The Rev. Stephen Jones of the First Baptist Church of Birmingham welcomes members of the Metropolitan Organizing Strategy Enabling Strength who want the state to stop new road building until the area has a rapid transit system. Currently, the state spends 65 percent of its transportation dollars on maintenance. In parts of Oakland County, there are twice as many jobs as people. Transportation is the single biggest barrier handicapped people face in this region. I know people who are literally trapped in their homes.
Bus service can be erratic and broken up along regional lines.
The congestion begins as soon as you leave your house. The answer is not more roads, we need a mass transit system. We need to be the conscience of Michigan. This issue needs to be integrated with so many others. The Michigan Environmental Council plans to release a study next week lambasting the state for its mass transit policy.