Experts, advocates, transit riders to testify before House Transportation Committee.
What: Michigan House Transportation Committee hearing on Regional Transit Authority legislation (HB 5309) for southeast Michigan
Who: Metro Detroit’s top government and business leaders will join transit advocates and daily transit riders to testify on behalf of the regional transit bills. Partial list of projected speakers includes:
- Bill Sponsors: Rep. Townsend (D- Royal Oak) & Sen. Casperson (R- UP)
- Snyder Administration: Bill Rustem (Office of Gov), Kirk Steudle (MDOT)
- Local Government Leaders: Mark Hackel (Macomb), Bob Daddow (Oakland), Conan Smith (Washtenaw), Kirk Lewis (City of Detroit)
- Business Community: Matthew Cullen (M-1 Rail), Brad Williams (Detroit Regional Chamber), Michele Hodges (Troy Chamber), Andrew Basile (Young Basile PLLP), David Blaskiewicz (Downtown Detroit Partnership)
- Transit Advocates: Megan Owens (Transportation Riders United), Cindy Reese (MOSES), Chris Kolb (MI Environmental Council)
- Bus riders, students, seniors, and other concerned SE Michigan residents
When: 9:00 am, tomorrow, Thursday, September 27
Where: Anderson House Office Building, Room 521, 124 North Capitol Ave., Lansing, MI
Why: For decades, metro Detroit has been the largest region in the nation without a regional transit authority. Legislation to create the authority is supported by Governor Snyder, the “Fab Five” metro Detroit county and city elected leaders, and the top legislative bodies (county commissions and Detroit City Council) of each major jurisdiction in the region.
Despite this overwhelming support, however, neither Speaker Bolger nor Majority Leader Richardville has been willing to schedule a floor vote on the bills.
Interview opportunities will be available after the hearing. Transit advocates available for comment include:
Megan Owens, Transportation Riders United: 248-259-2439
Michael Tasse, MOSES Michigan: 248-444-0062
Joel Batterman, Michigan Suburbs Alliance: 734-904-5548
