Best Way to Improve Midtown Detroit

There is actually a way to improve public transit — not just for Midtown, but for the entire metro region! — currently being debated in the Michigan Legislature. Our solons are weighing the possibility of creating a Regional Transit Authority that would serve as an umbrella organization covering Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw counties, and the city of Detroit. If created, the RTA would provide "rapid" bus service along Woodward, Gratiot and a few other major corridors — including dedicated service to Detroit Metro Airport. A second piece to solving this particular transit puzzle would be to have the Legislature put on the ballot a measure seeking voter approval to raise vehicle registration fees (about $30) to fund the RTA. If our legislators are smart, they will listen to MT readers and do the best thing for our region and make public transit better for the benefit of all. Corporate backers of a downtown-to-New Center light rail plan said recently that they are on track to start building late this year for a 2014 completion. Others are skeptical, given the city's tattered finances.