Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Regional Transit Overview topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Canton‑led town hall previews regional transit options ahead of county millage
Summary
Canton Township officials and regional planners presented findings from a seven‑community transit study, highlighting resident priorities — including an express connection to Detroit Metro Airport and links to Ann Arbor and Detroit — and sought public feedback on proposed route adjustments and stop designs.
Ann Marie Graham Hudick, Canton Township supervisor, opened a town hall at the Canton Public Library to present outcomes of a seven‑community Western Wayne County transit consortium and to solicit public feedback. "My name is Ann Marie Graham Hudick, Canton Township supervisor," she said, framing the meeting as "an educational forum" and emphasizing the event was for information, not advocacy.
Planners Erin Shutlow (Canton associate planner), Adrianna Jordan (OHM transportation planner/project manager) and Treasurer Diane Slavens (Canton treasurer and Nankin Transit board member) outlined the consortium's outreach, existing‑conditions findings and suggested route adjustments. Adrianna said the top resident priorities were an express DTW connection, a direct link to Washtenaw County/Ann Arbor and improved Detroit connections for northern consortium communities. The presentation included proposed route changes, a bus‑stop prototype and next steps involving implementation planning and possible adoption by consortium members.
The panel repeatedly stressed public engagement: the study included surveys, stakeholder meetings, Liberty Fest pop‑ups and two rounds of board/commission briefings. Erin summarized barriers to transit use identified in outreach — lack of service, unfamiliar routes, accessibility concerns, travel time and safety — and said staff will refine proposals based on feedback from tonight's boards and comment cards. "Planning, not advocating," the presentation reiterated when questions touched on the upcoming Wayne County transit millage.
The meeting closed with Q&A on last‑mile options, hours, vehicle types and stop maintenance; staff deferred some operational and fleet‑technology questions to SMART and Wayne County officials, who had been invited but did not attend. Planners said next steps include finalizing an implementation plan, pursuing grant partnerships, and working with SMART on stop locations if the millage passes.
