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Detroit area freeway alternate facilities

The support of the disabled to make better use of tax dollars is directly related to the proper construction and utilization of freeways to conform to federal disability requirements and the ability to pay. A combination of highway and transit improvements as a package can work to overcome the devolution of dwindling funds from state and federal sources. Transportation agencies are under pressure to develop new and creative ways to afford the public the best possible transportation at the least possible cost and aid in accomplishing desirable goals of urban renewal and sound urban growth. The multi-modal, social and environmental impact of using SMART is not adequately treated in conjunction with specified multiple funding mechanisms to leave no question as to meaning or intent.

Major Interstate / State Freeways	Alternate Public Bus Handicapped Facilities	Major Connections
I-75 / I-375	Woodward (now split apart)	Downtown Detroit
" " "	Fort	" " "
I-94	Michigan (now separated)	" " "
" " "	Gratiot	" " "
" " "	Warren/Crosstown	Cities of Detroit, Dearborn
I-96 and Lodge Fwy	Grand River	Downtown Detroit
I-696	Eight Mile Road	Connects city and suburbs
" " "	Seven Mile Road (now separated)	City of Detroit
" " "	12 Mile Road	Cities of Warren, Roseville Royal Oak and Southfield
I-275	Middlebelt (now defunct)	Airport, western suburbs Oakland County
M – 53 Freeway	Van Dyke	City of Detroit, Macomb County
All Freeways	Community transit vans (now separated) to connect the disabled to above buses	All points as needed
All Freeways	Bus lines to connect above routes	All points near freeways

Leave the gas tax alone for transit - It Works !!!

Many well-known statistics show that only large investments coming from jobs, industries, competition and commerce and low per-passenger costs can justify even a small local tax increases to support SMART or similar. This is not the situation in southeast Michigan as good jobs disappear and minimum wage jobs are rampant. Large retail stores and others strain state transportation funds and city budgets.

Transit advocates know higher taxes won't work without fighting discrimination and getting industries to pay more. Yet, government leaders still preach that “for the cost of a cup of coffee” per week increase in county and local taxes, we can have a transit system comparable to cities such as Chicago or Toronto.

In order for the freeways to become handicapped accessible, it will cost an additional $32.2 Million*(1) per year and matching grants for needed improvements from the “Michigan Transportation Fund” to fill in the gaps of service to meet minimum federal funding requirements for grants.

*(1) Save the Fuel Tax - Summary of yearly State CTF funds to implement "The Plan" ~ (Option 1).

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