A study of factors that inhibit and enable development of sustainable regional transit systems in southeastern Michigan. Funding structures and competing priorities for regional transit in metro Detroit. One of seven final reports resulting from this project.

PDFTech ReportCA-MNTRC-14-1136RC-1599DTRT12-G-UTC21 2010-0299Metropolitan areasRegional transportationPublic transitFinancingFederal aidCase studiesDetroit (Michigan)Mineta National Transit Research ConsortiumAnderson, ScottMineta National Transit Research ConsortiumUniversity of Detroit MercyUnited States. Dept. of Transportation. Research and Innovative Technology AdministrationMichigan. Dept. of Transportation. Research AdministrationUS Transportation CollectionThe Detroit region provides less locally raised funding for transit than other urban areas of the U.S. and Canada, resulting in atransit system that is less effective.This is exacerbated by the fact that federal funds can be used for capital projects only if a local source of matching funds isavailable, so Detroit receives less federal money than would be considered its fair share (based on population, geographic area,or similar metrics). Past efforts to improve transit foundered for political and other reasons, but recent developments, such as M-1Rail and the State\ue2\u20ac\u2122s enactment of laws creating a Regional Transit Authority (RTA), represent a positive trend.This study examines transit financing in four comparable metropolitan regions, compares them with practices and opportunitiesin the Metro Detroit region, and offers recommendations for the future