ROYAL OAK – State Representative Marie Donigan (D-Royal Oak) invites residents to her upcoming town hall meeting to discuss transportation options in Southeast Michigan. The event will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Royal Oak Public Library, 222 E. 11 Mile Road in Royal Oak.
"An efficient, interconnected transit system is absolutely vital to attracting businesses to Michigan and creating jobs for our hard-working families," said Donigan, a member of the House Transportation Committee. "An improved mass transportation system, including a regional high-speed rail system, will go a long way toward Michigan's resurgence from these difficult economic times. I hope residents come out to join the discussion on this important issue."
Donigan will be joined by guest speakers Carmine Palombo, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), John Swatosh, Regional Transit Coordinating Council, and Megan Owens, Transportation Riders United in providing an update on transit plans for Southeast Michigan.
As a member of the National Conference of State Legislatures' Standing Committee on Transportation, Donigan recently attended the NCSL's Legislative Summit where she shared ideas on shaping transportation policy with her fellow lawmakers from around the country. In July, Donigan also applauded the Governor's signing of a memorandum of understanding that established a partnership between eight states to work together to fund the Midwest Corridor, a regional high-speed rail plan that includes a Detroit-Pontiac-Chicago line.
"Modernizing the mass transportation system has been neglected in Michigan for far too long," Donigan said. "If we continue to underutilize our mass transportation, we risk falling behind other states in bringing job providers in emerging industries to our state. As a member of the House Transportation Committee, I'm excited to share the latest information on how improving mass transportation can create jobs and help turn around our economy."