Proposed Metro Bus Rapid-Transit and the Troy Transit Center

In the past, I've expressed opposition to and skepticism about the proposed Troy Transit Center. Now some new evidence has come to light that has caused me to reconsider this proposed project. Last week, Governor Snyder, Detroit Mayor Bing, and the Obama Administration announced that the plan for a light-rail line on Woodward Avenue between downtown Detroit and 8 Mile had been scrapped in favor of a regional system of rapid-transit buses operating in dedicated lanes. In my opinion, this was a wise decision.

The map below shows how the route for such a system might work.

As you can see, the proposed route takes it very close to the proposed Troy Transit Center near Coolidge and Maple. It would make a lot of sense for the proposed regional system of rapid-transit buses to utilize the Troy Transit Center as one of their major stops. No longer would the proposed Troy location serve a somewhat limited number (currently) of Amtrak passengers.

I understand the concerns that some opponents cite. The biggest concern is the amount of the Federal dollars that will be spent. If we could direct that those dollars be sent back to Washington to reduce the Federal budget, I would enthusiastically join in opposition to this project. My understanding is that if Troy backs out of the project, those Federal funds will be spent by another community for a similar project.

One of Troy Mayor Daniels' favorite books is Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. In a 1966 article for The Objectivist newsletter, Rand wrote about the morality of accepting Social Security, unemployment insurance or similar payments:

It is obvious, in such cases, that a man receives his own money which was taken from him by force, directly and specifically, without his consent, against his own choice. Those who advocated such laws are morally guilty, since they assumed the “right” to force employers and unwilling co-workers. But the victims, who opposed such laws, have a clear right to any refund of their own money—and they would not advance the cause of freedom if they left their money, unclaimed, for the benefit of the welfare-state administration.

Is it wrong for the City of Troy to ask for a refund of some of the tax dollars we send to Washington, DC? Do we believe that we are more likely to be better stewards of those Federal funds in Troy than some other community?