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70,000 Bus riders. Location of Meetings all on 24/7 routes in picture below

Meetings Meetings Meetings ... - Click Here

    THE Plan - Regional Mass Transit for Metropolitan Detroit

The first regional mass transit plan for metro Detroit using internet and computer technologies and all statistics to get 70,000 plus people to their jobs and all transit meetings , in addtion to lowering costs for existing mass transit.

These are known facts

• Metro Detroit needs 7-day/24 hour frequent bus service.
• The 7 routes in WebPages are the best for highest ridership.
• The two Detroit public bus systems need to cooperate to best serve the public. Taxes are best used in cooperative ways.
• Downtown Detroit needs a transit terminal with bus only roads.
• Mass Transit is a far better solution to relieving traffic congestion in downtown Detroit compared to adding another freeway or interchange.
• The capacity exists to increase the rider-ship of SMART using existing facilities.
• SMART and DDOT need to hub their buses together, which is essential for efficient use of limited funds and a requirement for CTF state funds as defined in Act 51.
• Downtown Detroit is the only logical place to build a central hub for buses.
• A central hub or multiple hubs are vital to any logical transit design.

These will be learned at the meetings to make plan work in the best ways possible.

• Exact placement of bus stops.
• Minor adjustments to routes for highest ridership.
• How to best clean up routes to present a positive image of Detroit.
• Where to put Park and rides.
• Where to sell tokens.
• Determine best places for bus only roads and signals.
• Many others.

People to attend meetings and included in studies.

• The general public
• Airport officials
• Mall officials
• Downtown Detroit Associations
• Transit workers
• 70,000 bus riders, who never drive to any meetings or to and from work.

Topics to be discussed at meetings and to be studied.

• Parking along routes
• Presenting positive images along routes
• Commerce support for internet, newspaper, television and radio ads
• Safety
• Fairness of routes
• Use of existing bus routes to compliment the 24/7 system.
• Affordable work shuttle buses
• Family discounts
• Traffic concerns
• Other

Common sense and planning will make these plans work

A provision for seamless transfers, fares and schedules. Provisions for sharing costs to save tax dollars but retain separate identities and responsibilities keeping two transit systems within budget. Require state funds for the handicapped and low income without redistribution. Hold the state legally liable for all debts above millage with no service cuts. Full federal funding by meeting farebox/revenue ratios. Secure industry and commerce supports with a commitment to economically serve the mass transit needs of metro Detroit. Require all levels of government to provide for the needs for mass transit, including the protection of existing laws to provide mass transit it's full share of funding at the state/federal levels.

Connecting very high-density areas together with shuttle buses are a proven means of making transit taxes stretch further. By using statistics and the multiplying function of combining seven routes seamlessly together, a constant demand is created. Both population and employment statistics were used extensively in designing this system. Road alignments, dimensions and traffic patterns were also used.

Areas not on the 24 hour / 7 day bus routes.

Given the complexity of traffic patterns and the limited funding for buses, it is necessary to rely on many transit options that are self supporting. Employee/Worker shuttle buses have proven successful in many metropolitan areas without the need for tax subsidies. The 7 backbone routes require federal/state government funds and extensive cooperative efforts between many governmental bodies but is supported at the farebox by the able-bodied. This does not imply that operating taxes are not needed but instead reinforces the concept of establishing dedicated funding. This is because of equity and distribution of services to best meet the needs of the public as a whole.

An investment in Michigan's future

• Restoring downtown Detroit by logically using old routes leading to the Central Business District.
• Preserve and restore neighborhoods and the rich urban culture of metro Detroit.
• Connect passenger train service to the airport.
• Compliments all existing transportion systems.
• Supportive of other mass transit plans including new rail service.
• Increase of employment options for those without a car.
• Promotes the free enterprise system.

Costs to be shared

• MDOT to pay for capital costs and expenses for the handicapped.
• MDOT to retain responsibility of gaining federal mass transit funds as opposed to changing ACT 51
• Each city on 24/7 hr routes to help pay for needed improvements and upgrades.
• Seven core routes as described in WebPages to be nearly self-supporting or supported at the state level. Funded the exact same as if they were state trunkline roads or an interstate freeway or alternative funding is secured.
• Property taxes to help pay for routes that cannot support themselves as agreed upon with the voters.
• Each community to decide on how and where their property taxes wiil be spent.
• Voter decision only on raising money for federal grants with full agreement in writing as to how money is to be spent.
• Extensive meetings to decide on many other methods of supports.