TRU works hard to make transit better throughout our metro area. Learn what we do and why for the entire Metro Detroit region!
For a public transit system to be effective, it needs sufficient dedicated funding for long-term operations. Nearly every major metropolitan area has a dedicated regional transit tax that supports its construction and ongoing operation of buses, trains, senior shuttles, rapid transit, streetcars, and more. Other than SMART’s modest millage, our region lacks such a funding source.
Investing just a third of what most metro regions invest, we get what we pay for: not much.
Even though Detroit is the 14th largest metro region in the nation:
The Detroit region spends less than any other metro region in the top 25, including Cleveland, Atlanta, St. Louis, Las Vegas, and Phoenix!
Even comparing just to other Midwest or medium-sized metro regions, we still invest the least.
2016 Regional Transit Plan
The Regional Transit Authority analyzed the gaps and limits of southeast Michigan’s transit and developed a plan to provide much more of the transit our region needs. The Regional Transit Master Plan was approved in 2016 by the RTA Board, with support from all four counties and the City of Detroit.
This plan was broadly supported and endorsed by over 250 leading businesses, organizations, and civic leaders.
While the 2016 vote on whether to invest 1.2 mils over the next 20 years to implement that plan was narrowly defeated, preventing the major investment we need, several lower-cost components of the plan have been implemented:
- Seamless express bus service on busy corridors (FAST bus)
- Coordinated fare structure (DART)
- Express bus service linking Detroit and Ann Arbor, along with Downtown Detroit and DTW
Recent Successes in Regional Transit
In the years since, individual cities and counties have had major transit wins, such as:
- Macomb passes SMART Millage (2018)
- Macomb & Wayne SMART Millage Renewals (2022)
- Oakland Countywide Transit (2022)
- Ann Arbor & Ypsilanti nearly tripling TheRide’s Millage (2022)
Every Community in the Tri-County Will Have Transit
Starting in 1995, communities in Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties were able to opt-out of SMART bus service. Many rural and suburban communities opted out, based on decisions by their city councils. Most of these opt-outs did not go to a general vote.
TRU has worked since then to end the system of opt-outs. Macomb has always been in SMART together, and narrowly passed a countywide millage renewal in 2022. Oakland County ended opt-outs with a countywide vote in 2022. In 2024, the state legislature abolished the opt-out system, putting Wayne County up for a countywide vote in 2026. And on August 4th of 2026, Wayne County voted 2 to 1 in favor of a countywide SMART system!
The tri-county wide SMART system is still being implemented, but within a few years, every community will have transit service, including bus routes, paratransit for seniors and people with disabilities, and dial-a-ride service in rural areas and some suburbs. This transit system is provided by SMART and local partners throughout each county, including Richmond-Lenox EMS, NOTA, WOTA, People’s Express, Nankin Transit, Livonia Liv&Go, and OPC, to name a few. DDOT still provides service for Detroit as well.
Next, we’re aiming to expand transit service countywide in Washtenaw county, especially after Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti voters approved tripling TheRide’s funding in 2022 for more and better service!
What Can You Do?
Join TRU! We rely on the support and participation of everyday people to make transit better in our city. We are a grassroots advocacy group, and we build power by uniting together. Become a TRU member, come to our next volunteer meeting, and join our volunteer list to help us get better transit for our entire metro region.