Last-Minute Deal Salvages $4.65B Mass Transit Plan

Regional transit leaders put together an eleventh-hour deal Tuesday that means a funding proposal for a $4.65 billion plan to extend mass transit across southeast Michigan will likely go before voters on Nov. 8.

Objections by leaders in Oakland and Macomb counties had threatened to derail the plan, which will add bus lines, connect Detroit and Ann Arbor with rail and improve access to airport. Mass transit advocates say that plan addresses gaps that make it difficult for some residents to get to and from work school and other activities.

The plan being discussed requires voter approval of a millage rate of 1.2 mills for 20 years (2017-2036). The average homeowner would pay an additional $7.92 a month, or about $95 a month, to pay for the system. The owner of a $200,000 home would pay about $120 annually.

The Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan appeared to be at an impasse last week. Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel told the Detroit Free Press Tuesday that a deal had been reached, but declined to discuss them pending a final vote.

“I do believe we have something that's going to be satisfactory to all parties,” Hackel told the Free Press. “I do believe we have come up with a legitimate document for voters to decide on.”

Hackel had raised questions about the proposed governance structure, and wanted language requiring unanimous votes about funding and resource allocations, similar to the governing body of the Cobo Center, even if it requires legislative approval.

➤ Oakland, Macomb Objections Scuttle Regional Transit Vote
➤ County Execs Accused of Playing Politics on $4.65B Transit Plan
➤ RTA Falls Short of Votes Needed to Put Transit Funding on Ballot
➤ Why Did Execs in Oakland and Macomb Counties Derail Transit Plan? Tell Us

Hackel’s counterpart in Oakland County, L. Brooks Patterson said the plan “abandons more than half a million Oakland County residents in 40 of our communities, leaving them with little or no transit services but demanding they pay more than $700 million in taxes over 20 years,”

In a statement Tuesday, he said he is confident that differences have been ironed out.

“I am satisfied that the accord we reached today not only offers something for our 40 communities and over half a million residents previously left out of the transit plan, but also incorporates the necessary protections we were seeking for Oakland County taxpayers,” Patterson said. “I’m grateful to my regional counterparts who joined me in moving forward.”

The deal approved by the RTA also resolves “the omission of an auditing mechanism to demonstrate compliance with the 85 percent requirement in the RTA law which mandates that 85 percent of the taxes collected from a county are spent in that county on transit,” Patterson said.

“During our meeting today, the regional leaders agreed on language for both the transit plan and the RTA by-laws that addresses our main issues. Like President Reagan said when negotiating international agreements, we will ‘trust but verify,’ ” Patterson said. “Now, we are awaiting an opportunity to review the RTA’s ballot language to ensure it conforms to the agreement reached today.”

In a statement, Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans said he anticipates voters will be able to vote on the funding plan in November.

“While there are still minor concerns that must be addressed, our goal is to improve the public transit system in southeast Michigan,” Evans said. “The improved public transportation system that the RTA is proposing will build upon the progress that Detroit and Wayne County have made in the past few years, progress that has strengthened our region. With this plan everybody wins. I remain committed to work with regional leaders over the next several days to ensure we get this important issue across the finish line and to the ballot for a November vote.”

Image credit: Shutterstock