Regional Transit Authority outlines programs, budgets and growth to Michigan appropriation subcommittee

Ben Stupka, executive director of the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan, told the Michigan House Appropriation Subcommittee on State and Local Transportation that the agency coordinated regional transit services, managed funding flows and is planning expansions to express bus service and access‑to‑transit projects.

"Almost 30,000,000 rides, throughout the transit system last year," Stupka said, citing regional ridership as evidence of demand. He told the committee the RTA serves Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw counties and that its work includes planning, funding, coordination and implementation under Public Act 387 of 2012.

The RTA operates on roughly $24,000,000 in annual revenue, Stupka said, with about 84% of that directed to services — including the QLINE streetcar, D2A2 (Detroit–Ann Arbor express), DAX (airport express) and mobility management — and roughly 14% supporting regional coordination and administrative functions. He said the agency also distributed $11,000,000 in federal funds last year to about 39 community providers and leveraged roughly $5,000,000 in state and local money for vehicle replacements, operations and mobility services. "Most of this is grant funded," Stupka said.

Stupka highlighted specific programs and recent results: D2A2 carried more than 100,000 riders last year (about a 15,000 increase from 2024); the DAX airport connection is seeing strong gains; and 2025 was the RTA's first year operating the QLINE, which recorded more than 1,000,000 riders, he said. He described a regional transit app that offers trip planning and mobile payment and has been live across the region for roughly four months.

Committee members pressed Stupka on how state funds could be targeted. Representative Morgan called the RTA's progress "very exciting," asked where modest state investments could have outsized impact, and named projects such as the Ypsilanti transit center that are "shovel ready." Stupka recommended three areas for state support: filling last‑mile financing gaps on near‑ready capital projects, modest investments to expand express bus runs and park‑and‑ride capacity, and advancing corridor project development that uses MDOT templates for implementation.

Members also pressed about passenger comfort and access at bus stops. Stupka said shelters are the single biggest comfort improvement but noted practical hurdles — funding restrictions and maintenance — and urged partnerships with businesses and community volunteers for shelter maintenance and adopt‑a‑stop pilots. He emphasized filling missing sidewalks and pairing shelter investment with pedestrian and bicycle improvements under a five‑project "access to transit" pilot.

On funding mechanics, Stupka clarified that the larger $95,000,000 figure discussed in the presentation represents federal formula funds that largely pass through the RTA to operating providers such as SMART, DDOT and The Ride; the RTA retains a small share for administration and specific programs. He confirmed the RTA does not receive Oakland County's local transit millage revenue, which instead funds local providers directly.

Stupka told the committee the region is about 75% recovered from peak COVID ridership overall, with some services (the QLINE and the PeopleMover) exceeding pre‑COVID numbers and on‑demand services seeing marked growth. He outlined payment strategies to improve farebox recovery, including wider mobile payment adoption and an early‑stage "mobility wallet" concept that would allow users to preload funds for multiple mobility services.

The committee adopted the Feb. 18 minutes earlier in the meeting. At the close, Representative Slum (transcript records the name as 'Slaw') moved to excuse absent members, and the chair adjourned the subcommittee.

The RTA said it will continue to pursue federal and state grants, expand payment options, and test access‑to‑transit pilots; committee members indicated interest in identifying state investments that would accelerate near‑ready capital projects and expand express service coverage.