LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Senate passed legislation Tuesday creating a Metro Detroit regional transit authority. The five-bill package remains controversial as it heads to the House because of the new property taxes and vehicle fees it proposes to fund public transportation projects, reported The Detroit News.

The bills would give the new transit authority power to manage the DDOT and SMART bus routes and create dedicated high-speed bus lanes. It would also permit the authority to seek voter approval for a vehicle registration fee or millage to fund a modern public transportation system. To read the full story, click here.