At the Regional Transit Awards dinner May 21, we will recognize and celebrate the hard work and dedication of some truly extrodinary people.  Please join us in congratulating these people and project for their efforts to improve Detroit area transit!! 

Nominees for Forward Motion Award for Most Effective Public Servant: 

• Ray LaHood, Secretary of the US Dept of Transportation
• Melissa Roy, Assistant Macomb County Executive 
• Dennis Schornack, Senior Strategic Advisor to Governor Snyder
• Conan Smith, former Chair of the Washtenaw County Commission

 Nominees for Unsung Hero Award: 

• Code for America, creators of the DOT text-my-bus schedule information system
• Marie Donigan, former State Legislator and longtime transit advocate
• John Swatosh, Deputy General Manager at SMART, formerly at RTCC
• Laura Trudeau, Detroit Program Manager for the Kresge Foundation

 Nominees for Corporate Transit Champion:

• Andy Basile, Jr.
• Andy Didorosi, founder of the Detroit Bus Company
• Michele Hodges, former Director of the Troy Chamber of Commerce
• Indian Trails

Nominees for Transit Employee of the Year:

• Michael Childs, hardworking friendly and effective DDOT driver
• Ron Freeland, DDOT Interim Director
• Barbara Hansen, longtime Director of the Detroit People Mover
• Larry Tiller, DDOT Scheduling Manager

Nominees for Exemplary Innovation Award:

• AirRide (Ann Arbor Transportation Authority)
• Evol Johnson-Winter, creator of "Stop 313" iPhone app 
• Detroit Bus Company
• Freshwater Transit

Nominees for Citizen Activist of the Year:

• Joel Batterman
• Neil Greenberg
• Cindy Reese
• Daniel Duane Spyker

Join us at the Regional Transit Awards dinner on May 21 to find out which nominee will win the award for each category!  Buy your tickets today (RSVP deadline extended)!

There are many people working hard on great efforts to provide more and better transit for greater Detroit. Help us recognize them at:

The Regional Transit Awards

TRU's Annual Fundraising Dinner

More meetings on the Woodward Rapid Transit Alternatives Analysis:

After extensive analysis and community input, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) has emerged as the preferred modal option for rapid transit along Woodward.

Don't miss your chance to learn more about BRT and how it was chosen. Give your input on BRT routes, potential station locations and on local feeder bus routes. Come to any of these meetings (same info at each): 

• This Tuesday, April 23, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
  Detroit Public Library, Main Branch, 5201 Woodward Ave., Detroit, 48202
• This Thursday, April 25, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
  Berkley Community Center, 2400 Robina Ave., Berkley, 48072
• Sat., April 27, 11 am to 1 pm
  Detroit Public Library, Main Branch, 5201 Woodward Ave., Detroit, 48202
• Tues., April 30, 6 pm to 8 pm
  Manresa Jesuit Retreat House, 1390 Quarton Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48304

Background:
SEMCOG is conducting the Woodward Avenue Rapid Transit Alternatives Analysis (AA) project to review rapid transit options for a 27-mile corridor along Woodward Avenue from downtown Detroit to downtown Pontiac. The AA process will take a comprehensive look at regional mobility needs in southeast Michigan and guide the alternatives discussion through a streamlined environmental review process. The Woodward corridor is the first of four corridors mentioned in the governor's recent proposal for a new regional transit authority and bus rapid transit system for a 113-mile regional transit network. The AA phase will be completed in early 2014.

Grand Rapids broke ground last week on the state's first new Rapid Transit project - the Silver Line!!

All the dignitaries were present, highlighted by Governor Rick Snyder. Check out the coverage at all our media outlets:

• Grand Rapids Press / MLive: At emotional ceremony for Grand Rapids' $40M bus rapid transit line, officials look to future
• WOOD-TV: Rapid breaking ground on Silver Line
• WZZM:  Rapid breaks ground on Silver Line

Southeast Michigan's Regional Transit Authority is finally here!!

Thanks so much to everyone who helped welcome the first official RTA Board meeting on Wednesday!  Our march, "birthday party" press event, and meeting testimony all went wonderfully.

Dozens of regional transit supporters from all across the four-county region braved the rain to march from Rosa Parks Transit Center to Campus Martius with signs, balloons, songs, and chants. 

We then took over the SEMCOG lobby for a powerful and diverse set of statements of why regional transit improvement is so important. 

We then delivered a birthday card and cake to the new RTA Board members to celebrate this great new era in regional transit!  Joel Batterman even wrote a song for the occasion: 

"Oh the Motor City region did once teach the world to drive
But today too many of us lack the wheels to survive
A fresh new birth of transit will help all of us to thrive
And we’ll all go riding on. . . "

The actual business of the RTA's first meeting was a bit anticlimactic after all our fun, but they did develop committees, discuss the Citizen's Advisory Committee, and listen to strong public testimony.  They have lots of administrative business to do, but clearly got the message that the public is paying close attention and we expect to be actively involved throughout!

Check out some of the media coverage and other summaries of the event:

• Detroit Free Press: "Transit advocates celebrate as regional authority gets to work" (article and great video summary) 
• MLive: "Praise for birth of Metro Detroit's Regional Transit Authority mixed with concern for Fair Grounds site at first meeting" (article plus great photo slideshow and videos)
• Trans4M blog: "Happy Birthday RTA! :: Trans4M Celebrates Birth of Regional Transit Authority at First Meeting"
• Michigan NOW:  "Loving Detroit But Leaving It If No Transit Built"
• HuffPost Detroit:  "Michigan Regional Transit Authority Board Holds Optimistic First Meeting"
• Michigan Radio:  "Southeast Michigan's Regional Transit Authority holds first meeting"
• Crain's Detroit Business:  "RTA board sets structure, appoints counsel in first meeting"

 Stay tuned for lots more to come!! 

After decades fighting for its creation and months of waiting on appointments and preparations,

Southeast Michigan's Regional Transit Authority is finally here!!

All the RTA Board members have been appointed and met each other for the first time last week.  The first official RTA Board meeting will be on Wednesday, April 10, at 3:00pm at the SEMCOG offices.

Help us provide a big, public welcome!!

1) Join friends and allies from across the region in an RTA march and "Birthday Party" to welcome them!

• 1:30 pm:  Meet at Rosa Parks Transit Center, downtown Detroit
• 2:00 pm:  March down Michigan Ave. with banners, balloons and more
• 2:15 pm:  "Birthday Party" press conference, at Michigan and Woodward
• 3-5 pm:   RTA meeting, at the SEMCOG offices, 1001 Woodward Bldg., 14th floor, with public comment opportunity

Get details and RSVP on Facebook. 

2) Also, share your welcome and suggestions with the RTA by email. 

TRU's set up a quick and easy way to email the new RTA Board members and interim staff with your message of welcome and some suggestions of how to make the RTA as open and successful as possible.  Our suggestions:

• Develop open and welcoming processes that encourage maximum public involvement.
• Hold a nationwide search for a strong CEO with proven experience developing a successful regional transit system.
• Hold the earliest possible public vote on funding transit to quickly fund major transit improvements.

You can also add your own suggestions and ideas!  Let's get open communications with the RTA started right away!

News on the Woodward Rapid Transit Alternatives Analysis:

After extensive analysis and community input, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) has emerged as the preferred modal option for rapid transit along Woodward.

Mark your calendar! There will be another set of public meetings on Woodward Avenue Rapid Transit this month.

Learn more about BRT and how it was chosen. Give your input on BRT routes, potential station locations and on local feeder bus routes.

Wed., April 17, 6:30 pm - 8 pm
St. James Catholic Church, 241 W. Pearson St., Ferndale, 48220

Tues., April 23, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Detroit Public Library, Main Branch, 5201 Woodward Ave., Detroit, 48202

Thurs., April 25, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Berkley Community Center, 2400 Robina Ave., Berkley, 48072

Sat., April 27, 11 am to 1 pm
Detroit Public Library, Main Branch, 5201 Woodward Ave., Detroit, 48202

Tues., April 30, 6 pm to 8 pm
Manresa Jesuit Retreat House, 1390 Quarton Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48304

This spring and summer, TRU will be embarking on a major community engagement campaign to build broad public support for regional transit.  And we need some help!

TRU is seeking four (4) organized, outgoing persons who have experience working in community settings; managing volunteers or a team; coordinating events; and speaking before a variety of audiences. They will be part of a team that’ll begin a movement in support of better transit.

These Community Engagement Interns will coordinate TRU’s participation in community meetings and events for the purpose of building understanding and support of transit improvements. Interns will work 15-40 hours a week and can receive a financial stipend and potentially course credit.

Review the position description for responsiblities, needed skills, and how to apply (due April 10).  

There are many wonderful people and companies working very hard on great efforts to provide more and better transit for greater Detroit.  Help us recognize them at TRU's annual fundraising dinner!

The new Regional Transit Authority is coming together, slowly but surely.

All of the RTA Board members have now been appointed:

• Representing Detroit:
  • Lisa Franklin, president of Warriors on Wheels and champion of people with disabilities 
• Representing Macomb County:
  • Julie Gatti, President-Elect of the Macomb Bar Association and independant family lawyer
  • Roy C. Rose, President of an engineering consulting firm, on the Boards of Leadership Macomb and Focus Macomb
• Representing Oakland County:
  • Steven M. Potter, Rochester Hills resident, trial attorney, and former law partner of Brooks Patterson 
  • Matthew M. Wirgau, Bloomfield Hills resident, former SMART board chair, and president of Midwest Financial Service
• Representing Washtenaw County:
  • Richard Murphy, who works with the Ypsilanti Planning Commission and the Michigan Suburbs Alliance
  • Elizabeth Gerber, Public Policy Professor at University of Michigan, focused on regionalism
• Representing Wayne County:
  • Dr. Curtis Ivery, Chancellor of Wayne County Community College District
  • Mark Gaffney, former president of the Michigan AFL-CIO
• Non-Voting Chair, representing the State:
  • Paul Hillegonds, DTE Vice-President and former Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives

    Several MDOT and SEMCOG staff are supporting the RTA as it gets up and running, including:

    • Shanelle Jackson, a former Detroit state representative, to facilitate community outreach
    • Mario Morrow, to support communications
    • Joe Pavona, to coordinate public-private partnerships

    The Board will have an orientation meeting March 28, then hold the first RTA Board meeting April 10 at 3pm at SEMCOG's downtown Detroit offices to get started developing bylaws, hiring a CEO, selecting a Citizen's Advisory Committee, setting up a website, and much more.

    Plan to join us on April 10th for the first board meeting and a fun media event. 

    Stay tuned for details!