The Regional Transit Authority is developing a regional transit plan that will shape transit improvements in the next year, 2 years, 5 years and 20 years. To develop a great plan, they need input from people all throughout the region. To engage the breadth of the region, we need your help!!
1) Share your thoughts, ideas, and concerns with the RTA yourself! You can:
- Comment directly to the RTA,
- Join the discussion on their online MySidewalk page, or
- Complete a comment card at a community event.
2) Mobilize your friends and family to comment to the RTA! 
Your neighbors, co-workers, or bus buddies; your church community, choir, or boating league; your kids, parents, and nephews – reach out to anyone you know who lives, works, or plays in southeast Michigan! Provide them the same opportunities and encourage them to share their thoughts and ideas.
3) Volunteer with TRU at fairs, festivals, and other community events!
We regularly go out into the community and talk transit with people at fairs, farmers markets, and other community gatherings. You can volunteer to join a TRU staff at an upcoming event or you can go yourself. We’ll provide the information and materials you’ll need. Contact [email protected] to learn how!
The Why Transit Matters Contest!
We’ve even launched a friendly contest to encourage greater participation and engagement! This contest will last from June 15 – September 15. You get points in three ways: 
- 1 point for each person you engage with about why transit matters.
- Can be one-on-one discussions with friends, co-workers, bus buddies or others
- Can be presentations to groups, clubs, or others (count the total number)
- Must be a substantive conversation or presentation, generally two minutes or more in length
- Must be more than just “Do you like transit?” “Yup.”
- 3 points for each person who completes a written comment on your request/urging
- Can be TRU’s “Transit Matters to me because” sheet
- Can be an RTA comment card
- Can also be a comment/concern emailed to the RTA or posted on MySidewalk
- Contact info is encouraged but not required
- Written comments must be submitted to TRU or the RTA
- 5 points for each photo/video/artistic expression of someone sharing Why Transit Matters on social media or emailed to info@DetroitTransit
- Recommended social media includes Facebook and Twitter
- If posted, must be tagged #HeyRTA and #TransitMatters
- Photo permissions must be set to “public”
- Can use TRU’s “Transit Matters to me because” card or other written statement of transit support and/or desire
Note – all reporting is on the honor system. This contest is for fun and motivation. Please be honest in your reporting.
You can report all your great engagement quickly and easily at www.DetroitTransit.org/contest. We recommend reporting right after each community engagement event or activity (or at least once a week).
Special thanks and congratulations
- Our first contest winner is Dave from Sterling Heights! Dave joined Ruth at the Mt. Clemens fireworks, talked with lots of people and collected 10 comments. Dave also engaged his family members and his wife’s co-workers. Her fellow employees wanted more room to write their comments, so they emailed their comments. (TRU will forward the cards and emails to the RTA.) Dave is a passionate transit advocate. Thank you Dave for taking time and effort to encourage others to have their voices heard in transit planning. For your efforts, you’ll receive a sturdy yet lightweight Case-Logic laptop case.
Thanks!!