From AnnArbor.com
State Sen. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor, joined today in announcing the introduction of a three-bill package to create a regional transit authority in Southeast Michigan.
Of the 41 largest metropolitan areas in the nation, the Metro Detroit region is the only one lacking a so-called RTA, Warren and other sponsors of the legislation said.
Without such a regional transit service, Warren said, Michigan is losing out on additional federal transit funds, making it a “donor state.”
Rebekah Warren
“Simply put, our tax dollars are financing economic investment in other states,” Warren said. “Studies show that for every dollar invested in mass transit, $4 to $8 is returned in economic development. We’ve missed out on this activity for far too long.”
The legislation has bipartisan support with Sen. Bert Johnson, D-Detroit, and Tom Casperson, R-Escanaba, joining as co-sponsors.