A letter to Southeast

Dear Friends,

The Regional Transit Authority (RTA) has been busy working to review and assess the outcome of the Novem- ber election. Throughout 2017, the RTA will work to maintain and build upon the momentum and support that has been growing for improved public transportation in Southeast Michigan.

2016 was an historic year for transit ballot measures across the country. Of 77 measures nationwide—the highest number within any 12-month period—55 of those measures were successful. A RECORD-SETTING YEAR Transit on the ballot in 2016 Ours was not one of them. Measures 77 71% The need to attract investment to our region, spur economic development, connect people Approved 55 Success Rate to jobs and entertainment, satisfy demands of millennials and seniors, and reduce conges- Successful Transit Initiatives tion on our major roads and highways still exists. Los Angeles Seattle Atlanta Regional Transit gained momentum in 2016 $74 $54 $2.8 During 2016, Team RTA worked tirelessly to develop, adopt, and raise awareness on the BILLION BILLION BILLION first Regional Master Transit Plan (Master Plan) for the four-county region. The RTA 30-40 years 30-40 years 40 years region includes the member jurisdictions of the City of ; and Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and Washtenaw counties. The full master plan and related documents may be found on our website, rtamichigan.org.

Working with its many regional partners, Team RTA developed and adopted a Regional Master Transit Plan in 2016. Here are RTA’s other major accomplishments...

Advancing Rapid Transit: The RTA Board of Directors adopted Locally Preferred Alternatives for its major rapid transit corridor projects (Woodward, Gratiot, Michigan Avenues), taking a major step forward in the competitive federal funding process.

Disbursing Federal Funds to Regional Partners: As designated recipient for most of Southeast Michigan’s federal transit funds, the RTA facilitated almost $170 million in improvements for the region’s transit agencies since 2014. This includes $158 million for necessary capital projects, and $11 million for senior/disabled services.

Launching the Reflex Express Service: New service in partnership with SMART and DDOT on the Woodward and Gratiot corridors. This express service eliminates the need for mid-day and weekend transfers on two crucial transit corridors where Oakland and Macomb Counties meet Detroit.

In November 2016, voters were asked to adopt a 1.2 mill property tax increase to finance THE RTA MASTER PLAN the 20-year Master Plan. There was broad based support for the initiative. Dozens of regional institutions, organizations, and business leaders endorsed the effort. Transit $4.7 BILLION advocates, senior groups, and members of the faith and disability communities backed the 20-year Investment plan as well. The group Citizens for Connecting our Communities (C3) led the ballot campaign. The following page lists these endorsements. 1.2 MILL Revenue Source Thank you to the over 200 groups, businesses, and community leaders who endorsed the regional transit effort. Here are all of the official campaign endorsements...

Local Businesses Associations A3C Collaborative Architecture League of Women Voters of MI Metropolitan Organizing Strategy ASPRA world Inc. Michigan Association of Railroad Enabling Strengths (MOSES) BCD Construction LLC Passengers Motor City Freedom Riders Brainwrap Web Design Michigan Community Action NAACP Ypsilanti-Willow Run Branch Brush Up Brush Park Michigan Economic Center Osborn Neighborhood Alliance ByrnesPR and Media Services Michigan Environmental Council Oakland County Democratic Party Clark Hill PLC Michigan Fitness Foundation Sierra Club Michigan Chapter Comfort and Care Transportation Michigan Health & Hospital Society of St. Vincent de Paul Cornish, Zack, Hill & Associates, Association The Center for Urban Youth & Family Inc. Michigan League for Public Policy Development Creative Detroit Placemakers, LLC Michigan Licensed Beverage Transportation Riders United (TRU) Decode Detroit Association Washtenaw Partners for Transit Donigan McLogan LLC Michigan Municipal League Washtenaw Regional Organizing DTE Energy Michigan Nonprofit Association Coalition (WEROC) DLZ Michigan, Inc. Michigan Public Transit Association Westside Slate Ford Motor Company National Association of Social Wish Upon a Teen Foy Communications, LLC Workers (NASW), MI Chapter Labor Organizations Scio Farms Estates Home Owners General Motors AAUP - Wayne State Association Hagenbuch Weikal Landscape AFGE Local 3907 South Dearborn Environmental Architecture American Federation of Teachers Improvement Association Honigman Miller Schwartz and Michigan Cohn LLP Senior Groups American Postal Workers Union, Lean & Green Michigan Area Agency on Aging 1-B AFL-CIO Lear Corporation Jewish Family Service of Metropolitan Detroit Police Lieutenants and livingLAB Detroit Sergeants Association Mel's Salon & Associates Jewish Senior Life of Metropolitan Huron Valley Area Labor Miller Canfield Detroit Federation Penske Corporation Presbyterian Villages of Michigan International Union of Operating Plunkett Cooney CEO Dennis Senior Power Days at Belle Isle Engineers Local 324 Cowan The Senior Alliance Metro Detroit AFL-CIO Proper Group, Intl. Michigan Building and Quicken Loans Disability Groups Construction Trades Council Rock Venture Disability Network Oakland & Michigan Laborers' District Council The Detroit Bus Company Macomb Local 499 Velocity Rail Services Programs to Educate All Cyclists Michigan Laborers' District Council Zingerman's Community of (PEAC) Local 1076 Businesses Michigan Laborers' District Council Tourism and Culture Groups Healthcare Systems Local 1191 Detroit Experience Factory Beaumont Health Michigan Nurses Association Michigan Science Center Detroit Medical Center Michigan Regional Council of The Henry Ford Blue Cross Blue Shield MI Carpenters and Millrights Henry Ford Health System Community and Social Groups SEIU Local 1 St. John Providence Arab Community Center for Economic Teamsters Joint Council 43 and Social Service (ACCESS) UAW Region 1 Newspaper Endorsements Bettye Harris Larynx Cancer Awareness UAW Region 1A Crain's Detroit Business Center UNITEHERE! Local 24 Detroit News Black Slate Faith Leaders Detroit Free Press Catholic Charities of Southeast Apostle John C. Harvey, Serenity Michigan Chronicle Michigan Christian Church, Hazel Park Coalition on Temporary Shelter Chambers of Commerce Bishop Edgar Vann, Second Ebene- Conference of Minority Transportation zer Church, Detroit Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Officials (COMTO) - Michigan Fr. Richard Leliaert, St. Robert Regional Chamber Detroit Jews for Justice Bellarmine Church, Redford American Arab Chamber Eastside Slate Fr. Robert Scullin, S.J., GESU Catholic of Commerce Ecology Center Church, Detroit Detroit Regional Chamber Fair Housing Center of Southeast & Imam Radwan Mardini, American Macomb County Chamber Mid-Michigan Muslim Center, Dearborn of Commerce Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit Imam Steve Mustapha Elturk, Southern Wayne County Groundcover News Islamic Organization of North Regional Chamber Healthy Pontiac, We Can! America, Warren Sterling Heights Regional Metro Matters Rabbi Alana Alpert, Congregation Chamber of Commerce Metropolitan Affairs Coalition T’chiyah, Oak Park Faith Leaders (con’t.) Mayors, Supervisors State Elected Officials Representative Rabbi Jeffrey L. Falick, Birmingham Pro Tem Steve Baker, Berkley LeRoy Burcroff, Romulus Representative Fred Durhal III Temple, Farmington Hills Representative Rabbi Kim Blumenthal, Beth Israel Dave Coulter, Ferndale Jim Ellison, Royal Oak Representative Congregation, Ann Arbor Representative Rabbi Rob Dobrusin, Beth Israel Pro Tem Kelly Garrett, Lathrup Village Representative Congregation, Ann Arbor Representative Rev. A. Richard Doss, Fews Memorial Brian C. Hartwell, Madison Heights Penny Luebs, Clawson Representative David E. Rutledge CME Church, River Rouge Representative Jim Townsend Rev. Aramis Hinds, Breakers Covenant Karen Majewski, Hamtramck Marian McClellan, Oak Park Representative Robert Wittenberg Church International, Detroit Senator Rev. Barton L. Beebe, Christ Lutheran Kurt Metzger, Pleasant Ridge Phil O'Dwyer, Berkley Senator Church, Sterling Heights Senator Bert Johnson Rev. Becky Bolander, American Jack O'Reilly, Dearborn Daniel Paletko, Dearborn Heights Senator Rebekah Warren Lutheran Church, Clinton Township Senator Coleman Young, Jr. Rev. Carter M. Grimmett, Good Joseph Peterson, Wyandotte Shepherd UMC, St. Clair Shores Pro Tem Melanie Piana, Ferndale Members of Congress Kenneth Poynter, Harper Woods Rev. Charlotte Sommers, Northminster Representative John Conyers, Jr. Deputy Mayor Michael Reddy, Presbyterian Church, Troy Representative Debbie Dingell Westland Rev. Claude A. May, Oasis of Hope Representative Rick Sollars, Taylor Christian Church, Detroit Representative Sandy Levin Township Supervisor Donna Squalls, Rev. Dr. Claude Bass, St. John’s CME Former Senator Carl Levin Royal Oak Church, Detroit Senator Gary Peters Rev. Dr. Jill Hardt Zundel, Central United Christopher Taylor, Ann Arbor Methodist Church, Detroit Lamar Tidwell, Ecorse Local Resolutions of Support Rev. Gary Haller, Birmingham First Deirdre Waterman, Pontiac Ann Arbor City Council United Methodist Church, Birmingham William Wild, Westland Ann Arbor Downtown Development Rev. Greg Larsen, First Congregational Hubert Yopp, Highland Park Authority Church, Rochester City Councillmembers, Berkley Democratic Club Rev. Jessie Gutgsell, Assistant Pastor, St. Commissioners Birmingham Bloomfield Democratic Clare of Assisi Episcopal Church, Ann Club Arbor Saad Almasmari, Hamtramck City of Berkley Rev. Kevin Johnson, Calvary Janee’ Ayers, Detroit City of Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church, Detroit Michael Bridges, Greater Royal Oak Democratic Club Rev. Kevin Turman, Second Baptist Farmington Hills Pontiac Downtown Business Associa- Church, Detroit Raylon Leaks-May, Ferndale tion Rev. Louise R. Ott, Congregational Gregory Pawlica, Ferndale Progressives at EMU Church of Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills Theresa Rich, Farmington Hills Roosevelt Institute @ Michigan State Rev. Beth Taylor, St. John’s Episcopal Andre Spivey, Detroit University Church, Royal Oak Samantha Steckloff, Warren Area Democratic Club Rev. Robert Cornwall, Central Farmington Hills Washtenaw County Board of Commis- Woodward Christian, Troy Sharlan Douglas, Royal Oak sioners Rev. Scott Steiner, St. John’s Episcopal Michael Fournier, Royal Oak Ypsilanti City Council Church, Royal Oak Kyle DuBuc, Royal Oak Ypsilanti District Library Rev. Susan Bock, Grace Episcopal Jeremy Mahrle, Royal Oak Church, Mt. Clemens Patricia Paruch, Royal Oak Rev. Theodore Turman, First Baptist Ann Perry, Pleasant Ridge Church, Southfield County Commissioners Rev. Tim Spannaus, St. John’s Episcopal Alisha Bell, Wayne County Church, Royal Oak Marcia Gershen, Oakland County Rev. Tyson Kelley, Womack Temple Jeff Jenks, Huntington Woods CME, Inkster , Washtenaw County Sr. Valerie Knoche, IHM, St. Clement of Conan Smith, Washtenaw County Rome, Romeo Helaine Zack, Oakland County Despite the broad base of support, the voters of the region rejected the proposal by a 1% margin (18,000 votes)—a sobering outcome for the coalition that worked so hard on this A NARROW 1.8 MILLION Votes Cast initiative. LOSS 1% Margin What has the public told us? The RTA has been reviewing comments and soliciting feedback to develop a comprehensive understanding of how we can adjust our efforts moving forward to lead to a successful outcome. Here is what the RTA has learned so far:

Limitations of revenue source: Property taxes proved problematic as the selected funding mechanism to support public transportation expansion. Many members of the public pointed to the other major transit expansion initiatives in the nation that fund transit via local option sales taxes. Many were disappointed upon learning that there were constitutional limitations on the RTA’s ability to pursue a sales tax as a funding option.

More fully address outer edge and rural communities: 28% of the no vote came from communities receiving no proposed fixed-route transit investment in the RTA plan. These communities are frequently overlooked because they are not traditional transit market areas. The RTA recognizes that these areas would require specially designed services and should have focused more of its effort on defining how the plan’s general investment levels would translate into improved services here.

Need to broaden outreach strategy: The RTA team did a tremendous amount of outreach and education throughout 2015 and 2016. Despite hundreds of meetings, public events, media stories, and extensive social media there was still a large portion of the public that felt uneducated about the Master Plan, the RTA, and transit in general. The RTA will strategically re-focus its outreach efforts to ensure that the messaging around the need for regional transit is clear, and that the RTA structure and Master Plan concepts address that need.

Capitalize more on transportation innovations: In the ever-evolving mobility environment, voters were reluctant to support a 20- year plan that did not articulate a clear strategy for adapting to technological innovations. The Master Plan did include a high-level investment program focused on potential flexible services. The RTA must better describe how this program could meet basic transit service needs and be adaptable to technological innovations. What is next for the RTA? Our goal in Southeast Michigan is to compete more successfully with other regions in attracting talent, growing our economy, and providing needed access to job opportunities, vital services and our rich cultural and recreational assets. To do so, we must build and operate a more comprehensive, connected, convenient, and a better funded public transit system.

The RTA Board of Directors and staff remain absolutely committed to this goal and will enter in to a Board Retreat in May to tackle many key questions we’ve heard from the public. What are some issues the RTA must confront as it moves forward? Determine timing for another RTA ballot initiative Decide whether to undertake minor adjustments to or a major overhaul of the Master Plan Weigh options for sustaining the RTA administratively until a longer-term funding solution can be identified

Develop a new vision for community outreach and engagement to solicit public input

The RTA Board and staff remain dedicated to working with regional elected leadership, transit providers, advocacy groups, and the public to build a regional consensus on the plan forward.

Sincerely,

Tiffany J. Gunter Interim CEO RTA Community Bulletin Board

Upcoming Events

April 21 - Commuter Challenge Kick Off Event,10 am, Cadillac Square April 24 – RTA Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting, 4:30 pm, 1001 Woodward, Suite 1400 April 25 - Reimagining Transportation: Transforming SE Michigan Panel, Click here for info May 11 – Transit Riders United (TRU) Annual Awards Dinner, 5:30 pm, Greektown Casino May 12 - Q Line Launch! RTA Public Meeting: Corridor Studies Career Opportunities in Transportation

There are many job opportunities in transportation/public transit that range from entry level to upper man- agement. Have you considered working in this challenging and rewarding environment? Polish up your resume and click on the following links to each agency:

Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (AAATA) Detroit Transportation Corporation Michigan Department of Transportation Southeast Michigan Council of Governments

Public Transit Facts and Figures

In 2014, Americans took 10.8 billion trips on public transportation -- the highest in 58 years.

People board public transportation 35 million times each weekday.

Since 1995, public transit ridership is up 39 percent, outpacing population growth, which is up 21 percent, and vehicle miles traveled (VMT), which is up 25 percent.

Public transportation is a $61 billion industry that employs nearly 400,000 people.

More than 7,200 organizations provide public transportation in the United States.

Contact Us

Remember, if you have questions or an opinion to share, please do. There are a variety of ways to engage with Team RTA. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @RTAmichigan Facebook Phone: (313) 402-1020 Mail: 1001 Woodward Avenue, Suite 1400, Detroit, MI 48226

Fort Street: Sarah and Tiffany waiting for the bus.