For several months now, Gov. Snyder has been pursuing conflicting policies: Improving Michigan's road system while simultaneously expanding the mass transit bureaucracy by adding yet another layer of government into the mix.

Apparently, the governor never read the memo informing him that mass transit programs are funded mainly by siphoning away tax dollars intended to go towards road maintenance and construction.

For a quick recap, I went into some detail about this a few weeks ago.

The vehicle registration hike isn't going anywhere right now, but I can't speak for what'll happen during lame duck.

With gas prices shooting skyward, a gas tax hike will equal a signed resignation letter from office (or future office) for anyone who proposes or supports it.

Sticking it to truck drivers with higher fees and taxes, I certainly hope that you enjoy watching the price you pay at the your favorite stores go up as a result.

That brings us back to the spending side of the equation and an interesting article I caught in yesterday's Detroit News.

Beginning at the end of this April, Andy Didorosi will launch The Detroit Bus Company operating limited routes all week long from 5:00pm onward.

Using at least $40,000 of his own money, Mr. Didorosi described his business model this way:

"We've changed it from a downtown fun shuttle," he said. "We're seeing some really extensive need out in the streets, and we just can't focus on the needs of people who have and not those who have not."

Day passes will cost passengers just $5.

See that, Gov. Snyder?

A private individual is investing his own money to fill a need.

He isn't proposing or advocating for another useless layer of government at everyone's expense to oversee a miserably failed layer of government.

Surprisingly, Detroit officials have been very supportive of his idea.

"Whether it's a car service or health transportation service or bus service, as long as an entrepreneur meets all the standards and requirements as mandated by city, state and federal law, we support new businesses in the city," said Deputy Mayor Kirk Lewis.

...

"City Council President Charles Pugh gave Didorosi a Spirit of Detroit award March 6 for starting the company and opening a Detroit location of his other business, Paper Street, an arts and business incubator, and The Thunderdrome! a restored track on Detroit's east side.

Pugh said he wants to encourage entrepreneurship.

"We want more of that in the city, we need more of that," Pugh said. "We need the services he's providing."

But not everyone is on board with this idea.

"I don't think the person really knows what he's doing...He's got two school buses," Amalgamated Transit Union Local 26 President Henry Gaffney said.

I've dealt with the drivers that Mr. Gaffney represents. When you have a D-DOT driver trying to merge his bus into the truck that I'm driving (seriously, this has happened more times than I can count), I really don't think that THEY know what they are doing either.

Mr. Didorosi also added that he hopes to find other partners to make the service self-sufficient.

Ironically, I floated a similar idea to start their own service with their accumulated knowledge and financial support to the supporters of the failed status quo in Detroit, namely MOSES and TRU several years ago. My suggestion was met with disgust and derision that I would actually suggest such a thing.