TRU is one of the leading organizations in educating the general public, public officials, business leaders, and organizations on the importance of public transit throughout the Detroit region. We’ve engaged in a variety of education campaigns, such as our presentation series (Transit Tuesday Talks and Let’s Talk Transit), platforming riders (Transit Voices), providing general information to the public (Detroit Transit Resources and Try Transit), being an expert on transit in the media, and providing research and reports on transit throughout Detroit and the state (TRU Library).
Transit Tuesday Talks
Multiple times a year, TRU hosts Transit Tuesday Talks. These are events bringing transit leaders, riders, advocates, and allies together to explore important transit issues facing the Detroit region. Normally, we’ll will host a speaker or panel to present on a series of topics moderated by us. Recent topics and guests have included:
- RTA Updates: Qline, D2A2, DAX, and What’s Next: Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan (RTA)
- Regional Transit Planning: SMART, RTA, SEMCOG
- Bringing Transit Countywide: Oakland County and Calhoun County
- Rural Transit: Oakland County, Western-Washtenaw Area Value Express (WAVE), North Oakland Transit Authority (NOTA)
- How Michigan and Detroit Fund Transit: Rep. Regina Weiss
Detroit Transit Resources & Try Transit
Whether you’ve never taken the bus or have rode it somewhere else, there are many people interested in taking transit in Detroit who just don’t know how to ride. TRU has developed a guide on how to ride the bus in Detroit, navigating the various agencies and services located in metro Detroit, and we also hold various try transit events throughout the year in case you want to ride, but would like someone there to advise you.
Transportation Civic Academy
Last year (2024), TRU held our very first Transportation Civic Academy. The Civic Academy educates civic leaders and engaged citizens on the importance of transit and transportation policy for their community. This ten-week course gives you all the tools you need to be an effective transit advocate, and is free for anyone to enroll in!
The Transportation Civic Academy occurs during the Fall in a series of in person and virtual sessions, designed to accommodate work schedules. Stay tuned for the 2025 application!
Transit Voices
Much of TRU’s education efforts focus on the facts and figures behind transit, but it’s the actual riders who are at the center of any transit system. Our Transit Voices series gives riders a platform to share their story and the importance transit plays in their lives, along with some of their thoughts and wishes for our transportation system.
Media Outreach
TRU is proud to be a leading source for transit information for the media. From major regional TV stations and newspapers to local weeklies and podcasts, we work hard to provide timely explanations of complex issues in ways people can really understand.
Presentations and Speaker Bureau
There are a lot of people who don’t know much about transit, and are outside the usual audiences of government officials, riders, or transit nerds. TRU’s Let’s Talk Transit series exists to educate those outside our usual groups. Are you part of a group that does regular meetings, or invites guest speakers from time to time? We’ll connect you with community leaders, or come give a presentation ourselves, about transit that aligns with your groups interests.
When we surveyed attendees, 91% of attendees said they learned something, and 74% said they’re more likely to support transit investment in the future. Contact us to setup a Let’s Talk Transit speaker event for your organization!
TRU Library & Research
Over the years, TRU has published numerous reports on transportation throughout Detroit and Michigan. We’ve been quoted in numerous articles, and have given many presentations. This accumulation of information is one of the largest sources on transit in Michigan, and we host it at the TRU Library. Additionally, if you or your organization need help researching transit/transportation in Detroit or Michigan, reach out to [email protected] with questions!