Wikipedia

Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan

TheRegional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan(RTA) is a public transit agency servingMetro Detroitand theAnn Arbor areain the U.S. state of Michigan. It operates theQLINE,[1]and coordinates and oversees public transit operations by other agencies, includingDDOT,SMART,and theDetroit People Mover.Its area covers the counties ofMacomb,Oakland,Washtenaw,andWayne.

Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan
Overview
LocaleMetro DetroitandAnn Arbor
Transit typeExpress bus
Streetcar
Chief executiveBen Stupka, Executive Director
Headquarters1001 Woodward Avenue,Suite 1400
Detroit, Michigan,U.S.
Websitertamichigan.org
Operation
Began operation2013
Operator(s)DDOT
SMART
TheRide
Detroit People Mover
M-1 Rail

Governance

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The RTA is governed by a 10-member board of directors, which includes two representatives from each county and one representative from Detroit appointed by the county executives, county commission chair of Washtenaw County, andMayor of Detroit,respectively. Additionally, one non-voting representative is appointed by thegovernor;this member chairs the board.[2]Board members servestaggeredthree-year terms, and may be reappointed. Since members are permitted to serve until a successor is appointed, in effect, they may serve beyond a three-year term.[2]They may not be a current elected official, employee of a county or city in the region, nor an employee of a transportation provider in the region.[2]The board may employ aCEOto oversee the day-to-day operations of the authority.[2]

Board of Directors members
Jurisdiction Member
City of Detroit Freman Hendrix
Macomb County Jon Moore
Don Morandini
Oakland County Jeanette Bradshaw
Helaine Zack
Washtenaw County Ned Staebler
Alma Wheeler Smith
Wayne County June Lee
Erica Robertson
Governor of Michigan Dave Massaron

Powers

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The board is granted the authority with a 7/9supermajorityof the voting members - including at least one member from each jurisdiction - the power to:[3]

  • determine the rate of and place on the ballot a levy of an assessment for the funding of transit services and operations.
  • determine the rate of and place on the ballot a vehicle registration tax for the funding of transit services and operations.
  • determine to acquire theQLine,and acquire, construct or operate plannedcommuter railservices in the region.

The board is granted the authority with unanimous consent the power to:

  • determine to acquire, construct or operate rail passenger service in the region.
  • determine to acquire a public transit provider in the region upon a vote of the electors of each jurisdiction.
  • place on the ballot a question of assuming liability or paying legacy costs of an acquired public transportation provider.

Elections for the question of the levy of assessments and vehicle registration tax increases can only be held in a presidential election year on the date of the presidential primary election.[3]

Transit operations

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The RTA owns and operates theQLINE,a streetcar system serving the Downtown, Midtown, and New Center areas of the city of Detroit.[1]

Express bus services

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D2A2 coach at Blake Transit Center in downtown Ann Arbor

TheD2A2is an expressintercity busservice between Detroit and Ann Arbor, offered in partnership withTheRide.D2A2 runs directly fromGrand Circus Parkin downtown Detroit to theBlake Transit Centerin downtown Ann Arbor, with no intermediate stops. The service operates hourly on weekdays, and every 1½ to two hours on weekends.[4]D2A2 service began in March 2020.[5][6][7]

TheDetroit Air Xpress(DAX) is a non-stop express bus service connecting downtown Detroit withDetroit Metropolitan Airport.It runs every 60-90 minutes from 3:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week, serving Downtown Detroit via a stop on Washington Boulevard near theRosa Parks Transit Center.[8]DAX began service on March 25, 2024.

D2A2 and DAX are operated byIndian Trailsunder contract. A single ride on either route costs $6 when reserved online in advance, or $8 when purchased onboard; for frequent commuters, a pack of 50 tickets for is available for $100. Luggage can be transported on both services for no additional charge.[8]

Discontinued services

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RefleXwas alimited-stopbus service onWoodwardandGratiotAvenues, connecting Detroit with suburbs in Oakland and Macomb counties. RefleX started operation onLabor Dayweekend in 2016.[9]The Woodward route, operated by DDOT, ran to a northern terminus atSomerset CollectioninTroy,while twoGratiotroutes, operated by SMART, ran fromMount Clemensto termini in Downtown and Midtown Detroit.[9]RefleX was discontinued in early 2018, and replaced by SMART's similarFASTnetwork.

History

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The RTA has its beginnings in the Metropolitan Transportation Authorities Act of 1967 (Public Act 204).[10]A provision of the act specifically created the Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority (SEMTA), but provided the authority with no additional means to levy taxes or fees to fund the operations for the transit providers it had acquired.

In 1974, facing a loss of funding from SEMTA and wanting more control of its transit affairs, Detroit's Department of Street Railways (DSR) restructured itself as the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT).[11]On December 7, 1988, Public Act 204 was amended to restructure SEMTA, reducing the service area from seven counties to three, and excluding the city of Detroit.[11]The new transit authority was named the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transit (SMART), and began operation on January 17, 1989. To continue limited coordination and development of services between DDOT and SMART, however, regional leaders representing the three-county area and Detroit filed articles of incorporation to form the Regional Transit Coordinating Council on January 12, 1989.[11]

On December 19, 2012 GovernorRick Snydersigned Senate Bill No. 909 into law establishing the Regional Transit Authority (RTA), which included a provision allowing for the first time a way for such a regional transit authority to fund itself.[12]Almost one month later, US Transportation SecretaryRay LaHoodannounced that theM-1 Rail Linewould receiveUS$25 million in federal funding as he had previously indicated such support was dependent on the creation of a regional transit authority for the Detroit region.[13]

Along with oversight and coordination responsibilities for theDetroit Department of Transportation,Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation,Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority,and theDetroit Transportation Corporation,the authority was also established to create a single mass transit plan for the region, including the development, funding and operation ofrapid transitalong four major corridors in the metropolitan area. The new plan used as its basis the Comprehensive Regional Transit Service Plan, which was adopted on December 8, 2008.[14]The RTA choseHNTBto assist in the development of the Regional Master Transit Plan in 2015.

Limited-stop services

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From 2016 to 2018, the RTA coordinated RefleX, a limited-stop bus network connecting Downtown and Midtown Detroit with the region's northern suburbs.

Pilot express services

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The RTA launched its first express service, the D2A2, on March 16, 2020;[7]service was reduced soon thereafter due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.

QLINE operation

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In September 2024, the RTA took over ownership and operation of theQLINE.[15]Full integration of the system into RTA is expected by October 2024.

Projects

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In early 2015, the RTA retainedParsons BrinckerhoffandAECOMto study improved mass transit along the corridors of Gratiot and Michigan avenues. The authority also took over oversight of the Woodward Avenue Alternative Analysis Rapid Transit Alternative study,[16]which found BRT (bus rapid transit) as the locally preferred alternative as the improved mode of transit along a 27-mile stretch ofWoodward Avenue.[17]The master plan was officially presented to the media and public on May 31, 2016 with highlights including plans for:[18][19]

The plan was approved by the board on August 4, 2016 with the $4.7 billion plan to go voters for approval on November 8, 2016.[20]The measure failed by a 50.5% to 49.5% margin, with 895,877 voting in favor of the proposal, and 913,856 in opposition. The proposal passed in the counties of Wayne and Washtenaw, but very narrowly lost in Oakland and was defeated handily in Macomb.[21][22][23][24]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abLawrence, Eric D. (2024-10-01)."Detroit's QLINE now fully public, under new operator as M-1 Rail turns over control".Detroit Free Press.
  2. ^abcd"ENROLLED SENATE BILL No. 909"(PDF).rtamichigan.org.RTA.Retrieved16 August2019.
  3. ^ab"Regional Transit Authority Act 387 of 2012, Sec. 6".Michigan Legislature.Legislative Service Bureau.Retrieved29 July2021.
  4. ^"D2A2 Schedule"(PDF).Regional Transportation Authority of Southeast Michigan.
  5. ^Bruckner, Meredith (2020-01-09)."Bus route connecting Ann Arbor and Detroit set to launch this year".WDIV.Retrieved2023-03-06.
  6. ^Parlette, Sarah (2020-02-24)."Fares lowered for anticipated daily Detroit to Ann Arbor express buses".WDIV.Retrieved2023-03-06.
  7. ^abStanton, Ryan (2021-09-30)."5 things to know about the return of Ann Arbor-Detroit express bus service".MLive.Archived fromthe originalon 2024-02-27.
  8. ^ab"DAX Schedule"(PDF).Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan.
  9. ^ab"RefleX".RTA of Southeast Michigan.Archived fromthe originalon 5 September 2016.Retrieved9 September2016.
  10. ^"Metropolitan Transportation Authorities Act of 1967".Michigan Legislature.Retrieved12 January2014.
  11. ^abc"History of Transit in Southeast Michigan Region".SMART Overview.SMART.Retrieved12 January2014.
  12. ^"Senate Bill No. 909"(PDF).State of Michigan 96th Legislature. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 25 September 2013.Retrieved17 September2013.
  13. ^"M1 Rail: Ray LaHood, U.S. Transit Secretary, Announces $25 Million In Funding For Detroit Transit Plan".HuffPost Detroit. January 18, 2013.Retrieved27 January2016.
  14. ^"Comprehensive Regional Transit Service Plan".SEMCOG.org.Retrieved12 January2014.
  15. ^"Board of Directors Meeting"(PDF).Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan.2024-09-19.
  16. ^"Woodward Avenue Rapid Transit Alternatives Analysis Locally Preferred Alternative"(PDF).Parsons Brinckerhoff. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 29 March 2015.Retrieved19 April2015.
  17. ^"Woodward Avenue Rapid Transit Alternative Analysis".SEMCOG.Retrieved19 April2015.
  18. ^Lawrence, Eric D. (31 May 2016)."$4.6B transit plan would connect Detroit, 4 counties".Joyce Jenereaux.Retrieved9 September2016.
  19. ^"Regional Master Transit Plan Executive Summary"(PDF).RTA of Southeast Michigan.Retrieved9 September2016.
  20. ^Lawrence, Eric D. (4 August 2016)."Regional transit board OKs master plan to let voters decide".Joyce Jenereaux.Retrieved9 September2016.
  21. ^"Wayne County, Michigan General Election November 8, 2016".Wayne County.Wayne County Clerk.Retrieved10 August2021.
  22. ^"A PROPOSAL AUTHORIZING THE REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY OF SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN (RTA) TO LEVY AN ASSESSMENT - REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY OF SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN (OAKLAND COUNTY PORTION ONLY) (Vote For 1)".Oakland County Elections Division.Oakland County Clerk.Retrieved10 August2021.
  23. ^"Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan Proposal".Macomb County.Macomb County Clerk/Register of Deeds.Retrieved10 August2021.
  24. ^"November 8, 2016 General Election".Washtenaw County Michigan.Washtenaw County Clerk.Retrieved10 August2021.
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