Written by Ben Stupka, Executive Director, RTA
In the Motor City, the mobility innovations of tomorrow aren’t just happening on assembly lines in the brick-and-mortar automobile factories that made Detroit famous around the world.
The Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan (RTA) is leading the charge to connect our region through accessible, inclusive transit. Connecting a four-county region of more than 4 million people and thousands of square miles cannot be done with a hammer and nail.
As laid out by our Regional Transit Master Plan, the RTA and Southeast Michigan’s transit providers are rolling out solutions that fit people’s lives and meet our communities’ needs for today and beyond.
In the first half of the 20th century, Detroit boasted a booming population and economy that led the nation, which saw our region grow rapidly and outwardly. The installation of the nation’s first expressway led the way to a transportation system centred around the automobile.
Now, the demand for reliable public transportation is steadily growing once again, and efficient, accessible transit options are evolving. Transit has proven to be essential in attracting and retaining people, including young workers and aging populations.
The RTA was established in 2012 through state legislation to bring together a fragmented system and provide Southeast Michigan with a clear path forward.
We partner with transit providers, communities, businesses, and residents to shape a vision of what public transit can be—and what it can do for our economy, neighbourhoods, and people. Our mission is to develop new and better ways to move and connect people, with the ultimate vision of a region where advancements in transit generate prosperity for all.
We’re implementing that vision through three primary roles: as drivers and doers, transit subject matter experts, and community connectors.
Our work is most visible through the services we operate. That includes the QLINE, a free, 3.3-mile streetcar on Woodward Avenue, one of Detroit’s most iconic corridors. When it launched in 2017, the QLINE was the first streetcar in 61 years on a major Detroit thoroughfare.
Based on years of data and research, there was a demand for nonstop, express transit connections. So, we acted, introducing pilot services. We launched D2A2, which connects Detroit and Ann Arbor—welcoming university students, commuters, and visitors.
Next, we implemented the Detroit Air Xpress (DAX), the first nonstop transit link to Detroit Metropolitan Airport. It has quickly gained popularity among residents, tourists, and airport employees.
The work behind the scenes makes this all possible. Long before these projects touched down, they were action items and recommendations in our Regional Transit Master Plan. Now, a combined 15,000 riders a month rely on D2A2 and DAX. We’re not resting on our laurels.
Guided by our master plan, we’re following national trends and responding to residents’ wishes by making payments and navigation easier and improving service coordination.
When people see transit work, they use it. In November 2022, Oakland County residents passed a 10-year transit millage that filled service gaps in critical areas by expanding and creating new bus routes. Other places are following suit.
Our partners at the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) and Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) are fine-tuning their networks so routes serve more people and match travel patterns. They’re also testing micro transit services, which run smaller vehicles on rider-tailored routes, to respond to real-time needs.
Momentum is building. Every new rider on D2A2, every family that benefits from expanded Oakland County service, every senior who can make it to a doctor’s appointment thanks to transit represents progress toward a more connected region.
Our achievements are not just wins for transit – they are investments in economic growth, workforce development, and quality of life.
Southeast Michigan residents deserve a transit system as innovative as the city that put the world on wheels. Together with our partners, we are laying the foundation for a region where people can move more freely, where opportunity is within reach, and where mobility fuels prosperity for generations to come.
Joining us in September? Check out the RTA’s website for up-to-date travel options, for conference days and beyond.
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This inspiring piece highlights the vital role of public transit in revitalizing communities. The RTAs innovative efforts, like the QLINE and D2A2, are transforming mobility, fostering economic growth, and improving quality of life. It’s heartening to see such forward-thinking initiatives shaping a brighter future for Southeast Michigan.