Eric Lupher

Driving in southeast Michigan is more than just getting from one place to another; it feels almost patriotic to support the home-team industry by grabbing your keys for everything from a quick trip to the market, to getting to work.

In Michigan we have often thought of public transit as a service for those who cannot afford a car. It is seen as a tool for addressing workforce needs and a transportation option to access healthcare, supermarkets, and other personal needs — for the low-income population, not the rest of us.

But the auto industry is changing, in part because its customers are, too. Car ownership is changing. Commuting is changing.

Without strong public transportation systems, Michigan will be left behind in attracting young workers looking to establish roots in its urban communities. Younger generations are much less inclined to want to own a car as their main mode of transportation. They use multiple means of transportation, relying on ridesharing and other mobility methods that work in tandem with transit to provide wide-ranging options. Without a reliable, safe system in southeast Michigan, many of them may look elsewhere for employment.

Before long we can expect the leaders of Detroit and the four counties that are members of the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) to publicly state their ideas to levy a tax to fund regional transit services. They will offer plans to ensure that the far-flung parts of their counties are served. We think that the authorizing law for the RTA should be reassessed before that process begins to create better opportunities for success.

The Citizens Research Council of Michigan’s new report offers a number of ideas to create more effective regional transportation systems.

Change our view of public transportation. Instead of treating it merely as a service for low-income and car-less populations, we need to think of it as a vital public utility that will facilitate urban revitalization, job growth, and economic expansion. Transit should be thought of as an investment in our regional economy, not an act of charity.

Civic leaders should ask the state Legislature to strengthen the laws that authorize the provision of public transit. Regional governance is critical to a strong system. We think the laws should be revised to remove the opportunities for local governments to opt out of participation — the transit blackout zones caused by opt-out communities weakens our existing regional system. It is myopic thinking that negatively affects the whole region when individual communities suggest they are stronger without participating in this vital regional service.

We think the regional governing board should represent residents of southeast Michigan — who are current or potential transit riders — not the constituent local governments, as it does now. We long ago came to understand the importance of the constitutional principle of “one person, one vote” for representation in our legislative bodies. This principle must carry over to representation on regional government entities, such as transit authorities, that are entrusted with the power to tax and make land use policy decisions that affect all of us.

The law should create incentives for local governments to collaborate on the policies that affect transit: a “complete streets” approach to road policy encourages the use of public transit in addition to car and other mobility options. It is not necessary to eliminate local governments to achieve regional governance for some services, but it is necessary that they work together to facilitate provision of those services.

Authorizing laws should give the governing boards of transit authorities an ability to provide input on matters of planning, zoning, and economic development. Transit does not exist in a vacuum. If we continue to allow urban sprawl and low-density development, transit providers will always be disadvantaged.

Finally, let’s take funding seriously. Detroit residents have some of the highest property taxes in the nation. The surrounding suburbs are not far behind. Using the property tax as the primary funding source for transit keeps the focus on the perceived benefits to individual properties, neighborhoods, and communities. It has forced transit providers to guarantee some portion of the funds are spent in geographic areas instead of holistically assessing what's best for the region.

Most states authorize local-option sales taxes or income taxes as the primary funding sources for regional services. The fact that people spend money in a lot of places throughout the region would be reflected in sales tax revenues. Likewise, many people do not live in the same community where they earn wages subject to income tax. Both taxes reflect regional activity better than the property tax.

We also suggest looking at using multiple taxes to minimize the burden and reflect the benefits of transit. Some or all of the taxes could be “feathered,” meaning that rates vary according the proximity to the urban center and the higher levels of transit service provided.

We do not have all the ideas for funding and governing our transit systems, but our research into practices in other states offers some good ones. Our ability to attract young people may depend on an investment in transit services that are so sorely lacking in Southeast Michigan.

Eric Lupher is president of the Citizens Research Council of Michigan.