Should the Regional Transit Authority leave those behind that don't want transit?

**313WX** · May-19-17, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by Tig3rzhark

It looks like there's going to be a war between Amtrak, and all of the freight train companies to get a commuter rail project started.

Considering the history of the metro Detroit's politics, I'm pretty realistic that it may take many years for such a project to happen.

Politics in Oakland and Macomb county would have to change for the better and the only chance we have for it to change to support the RTA, would be to play at the construction projects and the years of long traffic that are on the horizon. We could play at the reality that should the RTA's proposal fail a second time even with some modifications to satisfy these counties, that their future will be spent waiting in long traffic for the next 12 years.

The reality is we must change the way we look at mass transit and our commuting pattern.

After 40+ years of unprecedented collective economic disvestment, part of the problem with building a rapid transit system in Detroit is that [[relative to other metro areas) you have a very small share of workers commuting to a specific center of employment [[this hurt our census numbers compared to places like Atlanta or Houston as well, but that's a different topic). In fact, until Dan Gilbert located his umbrella of companies downtown, the city would witness a net decline in daytime population.

When you have one huge group of workes going to Troy, another huge group going to Auburn Hills, another huge group going to Southfield, another huge group going to Warren and another huge group going to Dearborn, you have to convince all of these individuals how strategically built transit lines in/out of Detroit will benefit them.

However, the fact is is even if people eventually get pissed off at the sheer amount of construction traffic they must sit in, it would simply be unrealistic [[and unaffordable) to invest in rapid transit lines that takes everyone to the front door of their office parks in these suburban micro centers.

**O3H** · May-20-17, 02:23 PM

Drive 12 Mile right in front of General Motors in Warren
Your car will bounce rattle and shimmy like on a dirt road.
Motor Capital of complete crap infrastructure and transit.

Germany has 300 km/h trains running regularly
http://www.eurail.com/en/europe-by-t...eed-trains/ice

The ICE connects 32 major cities in Europe

We are are the laughing stock of the entire world....and still don't understand
other countries are mocking us, ridiculing us, and making jokes about us.

We just plain suck, and are in last place for the public transit sector

http://www.eurail.com/en/europe-by-t...h-speed-trains

**Tig3rzhark** · May-20-17, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by O3H

Drive 12 Mile right in front of General Motors in Warren
Your car will bounce rattle and shimmy like on a dirt road.
Motor Capital of complete crap infrastructure and transit.

Germany has 300 km/h trains running regularly
http://www.eurail.com/en/europe-by-t...eed-trains/ice

The ICE connects 32 major cities in Europe

We are are the laughing stock of the entire world....and still don't understand
other countries are mocking us, ridiculing us, and making jokes about us.

We just plain suck, and are in last place for the public transit sector

http://www.eurail.com/en/europe-by-t...h-speed-trains

Sadly, I'd have to agree. This metro area has a long way to go. I question whether I'll live long enough for the city to wake up and play catch-up.

**Danny** · May-21-17, 09:28 AM

We have to wait and see when 2018 RTA millage can do.

The first millage didn't pass in Macomb County for these reasons:

1. Folks who live in ex-urban regions who do not rely on SMART bus transportation do not want to pay $100 a year out of the pocket.

The tax levies need to balance to the point that people the pay up to $20.00 a year and rally for more state, local and federal dollars.

2. The manager of RTA millage rally is lolly gagging on special business trips out of taxpayers expanse!

3. There were some people who support and rally on the RTA did not give any answers why RTA routs are so important.

There are some exotic businesses and jobs out in the suburbs that people want to go to work, play and hang out with their families and friends.

Until the tax levies goes down and more funding is needed. The RTA millage will be dead in the water by 2018. But the RTA will still be going. A Regional Transit System without new bus routes.

BTW. Detroit is not Chicago, New York City, L.A. or Toronto.
It's starting to look Little Seattle with two people movers.