(FOX 2) – Lawmakers will soon move forward with a plan to expand public transportation in Wayne County this month, beginning with a vote in November that would amend the state law that created the governing body that oversees transportation.

In what is expected to be a multi-year process, the first step is to amend a state law that eliminates the option for communities to opt out of paying for public transportation programs like the SMART regional bus system.

“The bill is drafted. Right now, we are working to build consensus,” Rep. Alabas Farhat told FOX 2 earlier this year.

County Executive Warren Evans called the current law a “dinosaur of the past” and that updating it is “critical to growth” in Wayne County.

Of the county’s 43 cities and municipalities, 17 do not pay for public transportation. That means someone in Dearborn, who does pay for transportation, cannot take a bus on Michigan Avenue and travel to Canton Township, which does not pay for transportation.

This patchwork of available transportation has also prevented Wayne County from strategizing a broader regional transportation plan with other southeastern Michigan counties, such as Oakland and Macomb counties.

“It’s kind of ridiculous,” Evans said. “We spend tons of money on workforce development, we spend money on health care and health services, and then we prevent people from getting to them.”

Oakland County ended its opt-out feature in 2022 using its own ballot proposal. Before that, traffic gaps in the suburbs meant that bus routes on Woodward Avenue or Grand River were fragmented, preventing people from accessing popular destinations like Twelve Oaks Mall.

For Wayne County to follow in the footsteps of Oakland and Macomb (counties that do not allow their communities to opt out of public transportation), the first step is to amend Public Law 196.

Farhat’s bill would update the 1986 law to eliminate the ability for local municipalities to opt out. The bill is worded so that only Wayne County would be affected if it were passed by the legislature.

Wayne County Deputy Executive Assad I. Turfe said in a statement that his department was “delighted” to be behind the law update, calling it a “significant step” in making public transportation available to residents. residents.

“This initiative is especially impactful for seniors, job seekers, and people with disabilities as it will improve mobility, open up new opportunities, and improve overall quality of life. By prioritizing inclusive and accessible transportation, we are committed to creating a community where everyone can move freely and efficiently, fostering a more connected and equitable Wayne County.”

There would also be conversations between Wayne County officials and agencies such as the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT), the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) and SMART to develop a regional framework for the rest of Southeast Michigan.

From there, a proposal would be placed on the county ballot in an upcoming election for voters to decide on expanding public transportation.

That framework, along with reliable financing, could also lay the groundwork for building even larger transportation networks with the help of the Strategic Attraction and Reach Reserve (SOAR) Fund, which finances large-scale economic projects.