(FOX 2) – Lawmakers will soon move forward with a plan to expanding public transit in Wayne County this month, starting with a vote in November that would change the state law that created the governing body to oversee transportation.

In what is expected to be a multi-year process, the first step is to change a state law that removes the ability for communities to choose not to pay for transit programs like the SMART regional bus system.

“The bill is written. Right now we’re working to come to consensus,” Rep. Alabas Farhat told FOX 2 earlier this year.

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

Of the county’s 43 cities and townships, 17 do not pay for public transportation. That means someone in Dearborn, who pays for transit, can’t get on a bus on Michigan Avenue and go to Canton Township, which doesn’t pay for transit.

This patchwork of available transit has also prevented Wayne County from developing a broader regional transit strategy with other southeast Michigan counties like Oakland and Macomb counties.

“It’s a little 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 accessing them.”

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

For Wayne County to follow in the footsteps of Oakland and Macomb – counties that do not allow its communities to opt out of public transit – the first step is to amend Public Law 196.

Farhat’s bill would update the 1986 law to remove the ability for local municipalities to opt out. The bill is written so that only Wayne County would be affected if it were approved by the Legislature.

Assad I. Turfe, Wayne County’s deputy executive, said in a statement that his department was “pleased” to spearhead the law update, calling it an “important step” toward implementing public transport available to residents.

“This initiative has a particularly significant impact for older people, job seekers and people with disabilities, as it will improve mobility, open up new opportunities and improve the overall quality of life. By prioritizing inclusive and accessible transit, 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 Southeastern Michigan.

From there, a proposal would be put on the county ballot in an upcoming election for voters to decide on transit expansion.

This framework, coupled with reliable funding, could also lay the groundwork for building even larger transit networks with help from the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve (SOAR) Fund, which funds economic projects on a large scale.