 |
 |
 |
|||||
 |
|||||||
 |
|||||||
|
|
||||||
Transportation Riders United (TRU) is non-profit organization dedicated to improving transportation access and mobility in Greater Detroit. We work to:
Help us promote quality transit! Join TRU as a member, come to our meetings, give a donation, or just ride the bus yourself – check out DDOT and SMART for maps, routes, schedules and more. Join the low-volume mailing list by sending a blank email to mailinglist-subscribe@detroittransit.org September 6, 2006
For far too long, the Detroit transit debate has been if we should have transit. It's time to change the debate - to where will we build rapid transit, how it will improve our cities, and when can we ride! TRU is launching a process of changing that debate - starting by drafting a visionary transit plan, with the help of our members, transit partners and regional leaders.
More details about this project will be available in a few weeks. Check back soon! August 24, 2006
SMART is proposing several route changes, primarily in western Wayne County and southern Oakland County. Check out the SMART's proposed service changes. TRU applauds SMART for their efforts to get significant public input into these proposed routes changes. They gave a presentation and answered questions at TRU's August Rider's Voice meeting. They will be holding two public hearings on service changes on Sept. 14. They are also welcoming comments at PublicHearing@smartbus.org. August 9, 2006
The results of the SMART millage election, as reported by local media, showed overwhelming public support for the SMART bus system, even higher than in previous years. It passed in every community that voted on it, with supporters outweighing opponents 3 to 1 overall. In Oakland County, it passed with 76% of the vote. In Macomb and Wayne Counties, 70% of voters supported it. To see voting results by city, visit www.savesmart.org. Even though many people don't use the service, they understand the importance of public transit for our community and are willing to pay for it. Imagine how great the results would be if we had a chance to vote to invest in a regional rapid transit system that people were really excited about! The people are ready to support it - how long will we have to wait before our elected officials catch up? July 13, 2006
The TRU website is undergoing an overhaul - we will soon be unveiling a new and improved website. Information will be much easier to find, frequent updates will provide all the latest Detroit transit information, transit-related news will be summarized here, and more. This site will be your one-stop-shop for everything Detroit transit-related. Check back soon - or join the email list to be notified when the new site is released. July 12, 2006
The TRU Summer 2006 Newsletter is now out and available for download. Current TRU members should have received it in the mail recently. To receive this and future newsletters by mail, and to support TRU's work for quality transit, please join or renew your membership. July 7, 2006 "A Desire Named Streetcar, the past, present and potential future of Detroit Transit" is now available online! For the 50th anniversary of the last Detroit streetcar, TRU created a series of informative and interesting displays. Several told of the grand streetcar system of early 1900's Detroit. Others summarized Detroit's current transit system or looked at similar cities' success with building rapid transit. The final set outlined the potential for transit in Detroit's future. A Desire Named Streetcar Online Presentation June 3, 2006
In a recent Detroit News op-ed, Ron Gettelfinger, president of the United Auto Workers, explained that the UAW’s agenda for good jobs and clean energy includes: "Invest in mass transit. The United States is behind other industrialized nations when it comes to affordable, convenient mass transportation. It's time to catch up because mass transit is a key part of the equation needed to move people and goods while reducing emission of greenhouse gasses. Our members make buses, locomotives and the engines that power all forms of transportation. When we look at mass transit, we don't see competition with private vehicles; we see new markets and new jobs." More proof that being the Motor City shouldn’t stop us from investing in public transit! June 2, 2006
Regional leaders from Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties and the City of Detroit announced plans to hire John Hertel to coordinate public transit in the region. Specifically he will be a consultant for the Regional Transit Coordinating Council, working to build a regional bus system. TRU applauds this announcement, as Hertel has long been a strong transit supporter. We look forward to the chance to work with him to advance quality transit and hope that he will look beyond just improving the bus system into creating the regional rapid transit system this region needs. May 18, 2006
The biggest roadblock to achieving quality rapid transit is funding. Michigan law currently blocks the primary ways communities fund rapid transit projects, but that is starting to change.
Some not so good news -
May 10, 2006 Detroit City Council hearing on bus fares Mayor Kilpatrick has proposed raising bus fares for riders with disabilities to 75 cents, while seniors would continue to ride free. TRU believes that DDOT should treat seniors and people with disabilities as equals and suggests matching SMART's fare of 50 cents for both seniors and people with disabilities. The City's budget crisis is no time to pick favorites. Wednesday, May 10, is your chance to tell the City Council what you think. Come to this important hearing. It will be in the 13th floor auditorium of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Building. April 20, 2006 State leaders agree on transportation package, including 25-year transit millages After months of wrangling, Governor Granholm and the Republican leadership in the legislature came to agreement on a major transportation package. Most importantly for Detroit transit, they include an agreement to pass a bill allowing both Grand Rapids and southeast Michigan to vote on long-term transit millages, which are critical for getting federal funding for rail projects. In addition, they agree to restore $1 million for Amtrak and restore state transit positions in the transportation budget. More information is in this state press release. March 23, 2006 TRU can now accept donations and membership payments by credit card. Use the button below to make your secure, tax-deductible payment online. March 15, 2006 Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the last streetcar in Detroit, with a special event in April hosted by TRU, A Desire Named Streetcar, The Past, Present, and Future of Detroit Transit. February 20, 2006 Help us build support for a strong rail system from Ann Arbor to Detroit that can serve as a launching pad for a quality rapid transit system throughout the region. Copy this letter of support (download in Word format) for TRU's recommended option for the Ann Arbor to Detroit Rapid Transit study. Ask businesses, organizations, elected officials or others you know to sign it and send it to SEMCOG, which will decide the preferred alternative. February 7, 2006
September 20, 2005 A TRU's Downtown Detroit bus map and a TRU's Regional bus system map are now on the web page showing both DDOT and SMART routes. Also check out Approximate frequency for all DDOT and SMART routes and TRU's Initial Comment on the Ann Arbor To Detroit Study (4,000kb Acrobat file). Links
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
||||
