Senate Bill 1031 Summary

• Establishes the Detroit Area Regional Transportation Authority effective October 1, 2010, as a state agency covering Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties with authority to plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain regional public transportation facilities.

• Creates a board of governors composed of representatives from member counties and cities (with cities over 750,000 population receiving 2 seats), with voting requirements that include approval from major cities and contiguous counties for adoption of bylaws and business transactions.

• Grants the authority powers to acquire transportation facilities, issue bonds, contract with transit systems, coordinate regional services, and receive federal/state transportation funds; prohibits authority from directly levying taxes but allows pledging of tax revenues returned to it and pledging of political subdivisions' full faith and credit.

• Allows counties with populations under 750,000 to withdraw from the authority through board resolution (with county executive veto override provisions) and establishes a comprehensive regional public transportation service plan requirement addressing services for seniors, disabled citizens, and low-income residents.

• Continues SMART (Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation) as a separate entity under the new act, with Monroe and Macomb counties able to withdraw; repeals the 1967 Metropolitan Transportation Authorities Act effective October 1, 2010.