Regional Transit Authority?

[rbdetsport]

In recent articles, Hertel is quoted as saying that there will be a bill introduced in the state legislature and signed by Granholm in regards to creating the regional transit authority by the end of the year. The reason for rushing the plan through would be so the region could be under the next reinstatement of the national transportation bill. Has anyone heard anything on this? Hopefully it will get through before the legislature ends for the year.

[Gsgeorge]

Please god, let this happen. If the tri-county area & state knows what's good for it, combining SMART, DDOT, and other local transit authorities into one larger body is the best thing it could do.

[Novine]

Been paying attention to the pace of progress in Lansing? It's a miracle if anything gets done up there these days.

[Detroitnerd]

Been paying attention to the pace of progress in Lansing? It's a miracle if anything gets done up there these days.

Q: Why don't politicians look out the window in the morning in Lansing?

A: Because then they'd have nothing to do all afternoon.

[Novine]

I had to share this for all of the light rail haters.

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_13896363

[Detroitnerd]

I had to share this for all of the light rail haters.

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_13896363

I find it ironic that most of the people here who people hate on the idea of light rail are right-wing. And yet, in right-wing-friendly areas like SLC, they build light rail no problem, consider it a crowning success.

[dtowncitylover]

I had to share this for all of the light rail haters.

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_13896363

I don't think any of us are "haters", but some are more about how the light rail and/or commuter rail projects are going to get paid. But in the end, it really does pay for itself.

[ghettopalmetto]

I don't think any of us are "haters", but some are more about how the light rail and/or commuter rail projects are going to get paid. But in the end, it really does pay for itself.

Yet those same people never question how roadwork is paid for. They're under the illusion that the gas tax covers all the costs of building roads, which, if that were the case, wouldn't that imply there wouldn't be any sort of backlog of roadwork to be performed?

[Danny]

RTA WILL NOT HAPPEN! Too much bureaucracy and economic red tape.

[dtowncitylover]

RTA WILL NOT HAPPEN! Too much bureaucracy and economic red tape.

This isn't 1989. It's 2009. Those arguements are archaic. A RTA must happen in order to more cost-effective and if we want to become a better region. I think politicians and us citizens are realizing this, though mass transit probably isn't on the average person's mind daily.

[Russix]

TRAX's starter line was 15-miles with 16-stops. Ours is 3.4-miles with 12 stops. Can we expect the similar success of TRAX? no

[Tig3rzhark]

TRAX's starter line was 15-miles with 16-stops. Ours is 3.4-miles with 12 stops. Can we expect the similar success of TRAX? no

The starter line would have to extend to Pontiac which probably won't happen as long as L. Brooks Patterson is still Oakland County Executive.

[casscorridor]

TRAX's starter line was 15-miles with 16-stops. Ours is 3.4-miles with 12 stops. Can we expect the similar success of TRAX? no

Different system with different purposes. I dont think light-rail can fufill our suburban commuting needs... commuter rail is better. Light-rail is best with stations close together, fequent trips [[every 5-7 min?), and high speeds. I think the station spacing proposed for woodward is good. It'll be successful

[stasu1213]

As long as the Governor and local politicians are controlled by the union we will never see a regional transit authority. I think Granholm is going to ride on our assumptions until she leaves office in 2011 and continue to lead us on by false promises.