This morning the House Transportation Committee took testimony for over 2 hours on legislation that would create a Regional Transit Authority (RTA) in Southeast Michigan. HB 5309 mirrors legislation that passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee in May which has since stalled on the Senate floor.

Today in the House committee, several state and local officials and several members of the business community testified in support of this RTA legislation. Chairman Opsommer said there will be additional committees and testimony on the legislation in the future. This could possibly happen when the Legislature returns after the November elections. The League supports the RTA in concept, but does have concerns with a portion of the main RTA bill SB 909 & HB 5309 that would preempt all local zoning.