News

By Ben Stupka, RTA Executive Director

The theme of “A Quest for Common Ground” calls us to unite for this year’s Mackinac Policy Conference. “A Quest for Common Ground” recognizes the need for our region to work together toward a shared foundation and solution that generates greater prosperity for us all. It also asks the follow-up question: What do we agree on? 

The answer is transit. A regionwide and representative survey conducted by the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan (RTA) in 2025 found 87% of residents saw a significant benefit to transit improvements. These findings remove us from the minutiae that can lead to disagreement – like fare policies or stop locations – and put the focus on what we agree upon, which is that transit is a positive for our communities.  

When transit works, our economy works. On a day-to-day level, transit makes it so people can get to work. For many front-line employees, car ownership can be unattainable. Not only does this demographic need to get to work; we all need their contributions to staff our hospitals, grocery stores, and local businesses. And with the increase in gas prices, we see a new wave of “choice riders” who have joined the commuter crowd on transit.  

Beyond the day-to-day, transit is becoming an essential economic infrastructure that allows Southeast Michigan to compete with peer regions for talent, investment, major events, and economic growth. For example, transit will play a big role during the Men’s Final Four next March and contributes transportation solutions for the more than 50 conferences, trade shows, and large-scale events that came to our region last year, according to Visit Detroit. We have a proof-of-concept for successful outcomes but need to double down to improve our competitiveness nationally. 

A recognition of transit’s importance is why we’ve seen investment breakthroughs at the state and local levels.  

Last year, state legislators passed a transportation funding package of historic levels. Now, Southeast Michigan can finally advance projects that we have already agreed upon – such as dedicated lanes for better transit flow and major thoroughfare corridor improvements. These upgrades not only make for better transit but better communities.  

Southeast Michigan realizes collaboration is key. In recent years, we have achieved more together than apart – using one voice to advance one region.  

Look at the Transit app. For the first time in our region’s history, you can use one app to plan your trip, track your ride, and pay your fare – one app whether you’re in Detroit, Sterling Heights, Royal Oak, or Ypsilanti. The RTA and our transit providers shared a unified vision to make it easier to ride transit. Through partnership and buy-in, we achieved that goal with the Transit app. 

This year, Wayne County has a millage that would bring transit to all its 43 communities, giving every resident the ability to use transit. The millage would give 350,000 more people transit access, supporting economic development and expanding educational opportunities.

Transit isn’t one-size-fits-all. We can find common ground that meets people where they are. For some communities, an on-demand van works better than a bus. To accommodate our aging population, it’s imperative that transit service is responsive to seniors’ needs.  

After Oakland County went all-in on transit in 2022, ridership in both its northern and western suburbs exceeded 100,000 riders last year for the first time. We see firsthand transit has the potential to grow to new areas and offer access to new communities; we’re asking the right questions: Where do you need to go? How can we get you there? 

Common ground is about having the willingness to build together. Transit offers us that space, whether for students who now ride for free, people with disabilities who need mobility, or event-goers who want to have fun for a memorable night on the town.  

The RTA is working with our partners large and small to deliver transit enhancements that improve lives. By establishing goals as a team and pushing in the same direction, we’re turning plans to action and those actions into results. In every sense of the phrase, we are charting common ground for our region.  

Ben Stupka is the Executive Director of the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan.