A potential mass transit connection between Wayne and Washtenaw counties is still on the table.

With a lack of support for boosting public transportation among leaders in Oakland and Macomb counties, the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan (RTA) earlier this year killed a plan to put a $5.4-billion, four-county proposal on the November ballot. The proposal included a Detroit-Ann Arbor rail and a plethora of regional bus routes.

The Washtenaw County board of commissioners in February approved a resolution to engage in preliminary discussions on a transit agreement with Wayne County, Detroit and other related entities, and those discussions could be revived this fall, according to commission chariman Andy LaBarre.

"That was largely on hold in the spring and summer until it kinda became clear Oakland and Macomb were going to remain obstinate on the RTA question," LaBarre said. "It's preliminary, certainly. We haven't brought it back to the Washtenaw County board for any official actions but I'm hoping sometime this fall, we'll be able to put that in some formal structure."

Although leaders have not firmly committed to a new plan yet, LaBarre is hoping there will be a "full enough product" to consider in an attempt to place something on the 2019 ballot.

"I don't know if that will happen. That's what I'm hopeful will happen," he said. "I can't speak for Wayne or Detroit But we need to figure out what's the data we need. Then get an initial look at it...and (if) this is an option to go forward with."

Officials within the Wayne County Executive's office consider transit one of their top priorities, with both two- and four-county options in play, according to a spokesperson.

"We still believe that a four-county solution is the right way to go to meet the transit needs of our region and to be competitive with other metropolitan areas," said Dave Massaron, Detroit chief operating officer, in a statement.

"We are always open to considering the viability of any proposal that will lead to better transit options for Detroiters," Massaron continued.