WHAT:  Stakeholder Forum on Regional Transit Authority (RTA) and rapid transit proposals
WHEN: Friday, March 9, 2012
WHERE:  Romulus Athletic  Center, 35765 Northline Road, Romulus, MI 48174.

The Southeast Michigan Caucus is sponsoring this forum.
Registration at 8:30am, program 9am to noon.
Please R.S.V.P. to Alex Fike at afike@house.mi.gov or (517) 373-3818.

The package of bills to establish the RTA (SB 909, 911, 912)  has been introduced in the state Senate and appears to be on a fast track. Those of you in the Metro Detroit region have an excellent opportunity in this stakeholder forum to get a running start on efforts to get this legislation passed. I hope you will make every effort to attend to learn what is in the legislation and to lend your voices to the discussion.

MARP, as a founding partner of  the Transportation for Michigan coalition (Trans4M), is fully committed to doing all we can to advance the issues that Trans4M has chosen to pursue in the near term: (1) establish a Regional Transit Authority for the 4-county area of SE Michigan (Wayne, Washtenaw, Oakland, Macomb); (2) increase funding for transportation needs in Michigan.

Trans4M will also be working to (3) implement the Complete Streets legislation passed in 2011 that envisions streets that are accessible and safe for all user (vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians), and (4) establish a state infrastructure bank to help meet rail needs among others.