Mike Brennan
President and CEO, United Way for Southeastern Michigan

True to our mission, the United Way’s perspective on regional transit stems from access to help. Lack of adequate, efficient public transportation consistently hinders the efforts of the United Way and other community organizations working to assist people in need. As such, the lack of a comprehensive regional transit system has been a major barrier to the improvement of the health of individuals and families.

About 700,000 people in Southeast Michigan don’t know where they will find their next meal. We receive calls into our 211 information referral help line from those looking for resources, including access to food. Many have children to feed, and are making decisions on whether to pay rent, utility bills, or to buy groceries. There are wonderful organizations in the area that can help them – but unfortunately many people have no way of getting to these places. If help is not near where people live and they don’t have any access to transportation, we have a gap between the demand for help and the available helping resource. Regional transportation will bridge that gap.

Building that bridge requires regional collaboration. Communities in Southeast Michigan have traditionally favored self-interest over partnership. Metro Detroit is beginning to transform as a result of the economic challenges of recent years. A shift in consciousness is occurring, creating a willingness of individuals to work together and cooperate in ways that they never have before. That has birthed a different level of awareness about the strategic role mass transit plays to economic vitality and growth – attracting capital, development, and young talent. Communities are beginning to see what this investment will return.

Practically, we’ve got to tangibly demonstrate what rapid mass transit would look and feel like. We should have it underway and utilized in order for people to fully understand it. The best thing that we can do is ensure that the early projects that are in development, such the Ann Arbor to Detroit rail or the M-1 line, get launched and operational. It is tangible experience that draws people to imagine a bigger and brighter future. In using mass transit, they can imagine how it might be useful in their town, by their place of work, and they can envision it as a part of their everyday lives.

As transportation improves for everyone, quality of life increases. As quality of life increases, our region will be in a better position to ensure that citizens in need can receive the help they deserve.