Mass-transit plan may be delayed b/c of Detroit

[leland_palmer]

Crain's Detroit Business
Bill Shea

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article...UB01/306219932

A June 30 deadline for a vote on the next step for a regional mass transit plan may pass because Detroit hasn't appointed anyone to negotiate for the city with the project's organizers.

The Big 4 set a June 30 deadline for Hertel to research and recommend a governance plan for the transit system. That includes identifying how other transit systems are run and how their oversight boards are appointed or elected, how many members those boards have and what powers they retain.

The research is done and Hertel has two options he plans to recommend, but there must be consensus on the recommendations prior to a vote by the Big 4, he said. No vote will be scheduled until all four entities agree.

Hertel said he's has been talking with Charlie Beckham, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing's chief administrative officer, about getting someone in place to negotiate, but nothing's happened.

It was understood going into the process that it would take some time for Detroit to have a negotiator in place because of the city's two elections in the wake of Kwame Kilpatrick's resignation as mayor, Hertel said, but it's been nearly two months since Bing was elected.

“We have not been able to talk to Detroit sooner because of the election,� Hertel said. “I know there are a lot of things they've got on their plate, but that person still has not been identified. I am getting concerned about it. Things have been progressing with the three counties.�