Get Michigan Moving

Get Michigan Moving Coalition will Work to Expand Public Transit across Michigan

Business, Government, Riders Team Up for Transit Jobs, Economic Development

LANSING, Mich. — A new coalition called Get Michigan Moving (GM-2) will work on public policy and education efforts aimed at expanding public transit in Michigan, coalition members announced today.

An initial goal of the coalition is to work for passage this year of legislation (House Bill 6114) on the floor of the state House of Representatives that would help communities across the state establish transit systems. The coalition will also work on fine-tuning and passing legislation recently introduced in the House and Senate that would advance a 3.4-mile light rail system that has been announced in Detroit along Woodward Avenue between Hart Plaza and Grand Boulevard. GM-2 will also work to implement recommendations in a report released on Monday by the Transportation Funding Task Force, a blue ribbon panel of business, labor and government leaders who proposed sweeping reforms and investments to save Michigan’s transportation system and generate jobs and investments.

Initial members of the GM-2 are the Michigan Municipal League (MML), the Detroit Regional Chamber, and Transportation Riders United. Other influential organizations are also soon expected to join the GM-2.

“Communities in states across the nation are embracing public transit as a powerful economic development tool to create thousands of jobs and generate billions in new commercial and residential development and redevelopment,” said David Worthams, legislative associate with MML. “We are asking the Legislature to give the business community and local governments the tools we need to help pay for transit systems. These tools will also provide sparks for private businesses to build and invest near transit stations.”

In addition to the privately funded light rail line in Detroit, a new rapid transit project has already been approved for Grand Rapids. The state and Southeast Michigan Council of Governments are also working toward a 48-mile commuter rail line between Ann Arbor and Detroit.

Dallas, Minneapolis, St. Louis and Charlotte, N.C., are among the major U.S. cities that, in recent years, have created thousands of jobs and attracted billions of dollars in new developments and re-developments by building and expanding light rail systems. The transit systems are credited with sparking the construction of new apartments and condominium units, restaurants, office buildings, retail stores, cafes, movie theaters, centers for the arts, and much more. Development around transit stations and systems is called “transit-oriented development.”

In addition to generating jobs and development, ridership levels are skyrocketing to record levels on light rail and commuter rail transit systems across the country. Also, increasing numbers of young, college-educated people are moving to cities that offer public transit and other alternatives to driving cars. States that have cities with large concentrations of young people with college degrees tend to have lower unemployment rates and higher levels of personal income.

Specifically, HB 6114, introduced by Rep. Marie Donigan, D-Royal Oak, would create geographic “transit revitalization investment zones” around rapid transit stations. As commercial and residential development occurs in the zones, the resulting growth in property tax revenues would be used to fund the operation, maintenance or infrastructure of the transit station and related facilities. Separate transit legislation introduced last week is sponsored by state Sen. Jason Allen, R-Traverse City, and Rep. Burt Johnson, D-Detroit. The bills would generate funding without raising taxes to support the light-rail loop between Hart Plaza and Grand Boulevard.

“Rep. Donigan, Sen. Allen and Rep. Johnson are forward-thinking legislators who understand the many benefits of expanding public transit in Michigan,” said Megan Owens, Executive Director of Transit Riders United, metro Detroit’s grassroots transit advocacy group. “They understand that expanding transit will generate thousands of good jobs, help redevelop blighted urban areas, and give young, talented and creative Michigan college graduates a compelling reason not to leave the state. In short, these legislators simply get it.”

Melissa Roy, Senior Director of Government Relations for the Detroit Regional Chamber, said public transit is critical for Michigan’s economic future.

“As the economy is struggling we really need to look at how we’re going to rebuild our economy and one of the ways we can do that is by investing in our infrastructure,” she said. “We need to look at the current demands from Michigan citizens, Michigan businesses and potential Michigan businesses. We struggle with economic development when businesses look at our transit infrastructure and make decisions based on the fact that we don’t have a sufficient transit system in southeast Michigan.”

For more information about Get Michigan Moving and the economic development benefits of public transit, please visit www.GetMichiganMoving.org.

: : : : : : : : : : :