By David Fleet

Editor

Each day Don Stiles drives 45 minutes each way from his Brandon Township home to downtown Detroit for work.

“And that’s on a good day,” said Stiles, who for the past 10 years commutes to Woodward Avenue and East Grand Boulevard in downtown. “On a bad day it’s three hours of my day one way on the road. I’m not going to support the upcoming RTA millage because I’m a conservative and not in favor of handing any money over to any government for any reason. But the M-1 rail line stops in front of my office in Detroit and if I could get on that train and take it north to Pontiac I’d do it right now.”

Stiles’ suggestion of enhanced public transportation connecting the outlying communities with the Detroit metro area is at the center of an upcoming vote.

On Nov. 8 Oakland County voters along with those in Macomb, Wayne and Washtenaw counties, will consider a Regional Transit Authority funding request for 1.2 mills over 20 years. The money would be used to build and operate a public transportation system between the counties, including rapid transit bus routes and a rail route between Detroit and Ann Arbor.

About 2 million voters are expected to decide the millage that will enhance public transportation to just north of M-59.

Supporters of the millage say the service is needed to move the region forward and compete for workers nationally. Critics complain the cost is too high and too few people use mass transit to justify the expense. They also argue that only the heavily populated communities will benefit, while fringe areas such as Brandon and Groveland townships will contribute, but realize little pay-off.

If the millage is approved, a person owning a home with an assessed value of $100,000 would pay about $120 a year. It is estimated the RTA millage would garner almost $161 million in just its first year.

On July 11, 2016 the Brandon Township Board of Trustees approved a resolution in opposition to taxing local residents for the RTA millage.

However, Megan Owen, executive director of Transportation Riders United, advocates of the Detroit region and a balanced transportation network who support the RTA, says northern Oakland County has plenty to gain from voting for the millage.

“Folks in northern Oakland County will not have as much direct benefits as some of the other regions,” admits Owen. “We recognize this; however, there are still significant benefits to those in Groveland and Brandon townships.”

Services for seniors will be expanded with Paratransit to Washtenaw, Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb she said.

“A senior citizen can call ahead of time and get a ride to the southern parts of the county,” she said. “It’s a connection to doctors, shopping or other locations in nearby counties.”

Secondly, rides to work or entertainment in the other counties will be available, added Owen.

“Roadwork on I-75 in Oakland County will be ongoing for the next decade,” she said. “Just avoid the hassle from northern Oakland County and park in Auburn Hills then take a bus to Detroit or Metro (airport). Often the cost of parking in Detroit is outrageous and (parking) lots will be available farther north (of Detroit) then just ride in to town.”

“Finally, the region will attract and retain more talented young professionals,” Owen added. “Many young people are now moving away from southeast Michigan to cities that have an effective transportation system. The RTA will provide encouragement to stay near home. It’s an economic benefit for the whole region, when they invest $1 they get $4 in return, more jobs created, its not just critical infrastructure for the community.”

Like Brandon Township, the Groveland Board of Trustees also opposed the millage.

“There is no benefit for the residents of Groveland Township,” said Bob DePalma, township supervisor. “It’s a complete waste of time. If passed, the1.2 millage will be almost 20 percent more than what it cost to run the entire township. And we all receive nothing for it. It’s a plain old money grab with the funding going to the city.”