Title
Resolution Supporting Citizens for Connecting Our Communities - Vote Yes for Regional Transit
Memorandum
The attached resolution expresses the Environmental Commission’s strong support for Citizens for Connecting our Communities (C3) and the need to Vote YES for Regional Transit that connects Southeast Michigan’s four counties. The attached resolution also recommends that the Ann Arbor City Council support C3 and commit to help pass connected regional public transportation in Southeast Michigan in 2016.
Staff
Entered by Councilmember Smith
Body
WHEREAS, Southeast Michigan’s regional public transit system is challenged due to severe underfunding compared to peer regions around the country, leaving us at an economic disadvantage; and
WHEREAS, the Regional Master Transit Plan outlines the connected network that seniors and people with disabilities need to maintain independence and mobility; and
WHEREAS, Southeast Michigan is failing to secure billions in potential economic benefit, that studies show accompany regional transit investments; and
WHEREAS, a large majority of jobs in the region are not readily accessible by existing regional transit; and
WHEREAS, the Regional Master Transit Plan will connect people to jobs; and
WHEREAS, the Regional Master Transit Plan will connect Southeast Michigan’s four counties - Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne - and two major population centers - Detroit and Ann Arbor; and
WHEREAS, the RTA of Southeast Michigan’s Regional Master Transit Plan is the opportunity we need to create a connected regional transit system that supports the needs of our residents; and
WHEREAS, improved regional transit will help Southeast Michigan to compete economically with other major metropolitan areas; and
WHEREAS, connecting Southeast Michigan’s four counties with regional public transit will create new jobs and provide connections to existing jobs; and
WHEREAS, younger generations continue to look outside of Southeast Michigan to relocate to regions with effective, reliable regional transit; and
WHEREAS, regional transit must be strengthened and improved to make Southeast Michigan more competitive, which will help local communities attract more businesses and create local jobs; and
WHEREAS, this is the opportunity to connect Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties with the reliable regional transit network we need,
RESOLVED, the Ann Arbor Environmental Commission expresses its strong support for Citizens for Connecting our Communities (C3) and the need to Vote YES for Regional Transit that connects Southeast Michigan’s four counties;
RESOLVED, The Ann Arbor Environmental Commission recommends that the Ann Arbor City Council support C3 and commit to help pass connected regional public transportation in Southeast Michigan in 2016.