Open thread: Where does transit in Metro Detroit go from here?

Welcome to Friday Open Threads, wherein we'll pass the mic to readers to speak up about topics of interest, distress, horror, and more. Have something you want discussed? Let us know. This week’s topic: the future of transit in metro Detroit.

Some issues in this region seem to be all talk. Last year, metro Detroiters narrowly defeated a plan for regional transit. Was it a perfect plan? Not entirely. For a region that’s depended on cars for so long, it was difficult for some to see the benefits of a wider transit system.

In the past year, we’ve seen the opening of the Qline along three miles of the Woodward corridor, plus improvements in the DDOT and SMART bus systems in Detroit and the region. Now, the interim CEO of the RTA is stepping down, and the whole future of regional transit is as unclear as it’s ever been.

When thinking about the future of the region, and the hope to lure bigger companies and better jobs, transit needs to be a key factor in that discussion. Can we reorganize and move forward? Who should lead the way? With the bus systems improving, can we ditch our cars and hop on board? Or do we need bigger ideas to move the region forward?

Let us know what you think in the comments.