Public Transit advocates lobby Lansing

By Gretchen Millich / Kevin Lavery, WKAR Radio News

(East Lansing, MI) – Supporters of public transportation visited state legislators in Lansing Tuesday to lobby for more investment in bus, light rail, commuter rail and high-speed rail systems in Michigan.

Business and local government leaders say the state could loose up to $120-million in matching federal funds starting next year, if the legislature does not increase state funding for public transportation.

Clark Harder is with the Michigan Public Transit Association.

He says locally, the public supports bus and rail service.

He says for every dollar Michigan taxpayers send to the federal government for public transportation, the state gets back only 42 cents.