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SEMCOG's plan to build a regional transit system SEMCOG's regional transit plans include applying for federal grants to pay for part of a bus rapid transit system (SpeedLinks) to cover 11 routes. Details are in their website at www.semcog.org In the summer 2000 SEMCOPE, estimated costs for SpeedLink and to improve existing bus and community transit are as follows. Fixed route bus improvements costs -
capital $127, Operating $70.9 per year
According to SEMCOG statistics below, there are not enough funds available to meet the transportation needs for southeast Michigan but this does not mean new regional and/or local taxes are needed. They say operating subsidies must be agreed upon by the public to qualify for federal funds but they have yet to address issues concerning better use of existing tax collections. While $41 billion in transportation needs have been identified for FY 2001-2025, only $24 billion in federal, state and local transportation funding (both capital and operating) is expected to be available. The $24 billion will be invested in preserving, enhancing, and operating Southeast Michigan's transportation system, including roadways, bridges, airports, non-motorized pathways, and transit vehicles and facilities. Ultimately, the region will be faced with $17 billion of unmet needs, illustrating the complexity of regional transportation planning and the importance of making careful funding decisions. Source - semcog.org/depts/trans/rtp2025/index.html |
Southeast Michigan's existing mass transit systems . Some claim existing buses move too slow and stop too much. This can easily be proved to be false, by looking at SMART timetables. Regular bus service can support our areas mass transit needs. There is a strong need for full service using SMART and DDOT in a cooperative way. Source - SEMCOG public forums concerning regional mass transit. Feeder lines need full service to get passengers to the main routes or SpeedLinks will not work. Sources - farebox statistics of areas with good mass transit, SMART new service initiative handout. The lack of a frequent backbone 24hr / 7day backbone mass transit system is inconsistent with metro Detroit's mass transit needs. Using existing SMART buses can easily fill this need. There is much evidence around the world that bus service similar to SMART can be as effective as rail and SpeedLink type transit systems. Some claim that bus service has a bad stigma attached to it and the lack of train-like service is preventing many people from using mass transit. What people want is to get where they are going and back in a reasonable time. SpeedLinks are not practical in many situations and will not solve most public transit needs. Sources - SEMCOG public surveys and forums Both the public and SEMCOG need to explore more and better ways to serve those whom already live and work along existing routes. If customers of existing public transit won't fill buses up to make mass transit work, then who will? The belief that SpeedLinks can fix existing transportation needs to change. |
Common sense must be used to make mass transit work in Southeast Michigan Increasing funding from the State's Comprehensive Transportation Fund would have to come at the expense of state and local road and bridge programs according the Michigan House Fiscal Agency source voyager.net/house/hfa/transpo.pdf Urban sprawl is rampant in the many suburban areas that refuse to better fund mass transit. These same areas refuse to impose proper development fees and taxes on new growth, which is draining limited state transportation funds in southeast Michigan. There are many examples of this, such as in western Oakland County where the road system is no longer sufficient to support new growth. Concerning the many complex issues of mass transit, SEMCOG needs to address these problems; otherwise inner city public transit systems will be too strained to offer decent bus service. Since 2000 SEMCOG has yet to address the primary problems to solve mass transit problems. They are development fees, mass transit tax incentives, imposing driving constraints, bus only roads and the coordination of schedules. Source - SEMCOG public forums on the need to improve mass transit. |
The voters need to demand State CTF funds be increased For those of us who live and work on existing mass transit lines --- it's time to take action. We will have to get our government and industry leaders to make many compromises and hard choices that are complex and will involve making car travel less attractive in some cases to improve mass transit. Mass transit needs to become more attractive. For example, SMART officials came to the Detroit suburb of Livonia and sucessfully increased rider-ship with more early morning buses on Middlebelt Rd. to get people to and from work. What is needed is competent use of very limited state transportation funds to keep mass transit better funded, a high ridership to help lower costs, more direct industry supports and getting mass transit champions elected in our state government. These WebPages are taking action by asking that MDOT pay federal matching funds for existing mass transit and that industry work harder to fill buses up with paying customers. It's time to wake up to reality. Farms, forests, rivers, and meadows are being destroyed at a fast pace because people are leaving the city and inner suburbs that already have good roads. The destruction of southeast Michigan's landscape is in the name of progress and industry profits. This needs to change and can only change with responsible government leadership that makes public transit accessible. |
A framework for funding is essential SEMCOG's theme for their regional transit plan is "A framework for action". "A framework for funding" is what is really needed with " no free passes ". SEMCOG claims a regional mass transit tax with SpeedLinks will result in a world-class mass transit system. This can only be true with mass transit leadership and common sense. Some examples of mass transit leadership are as follows. |
New development fees and local property
taxes - to improve and expand roads in western Oakland
County.
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An increase in the Diesel fuel tax with
corresponding amount for mass transit - to widen parts
of I-75, I-94 and other improvements needed for trucks
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Raise the charge of SMART work shuttle buses - Realign DDOT / SMART buses to get more people to work. Sets of plans to do this are in these WebPages. |
An agreement to raise federal matching
funds for mass transit to include the following -- The
Michigan Department of Transportation to retain full
responsibility to replace
existing
SMART/DDOT buses. New transit needs to share costs
with industry and local governments as agreed upon with
the voters. Raise the cost of driving
to increase CTF funds to keep mass
transit budgets balanced. Increase CTF funds for mass
transit above 10% as necessary to justify the best
interests of the taxpayers, including environmental and
employment concerns. Protect mass transit by ensuring
at least 10% of CTF funds are used for mass transit as
compared to funding of other transportation needs.
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The state to fully support park and
rides and the handicapped without local funding
permanently. Property taxes for SMART to be permanent
as agreed upon by the voters with conditions attached
to protect its customers and workers. Tax raised by
choice of the voters only. Additional conditions added
as necessary as agreed upon by the taxpayers and mass
transit citizens groups. State to pay for new terminals
and mass transit needs as a priority, in the efforts to
protect our cities, preserve the countryside and the
natural beauty of our State. In the 1950's it made
sense to build interstate freeways in southeast
Michigan to save lives. It's not practical or possible
to do this anymore and the taxpayers cannot afford it.
It's time to lower speed limits and repair existing
roads for safety. It's time to better use mass transit to
solve our transportation needs.
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New mass transit tax incentives for those who use, build along or pay for SMART, DDOT or any mass transit system. |
If CTF funds can't be increased then I-75 does not need
to be widened. When truckers and motorists get tired of
congestion, then they can vote in higher diesel and gas
taxes. Large steel locked cash boxes could be installed at points
of traffic congestion with a sign saying "want this road widened?, then
please contribute as state funds are needed for the disabled who use
community transit ---
--- It's time for Southeast Michigan to demand mass transit leadership or vote "no" on new mass transit taxes. Sources - SEMCOG public forums on regional transit, Act 51 |
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