Legislation to create a regional transit authority in southeast Michigan got overwhelming support at a committee hearing in Lansing Thursday morning. Local county, business, and community leaders all expressed an eagerness to pass the bills in front of the state House Transportation Committee.
Robert Daddow spoke on behalf of Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson. He’s confident the bills will pass.
“The governor has pressed this for some period of time, has been actively working in the coordination between the units – Detroit, Wayne, Oakland, Washtenaw – in trying to get an agreement together," he says. And we’re very very close, if not right there, right now.
Supporters say the regional authority would greatly improve transportation, which would attract businesses and young talent to southeast Michigan.
State officials have tried many times to get a deal done and implemented. Some supporters are skeptical it can get out of the legislature. Others worry about possible legal challenges if it does pass.