By: Matt Helms

Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

• The Legislature and Gov. Rick Snyder must approve legislation for a regional transportation authority, with control shared by Detroit and suburban counties.

Two state senators, Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba, and Bert Johnson, D-Highland Park, plan to introduce legislation early next year to do just that, with input from the Snyder administration.
• Decide on more stable funding for transit, and ask voters to approve it.

Property taxes have proven untenable for SMART, and Detroit says it can no longer afford to subsidize transit from its general fund. The solution may be a regional sales tax, said Megan Owens, executive director of the Detroit advocacy group Transportation Riders United.

The idea of a higher sales tax may seem dead on arrival in the current economy, but Owens said voters have shown strong support for transit taxes, knowing bus systems are critical for seniors, people with disabilities, low-wage workers and others unable to drive.
• Toss out old divisions that have crippled progress on regional transportation for 40 years.

Suburban leaders say they don't want to subsidize Detroit bus service. Detroit has resisted regional management for fear of losing control of its bus service and federal funding.

There are significant issues to be worked out. Detroit, for one, is saddled with tens of millions of pension and retiree obligations from DDOT, expenses suburban leaders say they will not take on.

It's not clear how Detroit's legacy costs will be resolved with the potential appointment of an emergency manager or some other state intervention.
Full story at: http://www.freep.com/article/2011121...-start-to-grow