(The following article by Hank Schaller was posted on the Oakland Press website on October 13.)
OAKLAND, Mich. — Democrats and Republicans in the Michigan House of Representatives joined forces Wednesday to argue for more state and federal funding for public transportation in Michigan.
State Reps. Marie Donigan, D-Royal Oak, and Jerry Kooiman, R-Grand Rapids, announced the formation of a bipartisan Public Transit Legislative Caucus to educate fellow state legislators on the need for more funding for bus systems and Amtrak train service statewide.
“Arguing whether roads or public transit is more important has gotten us nowhere,” Donigan said. “We simply cannot build our way out of traffic congestion.”
In recent years, the priority of the Michigan Department of Transportation when spending state and federal transportation funds has been to fix roads first and then deal with traffic congestion problems.
“Public transit brings our communities together,” Donigan said. “It connects employers with employees. It connects doctors with patients. It connects businesses with customers. Rising fuel prices have made it clear we are in definite need of wellfunctioning public transportation.
“Once upon a time, 75 years ago, we had transportation options in southeastern Michigan, and now we have no options except driving ourselves to work,” Donigan said. “We are behind the times when compared with other parts of the nation, especially when 30 percent of the population in southeastern Michigan don’t drive. Public transit issues deserve adequate legislative attention and consideration, and I look forward to making real progress on this issue.”
Donigan said better public transportation can also stimulate tourism, especially during events such as the Major League Baseball All-Star Game played this past summer and the Super Bowl that will be played in Detroit in February.
She is among the state legislators who support improved bus service along Woodward Avenue between downtown Detroit and downtown Pontiac.
Kooiman agreed that public transportation does not get the support it needs in Michigan.
“Only when we understand the economic impact of transit in this state will we begin to provide the support needed to ensure we have effective and efficient transit systems throughout the state,” Kooiman said.
Other members of the transit caucus are state Reps. Clarence Phillips, D-Pontiac; Morris Hood, D-Detroit; Bill Caul, R-Mount Pleasant; Scott Hummel, R-DeWitt; Steve Tobocman, D-Detroit; John Gleason, D-Flushing; Lee Gonzales, D-Flint Township; and Gino Polidori, D-Dearborn.