Big things are happening in Washington, DC and Lansing right now regarding transit and funding.  US Transportation Secretary LaHood has begun to implement the Obama Adminstration’s vision for mass transit funding by proposing new guidelines for funding major transit projects based upon livability issues like economic development opportunities and environmental and community benefits that a project will provide.  In Lansing, legislators have introduced bills to create a new Regional Transit Authority, responding to Secretary LaHood’s challenge to SE Michigan to develop a more coherent regional system as a precursor to competing for federal mass transit funding.  This new legislation is expected to receive quite a bit of attention in the coming weeks, as swift committee action is anticipated.  To top it all off, a bi-partisan group of legislators, is expected to introduce a package of bills in early February that will greatly expand the ability of local communities to use a number of existing economic development tools to help finance Transit-Oriented Development projects.  Developing buildings and other facilities to help promote bus and rail transit systems.  Stay tuned for an exciting 2010!

Chris Hackbarth works for the Michigan Municipal League, specializing in Transportation issues. You can contact him at 517-908-0303 or by e-mail.