Regional Transit Authority

For other agencies named Regional Transit Authority, see Regional Transit Authority (disambiguation).

Area served	Metro Detroit and Ann Arbor, MI
Founded	December 2012

Established in December 2012, the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) is composed of the southeastern Michigan counties of Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne, providing financial analysis and transit planning for the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority, Detroit Department of Transportation, Detroit Transportation Corporation, M-1 Rail and Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation.

Initially, the RTA's web presence was through a single bare-bones (and primarily outdated) page on the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments website, but in December 2014, a new website separate from SEMCOG was launched.

Agencies

• Detroit Department of Transportation - Fixed-route bus and MetroLift paratransit service in the city of Detroit and neighboring Wayne, Oakland and Macomb County suburbs.
• Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation - Fixed-route bus, Flex microtransit, Connector and Community Transit small bus and ADA services in selected Wayne County suburbs and all of Macomb County and Oakland County.
• Detroit Transportation Corporation - Detroit People Mover fully-automated elevated light rail service in downtown Detroit, originally intended to be the backbone of a regional light rail system.
• Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority - Fixed-route bus service in and around the cities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, plus AirRide bus service to Detroit Metro Airport in conjunction with Michigan Flyer.

Current Services

• D2A2 - Express bus service connecting downtown Detroit and downtown Ann Arbor.
• Detroit Air Xpress - Express bus service connecting downtown Detroit and Detroit Metro Airport in conjunction with Michigan Flyer, soft-launched March 25, 2024.
• QLINE - Streetcar service along Woodward Avenue in the city of Detroit, transferred to the RTA from M-1 Rail October 1, 2024.

Regional Transit Master Plan

Original 2016 plan

The Master Plan (prefixed BEST during the planning stage) is an initiative to significantly improve transit in the Detroit and Ann Arbor areas. First published on May 31, 2016; it includes proposals for such projects as Bus Rapid Transit lines along Woodward, Gratiot, Michigan and Washtenaw Avenues; MiTrain service between Detroit and Ann Arbor; cross-county connectors on certain major roads, and express bus routes to Metro Airport. The first proposal to implement the Master Plan, on November 8, 2016, was defeated by around 18,000 votes.

Discontinued Projects

RefleX

Logo used for the RefleX services.

RefleX was the brand for pseudo-BRT routes operated by the RTA in conjunction with DDOT and SMART. Operating along Woodward and Gratiot Avenues, RefleX routes crossed the Detroit city limits into the northern suburbs at all times with no transfers or boarding restrictions while offering late-night and midday service not easily available on both corridors. Unlike conventional BRT systems, RefleX operateed in mixed traffic and never had almost all of the offerings of these BRT systems.

Service along Woodward began on September 3, 2016; and Gratiot service began two days later on September 5. Gratiot service was discontinued on January 1, 2018 and replaced with the SMART-operated Fast Gratiot. Woodward service temporarily continued in tandem with SMART-operated Fast Woodward, but was eventually also discontinued on April 21, 2018.

All-time fleet roster

Fleet number(s)	Thumbnail	Year	Manufacturer	Model	Engine	Transmission	Destination sign	Seating	Terminal	Notes
1018, 1020		March-May 2010	NFI	D40LF	Cummins ISL	Allison B400R	Luminator Horizon	39 American Seating InSight	Shoemaker	Operated by DDOT Transferred back to conventional DDOT operation upon discontinuation of Reflex Woodward service. Retired from conventional DDOT operation in 2023.
1209		January-March 2012	Gillig	Low Floor 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins ISL9	Allison B400R	Luminator Horizon	39 American Seating InSight	Shoemaker	Operated by DDOT Transferred back to conventional DDOT operation upon discontinuation of Reflex Woodward service.
1401, 1408		December 2014-February 2015	NFI	XD40	Cummins ISL9	Allison B400R	Luminator Horizon	40 4ONE Aries 4MA	Shoemaker	Operated by DDOT Transferred back to conventional DDOT operation upon discontinuation of Reflex Woodward service.
3648-3651		April-July 2016	Gillig	BRT 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins ISL9	Allison B400R	Luminator Horizon	35 American Seating Vision	Macomb	Operated by SMART Transferred back to conventional SMART operation upon discontinuation of Reflex Gratiot service.

Agency Bus Roster Summary

Current as of November 2016.

Bus Model	AAATA	DDOT	SMART	TOTAL
Gillig - BRT 35'	4			4
Gillig - BRT 40'	53		77	130
Gillig - LF 35'	13		44	57
Gillig - LF 40'	33	46	79	158
NFI - D40LF		202	27	229
NFI - DE60LF			2	2
NFI - XD40		60		60
NFI - XDE40		10		10
NFI - XD60		10		10
TOTAL	103	328	229	660

External Links

• RTA website

v·d·e
Projects
Current Projects	Regional Transit Master Plan - M-1 Rail QLINE - D2A2
Cancelled RTA Projects	MiTrain
Former Pre-RTA Projects	SEMCOG Regional Transit Plan - RTCC Transit Service Plan
Detroit Area Transit Agencies Tecumseh v·d·e Vehicles Current 430-444, 445-449, 450-456, 457-460, 461-470, 471-481, 482-486, 487-490, 491-497, 498-501, 502-504, 505-513, 514-520, 521-522, 523-525, 526-529, 538-545,1930-1937, 2000-2007 Routes Current 3, 4, 5, 6, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 60, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 91, 92, 98 Detroit Area Transit Agencies Tecumseh v·d·e Vehicles Current Low Floor 1201-1242, 1400-1430, 1500-1508, 1519-1538, 1700-1728, 1800-1829, 1900-1924, 2000-2025, 2200-2239, 2300-2309 Current LF Hybrid 1243-1246, 1509-1518 Current LF Articulated 1539-1548, 1960-1964 Current LF Electric 2100e-2103e Former 001-002, 1001-1148 (1975), 1001-1050 (2010), 1201-1251, 1300-1369, 1370-1410, 1501-1605, 1701-1717, 1801-1874, 1900-1999, 2000-2084, 2521-2534, 3000-3120, 3001, 3002-3006, 3200-3232, 3250-3282, 3290-3299, 3300-3328, 3500-3599, 3600-3617, 3700-3799, 3800-3859, 3900-3959, 3975-3989, 4000-4024, 4100-4220, 8900-8913 Routes ConnectTen Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Primary Routes 16, 17, 19, 27, 30, 31, 32, 38, 60 Neighborhood Routes 11, 12, 13, 15, 18, 23, 29, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 47, 52, 54, 67, 68 Peak Weekday Routes 46 Former Local Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (1974-1988), 5 (1996-2002), 6, 8, 20, 24, 26 (1974-88), 26 (1997-98), 26 (2019-21), 28, 33 (1974-1988), 33 (1997-2005), 35 (1999-2005), 35 (1974-88), 36, 42, 44, 51, 52, 66, 80, 89, 99 Former Express Routes 70 (1974-88), 71 (1974-88)/70 (1988-2005, 2008-09), 72, 73, 74 (1974-88)/71 (2008-09), 75 (1974-88)/74 (2008-09), 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88 (1974-88)/73 (2008-09), 92, 94, 95, 96, 97, 99, 498 1994-95 Suburban Routes 125, 130, 150, 495 Facilities Transit Centers Downtown Detroit, Fairlane Town Center Hub, Rosa Parks Transit Center, Jason Hargrove Transit Center Loops Brennan Loop, Pierson Loop Terminals Coolidge Terminal (inactive), Gilbert Terminal, Shoemaker Terminal Bus Stops 1-999, 1000-1999, 2000-2999, 31000-3999, 4000-4999, 5000-5999, 6000-6999, 7000-7999, 8000-8999, 9000-9999, 10000-10999 Timelines History 1974-1983, 1984-1993, 1994-2003, 2004-2013, 2014-present Detroit Area Transit Agencies Tecumseh v·d·e Fleet 01-12 Stations Times Square, Michigan Avenue, Fort/Cass, Huntington Place, West Riverfront, Financial District, Millender Center, Renaissance Center, Bricktown, Greektown, Cadillac Center, Broadway, Grand Circus Park Ad Wraps List Detroit Area Transit Agencies Tecumseh v·d·e Fleet 287-292 Stations Congress Street, Campus Martius, Grand Circus, Montcalm Street, Sproat Street/Adelaide Street, Martin Luther King Boulevard/Mack Avenue, Canfield Street, Warren Avenue, Ferry Street, Amsterdam Street, Baltimore Street, Grand Boulevard Detroit Area Transit Agencies Tecumseh v·d·e Vehicles Diesel Low Floor 3019-3020, 3601-3659, 3701-3780, 3801-3840, 3901-3938 Diesel LF Articulated 4001-4023 Electric Low Floor 4024-4027 Hybrid Low Floor 3003-3005, 3006-3008, 3009-3018 Former 2101-2140, 3001-3002, 6001-6039, 9001-9033, 9201-9223, 9224-9225, 9301-9367, 9368-9369, 9370-9393, 9401-9423, 9501-9532, 9901-9920, 22301-22348, 22416-22460, 22349-22415, 23301-23357, 23358-23387, 95300-95384 Support Fleet Various numbers Routes FAST 261, 461 & 462, 561, 562, & 563 Main Corridor Routes 125, 200, 210, 450, 460, 510, 560, 610 Community Routes 160, 415, 420, 494, 495, 525, 550, 615, 796 Crosstown Routes 140, 250, 275, 280, 305, 375, 405, 492, 710, 730, 740, 759, 760, 780, 790 Commuter Routes 255, 430, 445, 515, 530, 580, 620, 635 Park & Ride Routes 805, 830, 851 School Routes 566 Special Event Routes Woodward Dream Cruise Former Regular Routes 100, 110, 115, 130, 135, 145, 150, 165, 180, 185, 190, 201, 202, 240, 245, 260, 265, 275, 280, 285, 295, 297, 305 (original), 315, 330, 385, 400, 410, 435, 440, 455, 465, 470, 475, 482, 485, 486, 488, 492 (original), 498, 520, 525 (original), 540, 559, 565, 567, 598 & 599, 625, 630, 720, 750, 753, 754, 755, 757, 758, Gateway Express, Pistons Express, NFL Draft Former School Routes 112, 196, 203, 209 Former Park & Ride Routes 810 & 820, 832, 835, 849, 865, 875 1994-95 Detroit Routes 25, 37 Facilities Passenger Downtown Detroit, Fairlane Town Center Hub, Great Lakes Crossing Transportation Center, John D. Dingell Transit Center, Macomb Mall Hub, OCC Orchard Ridge Campus Hub, Oakland Mall Hub, Phoenix Center Hub, Royal Oak Transit Center, Rosa Parks Transit Center, Jason Hargrove Transit Center, Somerset Collection South Hub, Southland Center Hub, Troy Transit Center, Park & ride locations Non-Passenger Macomb Terminal, Oakland Terminal, Wayne Terminal Bus Stops 1-9999, 10000-19999, 20000-20999, 21000-21999, 22000-22999, 23000-23999 Timelines History 1989-1998, 1999-2008, 2009-2018, 2019-present Detroit Area Transit Agencies Tecumseh