But) I could not ignore the gaping holes...to the essential elements covering governance and funding."


From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110927/...#ixzz1ZVaIrfZD