Approximately 45 percent of Americans do not have access to public transportation. For many, that limits opportunities for affordable housing, spending more time with family and friends, or taking the leap toward a better job. But a first-of-its-kind project in Detroit has provided a model for private philanthropy and business to support expanding public transportation access for all.

The recent unanimous decision to transfer the QLINE streetcar system to the Regional Transit Authority, unlocking sustainable state and federal funding, marks a groundbreaking shift in Detroit's public transportation landscape. This wasn’t just a victory for the Detroit community — it has set a powerful precedent for the underappreciated potential for philanthropy and business to drive vital urban projects such as expanding public transportation access nationwide, particularly in an environment of limited federal funding.

From day 1, the QLINE has been an unprecedented endeavor. In 2007, the Kresge Foundation team, in collaboration with the Penske Corp. and the Rock Family of Companies, embarked on an ambitious mission: to demonstrate that mass transit could thrive in a city long dominated by car culture.

We committed to building and operating a world-class, nonprofit streetcar system that could eventually integrate into a broader regional transit network. We raised more than $150 million in private investments, including $60 million from our organization, to get the QLINE up and running, with participation from nearly every major Detroit-based corporation and foundation. Convinced by the hefty private support and collective civic willpower, the city, the state and the U.S. Department of Transportation also ponied up to allow the project to proceed.

The process was far from easy. We faced immense financial, political and operational challenges, whether the initial skepticism of the Federal Transit Administration, the city of Detroit’s bankruptcy in 2013 or the COVID-19 pandemic. But we kept our objective in clear view, recognizing that the QLINE was not just a method of transit — it was a catalyst for community growth and opportunity.

Fast-forward 17 years, and the QLINE’s transition to a public transit authority ensures the 3.3-mile system’s long-term fiscal sustainability while paving the way for a more integrated regional transit system, all without burdening local taxpayers. A record number of people are utilizing the QLINE, with more than a million riders annually. Ridership and reliability levels are at an all-time high.

Read the full article about expanding public transportation access by Rip Rapson at Governing.