Thank you to everyone who has made phone calls and sent emails to their legislators over the past few days (and months!). Yesterday, the legislature voted on several key transit bills, moving them forward:
- The critical Transportation Funding bills passed the House as "shell" bills, without any specific numbers, which means the debate continues for one more week. Negotiations continue between House Speaker Andy Dillon and Senate Leader Mike Bishop. We need to keep the pressure on them to pass this vital transportation funding (including an est. $150 million per year for public transit). Learn more about this proposal and its benefits for transit.
- The Woodward Light Rail bills, which enable and help fund Michigan’s first new rapid transit line, passed the House. Differences between the House and Senate versions need to be worked out, including where the state funds would come from.
- Transit Tax Increment Financing (HB 6114), which provides an important local funding tool, passed the Senate Transportation Committee and now moves to the full Senate. Debate continues over opt-outs and hopefully a compromise can be worked out that doesn’t dilute transit investment.
- Unfortunately no progress has been made on the other local funding option bills. They are likely dead and will need to be reintroduced next year.
We’re seeing critical progress, but we’re not done yet! Both the House and the Senate will return for one final day next Thursday, December 18. They need to vote on all of these critical bills that day.
Please keep the pressure on. Please keep calling your legislators, emailing your legislators, and calling the leadership (Speaker Dillon and Senator Bishop) – let them know that you believe Michigan must invest in public transit and that you don’t mind paying a little more (an estimated 40-cents a day) for a good transportation network and a jumpstart to rapid transit in Michigan. Thanks!!