DETROIT – Voters may not be able to weigh in on the $4.6 billion public transportation plan as the board of the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan couldn’t sway Macomb and Oakland counties to allow the proposal to be on November ballot.
Local 4's Shawn Ley reports the RTA board's decision brings a "screeching halt" to its plans to expand bus and rail service throughout southeastern Michigan.
#BREAKING: #Detroit $4.74 Billion regional transit plan comes to screeching halt. I'll explain why and what's next @Local4News 4p & 5p.
— Shawn Ley (@ShawnLeyLive) July 28, 2016
Each county in the plan must vote in favor of placing the proposal on the ballot. Representatives from Oakland and Macomb counties voted no.
This isn’t the plan that we were looking for,” Chuck Moss, Oakland representative said during a public meeting in Detroit. “This is not a regional transit plan; it’s a regional taxation plan. It’s a plan without transportation. No taxation without transportation.”
The board called an emergency meeting to be held in a week. If the issue isn’t resolved in a week, RTA says it will destroy the opportunity for the voters to vote on the proposal and that it will not make the ballot.
Local 4's Shawn Ley reports the RTA board has a week to come up with a compromise to send its regional transit plan to voters:
RTA: If we don't get this done in one week we destroy the opportunity for the voters to vote on this. We will not be on the ballot.
— Shawn Ley (@ShawnLeyLive) July 28, 2016
More on the RTA's plans:
RTA Implemntation Timetable: 2017-2026
Breaking down RTA proposal for Macomb County
Interview with RTA leader Michael Ford
Proposed transit system explained
How RTA plan affects certain communities
Fares are unknowns in RTA plan
RTA transit plan: How much will it cost you?
How RTA plan links Detroit to Ann Arbor