102nd Legislature, Weeks 26-30: Carpool Lanes and Bus Lanes
Now can we get in the legislative fast lane?
Carpool Lanes
House Bills 4352 and 4353, introduced by Representative Shannon, were enrolled on Tuesday, October 3rd with the governor’s signature expected shortly. These bills will authorize MDOT to operate carpool lanes on I-75 between South Boulevard and 12 Mile Road. The signage has already been constructed in advance of this expected legislation.
As a result of this legislation, future projects can be planned to include HOV lanes without any further legislative approval.
Bus Lanes
On Thursday, October 5th, Senator Singh introduced Senate Bill 566 , which grants MDOT the authority to operate bus rapid transit lanes on a state highway. While the intent of the legislation has yet to be discussed, it is likely enabling legislation for the Detroit Mobility and Innovation Corridor Project in Corktown which would see the installation of center-running bus lanes on Michigan Avenue between Spring 2025 and Fall 2026.
The last time this provision of Public Act 51 was updated was March of 2013, when former State Senator Virgil Smith drafted Senate Bill 967 . While a reference to RTA-enabling legislation was updated to meet current style guidelines in this year’s bill, the new language pertaining to bus lanes does not appear to be dependent on action from the Regional Transit Authority .
The earliest opportunity this bill has to receive a hearing would be Tuesday, October 10th at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
This marks the first time we have seen the RTA mentioned in a bill since the 102nd Legislature took office, even if in less than material fashion. It’s high time we see introduction of a full reform package.
With two representatives running for mayor, there is a real possibility of temporarily losing Democratic House majority after the first week of November until special elections can be held. The legislature has discussed early adjournment, which means if we do not see amendments to the RTA’s operating structure and geographic footprint within the next calendar month, we may not see critical changes in time to rescue a potential 2024 ballot measure following a razor-thin failure in 2016 , a proposal blocked by Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel in 2018, and legislation which died in 2020 .
If you’re a legislator and you’re reading this: Please. At least introduce the necessary bill or package of bills while there is still time. I believe I can speak for all transit advocates across this state when I say we can’t bear to see 2024 added to the list of regional transit efforts that have died on the vine.
As for the Corktown project, it’s the first of its kind for MDOT and quite out of character for the department — in a good way. With the exception of the QLINE travel lane in front of Little Caesars Arena , no major thoroughfare in Michigan has a dedicated transit-only lane in addition to a reduction in lanes for private vehicle traffic.
It’s great to see a more progressive design from MDOT, although as myself and others have noted, the score is 99 to 1. We have little reason to trust that they will follow through without significant public pressure and scrutiny .
To whom it may concern at MDOT: Expressway widening projects and fancy bridges over said widened expressways are not what young Michiganders are talking about when we ask for functional regional transit.
Fixing up one corridor is a good thing, but it’s not a comprehensive transit solution. We want to talk about our stagnant population? Southeast Michigan cannot move forward without fixing the RTA’s funding stream, and the legislature must treat this as a priority before year’s end.
I’ll be following committees and bill introductions closely next week. More soon.