News & Events

Millennial Mayors Congress Survey Reveals Young Residents’ Desire For Transit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2010

CONTACT: HAYLEY ROBERTS
866.960.8803x714

FERNDALE – A survey of southeast Michigan’s Millennials (residents aged 18-35) has found that young residents’ main concern about their region is inadequate transit. The Millennial Mayors Congress (MMC) distributed the survey, which spanned Macomb, Oakland, Wayne and Washtenaw counties, as part of their regional visioning process. According to the results, 76 percent of Millennials in the tri-county area expressed dissatisfaction with public transportation services. Other key findings related to transit include:

• 76 percent of tri-county respondents also say that alternatives to cars, such as safe bike lanes, public transit and sidewalks, do not meet their expectations.
• 71 percent of tri-county respondents say they never use public transportation.
• 37 percent of tri-county respondents name transit options and flexibility as one of the three most important features of a great place to live and play.


"Voters in August strongly supported transit measures, showing that they understand the importance to our region,” says Richard Murphy, program coordinator for transit oriented development with the Michigan Suburbs Alliance.

The Suburbs Alliance is home to the MMC, an inter-generational partnership of civic leaders who work to implement sustainable solutions to challenges facing metro Detroit. This survey serves as a framework to advance the launch of a regional visioning project that engages young people, civic leaders and other stakeholders in articulating a vision and strategy for a sustainable metro Detroit envisioned by its young residents. 



Respondents also shared what they like most about metro Detroit. Friends and family, opportunities for change, outdoor recreation and a sense of community ranked high on the list of southeast Michigan’s most attractive characteristics. Also notable was that 30 percent of those who left Michigan and returned did so for a job; this contradicts the notion that there are no jobs in Michigan.



“This survey is just the first step,” explains Carrick Davis, who coordinates the MMC program. “Over the next year, the Congress will work with cities, neighborhoods, organizations and citizens to craft strategies to define and articulate strategies for the region to make the area a more vibrant and exciting place to be.” He emphasizes the importance of including young peoples’ voices in the development and planning processes.

“There is strong momentum to turn the tide of the region's trajectory. Young people need to be engaged in creating a landscape they can be proud to call home,” Davis says. He noted the response to the survey was beyond what he expected, with 40 percent of respondents expressing a desire to continue active involvement in the visioning process. He says that number is an exciting indicator of enthusiasm for the project. Also promising, says Davis, is the fact that the MMC's effort coincides with the Detroit Works Project, Mayor Dave Bing's visioning initiative for Detroit residents.



"Coordinating with Mayor Bing's Detroit Works Project is an unprecedented opportunity to create a cohesive vision for a metropolitan Detroit region for generations to come," says Davis. "We are contributing to a vision that represents our entire region, both city and suburbs, because we know their futures are intertwined. With that future in mind we focused on young citizens that will be making decisions for this region ten, twenty or thirty years from now."



The MMC will release the complete results of the survey this Saturday, October 23 from 3-5pm at Cliff Bell's in Detroit. The public is encouraged to attend and participate in the discussion.

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Contact: Hayley Roberts
Hayley@SuburbsAlliance.org
866.960.8803x714