Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan

Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan
Company type	Public agency
Industry	Public transportation
Founded	2012
Headquarters	Detroit, United States
Area served	Metro Detroit, Ann Arbor, Michigan (Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties)
Key people	CEO (not named)
Products	QLINE streetcar system, express bus services (D2A2, DAX)

The Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan (RTA) functions as a public transportation organization serving the Metro Detroit region along with the Ann Arbor vicinity in Michigan. It manages the QLINE streetcar system in Detroit and oversees coordination among transit providers such as the DDOT, SMART, TheRide, and the Detroit People Mover. The RTA’s jurisdiction encompasses Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties.

Governance

A 10-member board of directors governs the RTA, comprising two representatives from each county plus one from Detroit. These members are appointed by county executives, the chair of the Washtenaw County commission, and the Mayor of Detroit. Additionally, a non-voting chairperson is designated by the governor. Board members serve staggered terms lasting three years and may be reappointed; many continue in their roles beyond their initial term until replacements are named. Current elected officials or employees affiliated with regional counties, municipalities, or transit agencies are ineligible to serve. The board holds the authority to appoint a CEO responsible for daily management.

Board of Directors members
Jurisdiction	Member
City of Detroit	Freman Hendrix
Macomb County	Jon Moore
Macomb County	Don Morandini
Oakland County	Jeanette Bradshaw
Oakland County	Helaine Zack
Washtenaw County	Ned Staebler
Washtenaw County	Alma Wheeler Smith
Wayne County	June Lee
Wayne County	Erica Robertson
Governor of Michigan	Dave Massaron

Powers

Decisions requiring a supermajority of seven out of nine voting members—including at least one representative from each jurisdiction—include:

proposing and placing on the ballot a levy or vehicle registration fee to finance transit services.
approving acquisition of the QLine and managing planned commuter rail operations within the region.

Unanimous board approval is necessary to:

purchase, build, or operate regional passenger rail services.
acquire a public transit agency after voter endorsement from all jurisdictions.
submit to voters any ballot measures concerning liability or legacy cost responsibilities tied to acquired transit entities.

Elections for levies and vehicle registration fees are scheduled exclusively during presidential primary election years.

Streetcar service

The RTA owns and operates the QLine, a streetcar network connecting Downtown, Midtown, and New Center areas of Detroit.

Express bus services

The Detroit to Ann Arbor Express (D2A2) provides hourly weekday express bus service between Grand Circus Park in Detroit and Blake Transit Center in Ann Arbor without intermediate stops. Weekend service runs approximately every 90 to 120 minutes. Initiated in March 2020, D2A2 operates through a partnership with TheRide.

The Detroit Air Xpress (DAX) offers nonstop express bus transportation linking downtown Detroit to Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Operating seven days a week from 3:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., buses run every 60 to 90 minutes. The route includes Downtown stops along Washington Boulevard near the Rosa Parks Transit Center. Service commenced on March 25, 2024.

Both D2A2 and DAX services are contracted to Indian Trails. Fare for a single trip costs $6 when purchased online in advance or $8 if bought onboard; a package of 50 tickets is available for $100. Complimentary luggage handling is included with all rides.

History

The Regional Transit Authority (RTA) traces its origins back to the Metropolitan Transportation Authorities Act of 1967 (Public Act 204), which established the Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority (SEMTA). However, SEMTA lacked dedicated funding sources for its transit services.

In 1974, Detroit's Department of Street Railways reorganized into the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) to secure greater operational control amid SEMTA’s declining financial support. On December 7, 1988, amendments to Public Act 204 restructured SEMTA by reducing its service coverage from seven counties to three, excluding Detroit itself. This restructuring led to the creation of the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transit (SMART), which commenced service on January 17, 1989. To facilitate coordination between DDOT and SMART, regional officials established the Regional Transit Coordinating Council on January 12, 1989.

Governor Rick Snyder signed Senate Bill No. 909 on December 19, 2012, formally creating the RTA and introducing regional transit funding for the first time. Shortly thereafter, US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced a $25 million federal grant for the M-1 Rail Line, contingent upon the RTA’s formation.

The RTA was charged with overseeing and coordinating operations among DDOT, SMART, Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority, and Detroit Transportation Corporation. Its mission included developing a comprehensive regional transit strategy emphasizing rapid transit along four principal corridors. This initiative built upon the Comprehensive Regional Transit Service Plan adopted in December 2008. In 2015, the RTA engaged HNTB to assist in crafting its Regional Master Transit Plan.

Limited-stop services

Between 2016 and 2018, the RTA managed RefleX, a limited-stop bus service operating along Woodward and Gratiot Avenues that linked Detroit with suburbs in Oakland and Macomb counties. RefleX launched over the Labor Day weekend in 2016. The Woodward route, run by DDOT, terminated at the Somerset Collection in Troy, while two Gratiot routes operated by SMART connected Mount Clemens with Downtown and Midtown Detroit. Early in 2018, RefleX was discontinued and replaced by SMART’s comparable Frequent Affordable Safe Transit (FAST) network.

Pilot express services

The RTA introduced its inaugural express route, the D2A2, on March 16, 2020; however, service levels were soon curtailed due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

QLINE operation

In September 2024, ownership and operational responsibilities for the QLINE were transferred to the RTA. Full integration of QLINE under RTA management is anticipated by October 2024.

Projects

At the start of 2015, the RTA contracted Parsons Brinckerhoff and AECOM to analyze transit enhancements along Gratiot and Michigan avenues and assumed oversight of the Woodward Avenue Alternative Analysis Rapid Transit study. This study identified bus rapid transit (BRT) as the optimal transit mode for a 27-mile corridor along Woodward Avenue. The resulting master plan, unveiled on May 31, 2016, proposed:

Four bus rapid transit corridors
Eight round-trip regional rail connections linking Ann Arbor to Detroit
Eleven cross-county connector routes
Four commuter express bus routes serving major employment hubs
Five express bus routes providing service to Detroit Metropolitan Airport
New and extended local bus services
Expanded paratransit offerings

The board approved this $4.7 billion plan on August 4, 2016, which was subsequently presented to voters on November 8, 2016. The proposal narrowly failed at the ballot box—receiving 49.5% support against 50.5% opposition—with favorable votes in Wayne and Washtenaw counties but insufficient backing in Oakland and Macomb counties.

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