A Regional Transit Forum was held Wednesday night at the Freighthouse in Ypsilanti. The event was hosted by The League of Women Voters of the Ann Arbor Area. The goal of the event was to inform the public in regard to RTA plans to develop, broaden, and connect public transportation in Southeast Michigan. This plan also includes regional rail that would connect Ann Arbor and Detroit with rail service on a daily level.
The regional transit plan would connect Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties with regional transit, as well as the development of rail service connecting Ann Arbor to Detroit, thus, greatly improving regional transit.
Michael Ford, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan, addressed the roughly 35 people attending the event this evening. He showed a video and and presented information describing the new transit development plans. Ford emphasized the need people have of getting to their jobs. Ford also spoke of issues facing Regional Transit such as service lines that are too low, infrequent service, service that does not run across the region, difficult transfers, and varying quality.
The implementation of these changes and enhancements will require the passage of a millage at a rate of 1.2 mills which is a $1.20 property tax for every $1,000 of taxable value, which comes to an average of $8.00 a month. This according to a Regional Transit System Map hand out.
This certainly sounds like a good and necessary plan to me. These days the more connection we can build the better.
Jeff Brown
Editor/Publisher
Purple Walrus Press.
 |
| Regional Transit Authority Chief Executive Officer Michael Ford speaking at the Ypsi Freighthouse. |
No comments:
Post a Comment