TRU is Detroit’s transit advocate. 

The mission of Transportation Riders United is to improve and promote transit in greater Detroit in order to restore urban vitality, ensure transportation equity and improve quality of life. TRU believes the Detroit region needs a balanced transportation network because transportation investments shape our future.  TRU was incorporated in 2001 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization.

Specifically, TRU’s purpose is to:

• Improve understanding of and perception towards transit;
• Engage and involve the public in important transportation decisions;
• Watchdog transportation processes and provide transit expertise to decision-makers; and
• Be the public’s voice to ensure transportation investments support the public’s interest in accessibility, affordability, accountability and sustainability.

Our priorities for 2009 are to:

• Educate and inform the public and elected officials on transit progress, challenges and needs;
• Advance and monitor progress on the official RTCC Comprehensive Regional Transit Plan;
• Watchdog transit projects including the Ann Arbor-Detroit Commuter Rail project, and light rail on Woodward;
• Push for increased state transit funding and local funding options; .
• Watchdog bus agencies to ensure continually improved service; and
• Build for the future by increasing TRU’s financial and volunteer resources

Help us promote quality transit
Join TRU as a member, come to our meetings, give a donation, or just ride the bus yourself – check out DDOT and SMART for maps, routes, schedules and more. Contact Us .

TRU History
Take a look at TRU's history and see how far we have progressed in just a few short years.

View TRU work product
Read and review the many documents prepared by TRU staff and volunteers regarding important issues.

Organizational Structure
TRU has an organizational structure that follows non-profit guidelines and allows for effective operation.

Board of Directors (city of residence)

Christopher Frey, President (Detroit)
Patrick Droze, Vice President (Livonia)
Mike Whims, Secretary (Royal Oak)
Kevin Smith, Treasurer (Royal Oak)
Karen Kendrick-Hands (Grosse Pointe Park)
Patty Fedewa (Detroit)
Kelly Logan (Dearborn)
Aaron Thomas (Detroit)
Steve Gutterman (Ann Arbor)
Marcia Yakes (Detroit)

TRU Staff

Megan Owens, Executive Director (Hazel Park)

Ruth Johnson, Organizer & Assistant Director (Detroit)

TRU Annual Reports and Newsletters
View the archives of newsletters and official annual reports

Cartoons
View cartoons drawn by TRU's commentator.

Website

The TRU website was created by Aten Software LLC.

Transportation Riders United (TRU) is strongly committed to the "triple bottom line"--Our tax dollar investments must meet the test of being good for the regional economy, good for the environment, and good for the community as a whole. For Greater Detroit, the most important of these tests is that a public investment must be good at bringing people together, building community. One of the major reasons why Greater Detroit is one of the most segregated regions in the country is because it has what is commonly considered an ineffective and unreliable public transit system. By working on transportation policy, to encourage transportation investments that follow the triple bottom line, we work to build strong, diverse, transit-oriented communities in Greater Detroit. There is no better place on earth to take on this challenge than in Detroit, the Motor City, and the home to America's Automobile Culture