That Time Detroit Almost Expanded Transit—And How It Still Could

In 2016, Detroit came within less than 20,000 votes of passing a massive transit investment plan that would have transformed the city. It needs that investment. Detroit is the second largest city in the Midwest with 4.4 million in the metro area, but it has transit funding more like you’d find in a much smaller city. It spends about 1/3 as much per person as other large US cities. It has no subway, no commuter rail, basically no light rail—not even BRT. Detroit transit is failing its citizens, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

In this video, I talk to Megan Owens who leads Detroit’s leading transit advocate, Transit Riders United. She was on the front lines fight for the 2016 ballot initiative - and she's still fighting to expand transit in Detroit. Our conversation was inspiring about the future of Detroit and the broader Midwest. Let me know what you think in the comments!

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00:49 Chapter 1: Detroit's History
06:17 Chapter 2: A Bold Plan
07:16 Chapter 3: The Outcome
09:36 Chapter 4: What's Next
13:35 Take Action & Conclusion