Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans presented a new transit plan to the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan to consider placing it on the November ballot.
"Representatives from four counties and the city of Detroit have developed this plan over thousands of hours since April," Evans said. "We've been debating transit for decades and I think voters deserve an opportunity to see this proposed solution."
The plan, titled "Connect Southeast Michigan," calls for a 1.5 mill property tax levy on Wayne, Washtenaw, Oakland and Macomb Counties.
The millage is projected to raise $5.4 billion over 20 years to fund expanded regional transit service.
The average house in the RTA region is worth $157,504, meaning it would cost $118 a year.
Evans' plan would also leverage an additional $1.3 billion in farebox, state and federal revenues for Southeast Michigan.
"This plan is designed to serve riders where they are and where they need to go on a daily basis," Evans said. "It will expand economic opportunities for countless local residents who struggle to get to work, school or even the doctor's office."
Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said the new plan is no better than the plan voters rejected in 2016.
The plan is projected to support 67,000 jobs, provide $6.6 billion in additional Gross Regional Product and generate $4.5 billion growth in personal income, according to a release.
Highlights of the plan include:
- Bus routes connecting job centers: Five premium routes on Mound/Van Dyke, Gratiot, Woodward, Grand River and Michigan.
- Increased routes, frequency of service: An additional 10 bus routes on major cross-county commuter corridors at 15 minute frequencies and 11 commuter express routes connecting Park and Ride lots.
- Better connecting airport to region: 4 express bus routes connecting Detroit Metro Airport with Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti, Western Wayne, Oakland and Wayne/Macomb.
- Expanded commuter rail service: Commuter rail service between Detroit and Ann Arbor with eight round-trips daily.
- Flexible "Hometown Service" program: Focuses on communities not serviced by the new plan's routes, bringing value to areas of region not previously addressed.
- Infrastructure investment: An additional $696 million for funding infrastructure improvements that support transit.
