About TRU - Transportation Riders United

Transportation Riders United (TRU) is a Detroit-based nonprofit organization that has worked for 25 years advocating for improved public transportation throughout the metro Detroit region.

Our Mission

TRU works to ensure everyone can get where they need to go, regardless of whether they drive. TRU educates, advocates, and mobilizes for more and better transit and other affordable sustainable mobility options.

TRU's mission statement: TRU believes everyone should be able to get where they need to go.

TRU’s mission statement, officially adopted Nov 13, 2019

Our Vision: Universal Access

All people in greater Detroit will have reliable, safe, and affordable access to the places they live, work, shop, and play through a high-quality transit system.
An integrated network of buses, trains, bike routes, and other transportation options will seamlessly connect our cities, region, and beyond.
This system will foster attractive livable neighborhoods, enhance business opportunities, and improve the environmental quality of the region.

Our Values: Trustworthy Teamwork for the Public Interest

Megan testifying before SEMCOG — *TRU Director Megan Owens presented facts to the SEMCOG Assembly in a coordinated effort to minimize the I-94 expansion*

TRU is dedicated to serving the public’s best interest. We are part of the community and work on behalf of the community.
TRU works hard because we are confident that we can make a difference over the long-term. We are results-oriented and mission-driven.
TRU believes in collaboration and teamwork. We seek to engage new and diverse partners and supporters.
TRU is committed to providing trustworthy information and to making well- reasoned, evidence-based decisions.
TRU values openness and respectful candor. We strive to always act with honesty and integrity.

Who is TRU?

Our volunteer Board of Directors sets our mission and priorities, ensures sufficient resources, and oversees our activities.

Our small but active staff lead and manage TRU’s daily activities, which include research, education, engagement, outreach, and advocacy.

Our members, volunteers, partners, and supporters provide the resources, input, and activism essential to bring about positive change.

Our Focus in 2025

TRU members in Lansing, advocating for transit at the state level

While there are hundreds of ways we could potentially help improve and promote public transit (and dozens of things we wish we could do), we carefully analyze and strategically decide each year where our time, voice, and effort can bring about the greatest positive change. Here are some of our current top priority efforts:

Improve frequency of buses so most riders don’t have to wait more than ten minutes
Restore state investment in local bus operating to support reliable public transit service throughout Michigan
Expand transit throughout all of Wayne County so no one is left stranded
Modernize MDOT to prioritize safety, climate, and transit access
Amend the RTA legislation to enable more flexibility for metro Detroit to invest in transit

What We’ve Accomplished:

Keep SMART rolling advocates on a truckbed, in a town parade

With the support of partners, members, and other allies, we’ve:

Won countywide transit throughout Oakland County and defended Macomb County transit from attack
Passed legislation to create the Regional Transit Authority
Helped spur FAST bus service for more seamless connections between Detroit and the suburbs
Blocked a disastrous highway extension into Detroit’s riverfront and lessened other highway expansions
Fought back against cuts to and privatization of Detroit bus service during the city’s bankruptcy
Educated people and organizations on the importance of transit, shifting the needle on transit in the Detroit area.

Support Transit? Support TRU!

A venn diagram with public transit at the center, surronded by words like education, business, climate, people. Subtitled "Public Transit is at the heart of everything"

TRU’s work is made possible through grants and donations from individuals, businesses, organizations, and foundations ranging from $5 to $50,000. Private donations enable our legislative efforts and all we do.

TRU’s advocacy efforts are only possible thanks to our volunteers. Our volunteers meet elected leaders, educate their neighbors, help us put on events, support TRU as an organization, and fight for transit in their communities.

Does your organization support transit? TRU’s Friends of Transit Network gives organizations an opportunity to get involved in the fight for more and better transit. Friends include:

Michigan League for Public Policy
United Way for Southeast Michigan
Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities
Amalgamated Transit Union, Locals 26, 836, and 1564; AFT Michigan
Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision, Eastside Community Network
Disability Rights Michigan, Detroit Disability Power, and Disability Network of Eastern Michigan

Whether you can support TRU as an individual or organization, by donating or volunteering, all support helps fight for transit in metro Detroit and the state of Michigan. Together, we can develop the world-class transit we need to enable all Michiganders to thrive.

Special thanks to the Sally Mead Hands Foundation, Energy Foundation, United Way of Southeast Michigan, Beaumont, and Forth for their generous support over the past few years, the wonderful sponsors of our events, and enormous thanks also to each and every individual who has donated to TRU, ranging from $5 to $5,000.

Please donate today to support our work.

Transparency

In the interest of full openness and transparency, TRU’s financial records are available for public review: