Tell lawmakers: Fund public transit in Michigan’s budget

Michigan’s new budget gives billions to roads but only a tiny fraction to public transit. That means fewer buses, shorter hours, and more people stranded.

Transit is how people across Michigan get to work, school, the doctor and the grocery store. It provides over 125,000 rides every day in all 83 counties.

We’re asking lawmakers to:

Put the full $60 million increase into Local Bus Operating (LBO) funds.
Reject harmful farebox recovery rules that would cut funding.
Fix unfair EV taxes that make EV drivers pay even more than gas car drivers.

Tell your lawmakers: Michigan families deserve reliable, affordable transportation.

Michigan’s new budget gives billions to roads but only a tiny fraction to public transit. That means fewer buses, shorter hours, and more people stranded.

Transit is how people across Michigan get to work, school, the doctor and the grocery store. It provides over 125,000 rides every day in all 83 counties.

We’re asking lawmakers to:

Put the full $60 million increase into Local Bus Operating (LBO) funds.
Reject harmful farebox recovery rules that would cut funding.
Fix unfair EV taxes that make EV drivers pay even more than gas car drivers.

Tell your lawmakers: Michigan families deserve reliable, affordable transportation.

Fund public transit in Michigan’s budget

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Subject:

I am writing to urge you to support  public transit in Michigan’s FY26 budget.

The current proposals are barebones and don't provide sufficient funding for transportation in  communities like mine. We need you to protect and strengthen transit funding in the new transportation deal, HB4951.

Here’s what I’m asking:
-Reject farebox recovery requirements. These rules would force agencies to get 10% of revenue from rider fares only, excluding contracts with schools or hospitals. That unfairly penalizes agencies, complicates budgets, and discourages ridership.
-Allocate the full increase in the Comprehensive Transportation Fund (CTF) to Local Bus Operating (LBO). In order to ensure we aren’t short changing transit significantly, the legislature should allocate the full additional $60 million for transit operation. 
-Give communities flexibility. Let local governments decide whether new “neighborhood roads” funding can support transit service, not just pavement.
-Address unfair EV fees. EV drivers already pay more in vehicle-related taxes than gas car drivers. With the new gas tax swap, EV owners could end up paying $100–$173 more than gas drivers each year — hurting Michigan families and undermining our EV industry.

Public transit keeps Michigan moving. It supports jobs, helps students learn, connects veterans and seniors to care and strengthens our economy. But state funding has grown at less than half the rate of inflation since 1997, while road funding has surged. Without bold action, transit will keep falling behind.

Please ensure Michigan’s FY26 budget protects and grows public transit so that everyone in our state has access to the rides they need.

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