Introduced
by
To create a new Detroit Area Regional Transportation Authority (DARTA) including Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties, comprised of the existing City of Detroit transit system and the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART). The authority would develop, implement, and update a comprehensive regional public transportation service plan. It would eventually have taxing and borrowing authority, subject to a vote of the people, and would be the sole recipient of state and federal transit dollars that currently go directly to its component entities. The bill contains provisions which make it difficult to change the current work rules, compensation and benefits of existing transit workers, or to reduce the number of existing employees. Other provisions restrict the ability to privatize transit service. Monroe and Washtenaw counties would be allowed to opt out of the authority immediately, but Oakland and Macomb counties, and a consortium of local communities in Wayne County, could only do so beginning in 2006. Individual communities could not opt out.
Referred to the Committee on Commerce
Reported without amendment
With the recommendation that the substitute (H-4) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
Substitute offered
To replace the previous version of the bill with one which allows local communities anywhere in the region covered by DARTA to "opt out" of the system if they do so as a consortium composed of at least three contiguous communities.
The substitute passed by voice vote
Amendment offered
by
To give unionized employees of DARTA advance notice of any request by the authority for competitive bids for public transit or related services, and undertake procedures to help the employees also bid on the service.
The amendment failed 46 to 57 (details)
Amendment offered
by
To restrict the ability of DARTA to reduce the number of employees within any particular bargaining unit of SMART or DDOT employees, in addition to existing language in the bill that limits the ability to reduce the overall number of SMART or DDOT employees. The amendment also would limit DARTA's ability to coordinate transit service in a way that would reduce the funding of either SMART or DDOT.
The amendment failed 47 to 57 (details)
Amendment offered
by
To apply a federal law which allows the U.S. Secretary of Labor to regulate employment arrangements for employees of mass transit systems to all DARTA employees, and to those of public or private transit service providers under contract to DARTA, rather than apply it only where federal funding is involved.
The amendment failed 46 to 60 (details)
Substitute offered
by
To replace the previous version of the bill with one which would remove the "opt out" provisions for consortiums of local communities, except for a consortium of communities in western Wayne County. The substitute would also further limit the ability of DARTA to privatize services, and further restrict its ability to reduce the number of existing SMART or DDOT employees. Finally, it would apply a federal law which allows the U.S. Secretary of Labor to regulate the employment arrangements of mass transit systems to all DARTA employees and contractors, rather than only where federal funding is involved.
The substitute failed 41 to 66 (details)
Substitute offered
by
To replace the previous version of the bill with one which would expand provisions which make it difficult to change the current work rules, compensation and benefits of existing transit workers, or to reduce the number of existing employees. The substitute would also remove the "opt out" provisions for consortiums of local communities, except for a consortium of communities in western Wayne County.
The substitute failed by voice vote
Amendment offered
by
To clarify that the definition of "public transportation" for purposes under the bill does does not include taxis, limousines, motor bus, charter services, transit operations not acquired by DARTA or SMART, sightseeing services, private intercity bus services, or transportation used exclusively for school or church purposes.
The amendment passed by voice vote
Amendment offered
by
To explicitly apply to SMART rather than just DARTA certain provisions which require giving existing employees the first opportunity for comparable employment in any new transit operations or arrangements.
The amendment passed by voice vote
Amendment offered
by
To extend to any entities, services or facilities which are constructed, controlled, operated, contracted, or leased by DARTA provisions which make it difficult to change the current work rules, compensation and benefits of existing transit workers.
The amendment failed 47 to 59 (details)
Passed in the House 58 to 48 (details)
To create a new Detroit Area Regional Transportation Authority (DARTA) including Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties, comprised of the existing City of Detroit transit system and the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART). The authority would develop, implement, and update a comprehensive regional public transportation service plan. It would eventually have taxing and borrowing authority, subject to a vote of the people, and would be the sole recipient of state and federal transit dollars that currently go directly to its component entities. The bill contains provisions which make it difficult to change the current work rules, compensation and benefits of existing transit workers, or to reduce the number of existing employees. Other provisions restrict the ability to privatize transit service. Monroe and Washtenaw counties would be allowed to opt out of the authority immediately. The House-passed version allows local communities anywhere in the region covered by DARTA to "opt out" of the system if they do so as a consortium composed of at least three contiguous communities.
Referred to the Committee on Commerce and Labor
