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.

Ours was not one of them.

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.

The need to attract investment to our region, spur economic development, connect people to jobs and entertainment, satisfy demands of millennials and seniors, and reduce conges-tion on our major roads and highways still exists.

During 2016, Team RTA worked tirelessly to develop, adopt, and raise awareness on the first Regional Master Transit Plan (Master Plan) for the four-county region. The RTA region includes the member jurisdictions of the City of Detroit; and Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and Washtenaw counties. The full master plan and related documents may be found on our website, rtamichigan.org.

In November 2016, voters were asked to adopt a 1.2 mill property tax increase to finance 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 advocates, senior groups, and members of the faith and disability communities backed the plan as well. The group Citizens for Connecting our Communities (C3) led the ballot campaign. The following page lists these endorsements.

A letter to Southeast Michigan

Regional Transit gained momentum in 2016

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.

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...

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.

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.

A RECORD-SETTING YEAR Transit on the ballot in 2016

7755

MeasuresApproved

71%Success Rate

Los Angeles Seattle Atlanta

$74 BILLION

$54 BILLION

$2.8 BILLION

30-40 years 30-40 years 40 years

THE RTA MASTER PLAN$4.7 BILLION20-year Investment

1.2 MILLRevenue Source

Successful Transit Initiatives

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...

A3C Collaborative ArchitectureASPRA world Inc.BCD Construction LLCBrainwrap Web DesignBrush Up Brush ParkByrnesPR and Media ServicesClark Hill PLCComfort and Care TransportationCornish, Zack, Hill & Associates, Inc.Creative Detroit Placemakers, LLCDecode DetroitDonigan McLogan LLCDTE EnergyDLZ Michigan, Inc.Ford Motor CompanyFoy Communications, LLCGeneral MotorsHagenbuch Weikal Landscape ArchitectureHonigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLPLean & Green MichiganLear CorporationlivingLABMel's Salon & AssociatesMiller CanfieldPenske CorporationPlunkett Cooney CEO Dennis CowanProper Group, Intl.Quicken LoansRock VentureThe Detroit Bus CompanyVelocity Rail ServicesZingerman's Community of Businesses

Local Businesses

League of Women Voters of MIMichigan Association of Railroad PassengersMichigan Community ActionMichigan Economic CenterMichigan Environmental CouncilMichigan Fitness FoundationMichigan Health & Hospital AssociationMichigan League for Public PolicyMichigan Licensed Beverage AssociationMichigan Municipal LeagueMichigan Nonprofit AssociationMichigan Public Transit AssociationNational Association of Social Workers (NASW), MI ChapterScio Farms Estates Home Owners AssociationSouth Dearborn Environmental Improvement Association

Associations

Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Regional ChamberAmerican Arab Chamber of CommerceDetroit Regional ChamberMacomb County Chamber of CommerceSouthern Wayne County Regional ChamberSterling Heights Regional Chamber of Commerce

Chambers of Commerce

Area Agency on Aging 1-BJewish Family Service of Metropolitan DetroitJewish Senior Life of Metropolitan DetroitPresbyterian Villages of MichiganSenior Power Days at Belle IsleThe Senior Alliance

Senior Groups

Detroit Experience FactoryMichigan Science CenterThe Henry Ford

Tourism and Culture Groups

AAUP - Wayne StateAFGE Local 3907American Federation of Teachers MichiganAmerican Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIODetroit Police Lieutenants and Sergeants AssociationHuron Valley Area Labor FederationInternational Union of Operating Engineers Local 324Metro Detroit AFL-CIOMichigan Building and Construction Trades CouncilMichigan Laborers' District Council Local 499Michigan Laborers' District Council Local 1076Michigan Laborers' District Council Local 1191Michigan Nurses AssociationMichigan Regional Council of Carpenters and MillrightsSEIU Local 1Teamsters Joint Council 43UAW Region 1UAW Region 1AUNITEHERE! Local 24

Labor Organizations

Apostle John C. Harvey, Serenity Christian Church, Hazel ParkBishop Edgar Vann, Second Ebene-zer Church, DetroitFr. Richard Leliaert, St. Robert Bellarmine Church, RedfordFr. Robert Scullin, S.J., GESU Catholic Church, DetroitImam Radwan Mardini, American Muslim Center, DearbornImam Steve Mustapha Elturk, Islamic Organization of North America, WarrenRabbi Alana Alpert, Congregation T’chiyah, Oak Park

Faith Leaders

Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Service (ACCESS)Bettye Harris Larynx Cancer Awareness CenterBlack SlateCatholic Charities of Southeast MichiganCoalition on Temporary ShelterConference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) - MichiganDetroit Jews for JusticeEastside SlateEcology CenterFair Housing Center of Southeast & Mid-MichiganGoodwill Industries of Greater DetroitGroundcover NewsHealthy Pontiac, We Can!Metro MattersMetropolitan Affairs Coalition

Community and Social Groups

Beaumont HealthDetroit Medical CenterBlue Cross Blue Shield MIHenry Ford Health SystemSt. John Providence

Healthcare Systems

Disability Network Oakland & MacombPrograms to Educate All Cyclists (PEAC)

Disability Groups

Crain's Detroit BusinessDetroit NewsDetroit Free PressMichigan Chronicle

Newspaper Endorsements

Metropolitan Organizing Strategy Enabling Strengths (MOSES)Motor City Freedom RidersNAACP Ypsilanti-Willow Run BranchOsborn Neighborhood AllianceOakland County Democratic PartySierra Club Michigan ChapterSociety of St. Vincent de PaulThe Center for Urban Youth & Family DevelopmentTransportation Riders United (TRU)Washtenaw Partners for TransitWashtenaw Regional Organizing Coalition (WEROC)Westside SlateWish Upon a Teen

Pro Tem Steve Baker, BerkleyLeRoy Burcroff, RomulusDave Coulter, FerndaleJim Ellison, Royal OakPro Tem Kelly Garrett, Lathrup VillageBrian C. Hartwell, Madison HeightsPenny Luebs, ClawsonKaren Majewski, HamtramckMarian McClellan, Oak ParkKurt Metzger, Pleasant RidgePhil O'Dwyer, BerkleyJack O'Reilly, DearbornDaniel Paletko, Dearborn HeightsJoseph Peterson, WyandottePro Tem Melanie Piana, FerndaleKenneth Poynter, Harper WoodsDeputy Mayor Michael Reddy, WestlandRick Sollars, TaylorTownship Supervisor Donna Squalls, Royal OakChristopher Taylor, Ann ArborLamar Tidwell, EcorseDeirdre Waterman, PontiacWilliam Wild, WestlandHubert Yopp, Highland Park

Mayors, Supervisors

Saad Almasmari, HamtramckJanee’ Ayers, DetroitMichael Bridges, Farmington HillsRaylon Leaks-May, FerndaleGregory Pawlica, FerndaleTheresa Rich, Farmington HillsAndre Spivey, DetroitSamantha Steckloff, Farmington HillsSharlan Douglas, Royal OakMichael Fournier, Royal OakKyle DuBuc, Royal OakJeremy Mahrle, Royal OakPatricia Paruch, Royal OakAnn Perry, Pleasant Ridge

City Councillmembers, Commissioners

Representative John Conyers, Jr.Representative Debbie DingellRepresentative Brenda LawrenceRepresentative Sandy LevinFormer Senator Carl LevinSenator Gary Peters

Members of Congress

Alisha Bell, Wayne CountyMarcia Gershen, Oakland CountyJeff Jenks, Huntington WoodsYousef Rabhi, Washtenaw CountyConan Smith, Washtenaw CountyHelaine Zack, Oakland County

County Commissioners

Representative Stephanie ChangRepresentative Fred Durhal IIIRepresentative Christine GreigRepresentative Tim GreimelRepresentative Jon HoadleyRepresentative Jeff IrwinRepresentative Jeremy MossRepresentative David E. RutledgeRepresentative Jim TownsendRepresentative Robert WittenbergSenator Steve BiedaSenator Vincent GregorySenator Bert JohnsonSenator Rebekah WarrenSenator Coleman Young, Jr.

State Elected Officials

Ann Arbor City CouncilAnn Arbor Downtown Development AuthorityBerkley Democratic ClubBirmingham Bloomfield Democratic ClubCity of BerkleyCity of Pleasant RidgeGreater Royal Oak Democratic ClubPontiac Downtown Business Associa-tionProgressives at EMURoosevelt Institute @ Michigan State UniversityWarren Area Democratic ClubWashtenaw County Board of Commis-sionersYpsilanti City CouncilYpsilanti District Library

Local Resolutions of Support

Rabbi Jeffrey L. Falick, Birmingham Temple, Farmington HillsRabbi Kim Blumenthal, Beth Israel Congregation, Ann ArborRabbi Rob Dobrusin, Beth Israel Congregation, Ann ArborRev. A. Richard Doss, Fews Memorial CME Church, River RougeRev. Aramis Hinds, Breakers Covenant Church International, DetroitRev. Barton L. Beebe, Christ Lutheran Church, Sterling HeightsRev. Becky Bolander, American Lutheran Church, Clinton TownshipRev. Carter M. Grimmett, Good Shepherd UMC, St. Clair ShoresRev. Charlotte Sommers, Northminster Presbyterian Church, TroyRev. Claude A. May, Oasis of Hope Christian Church, DetroitRev. Dr. Claude Bass, St. John’s CME Church, DetroitRev. Dr. Jill Hardt Zundel, Central United Methodist Church, DetroitRev. Gary Haller, Birmingham First United Methodist Church, BirminghamRev. Greg Larsen, First Congregational Church, RochesterRev. Jessie Gutgsell, Assistant Pastor, St. Clare of Assisi Episcopal Church, Ann ArborRev. Kevin Johnson, Calvary Presbyterian Church, DetroitRev. Kevin Turman, Second Baptist Church, DetroitRev. Louise R. Ott, Congregational Church of Birmingham, Bloomfield HillsRev. Beth Taylor, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Royal OakRev. Robert Cornwall, Central Woodward Christian, TroyRev. Scott Steiner, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Royal OakRev. Susan Bock, Grace Episcopal Church, Mt. ClemensRev. Theodore Turman, First Baptist Church, SouthfieldRev. Tim Spannaus, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Royal OakRev. Tyson Kelley, Womack Temple CME, InksterSr. Valerie Knoche, IHM, St. Clement of Rome, Romeo

Faith Leaders (con’t.)

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 initiative.

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 has the public told us?

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

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

Weigh options for sustaining the RTA administratively until a longer-term funding solution can be identified

Decide whether to undertake minor adjustments to or a major overhaul of the Master Plan

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. GunterInterim CEO

A NARROW LOSS

Margin1%1.8 MILLION

Votes Cast

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!

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 TransportationSoutheast 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: info@rtamichigan.orgTwitter: @RTAmichiganFacebookPhone: (313) 402-1020Mail: 1001 Woodward Avenue, Suite 1400, Detroit, MI 48226

RTA Public Meeting: Corridor Studies

Fort Street: Sarah and Tiffany waiting for the bus.