Better transportation needed between Metro Detroit and Flint

So, I go and travel to Grand Blanc (near Flint) which is where my mom is from but over the past 9 years (that I've know them) where my friends live. I fly from where I currently live in Atlanta up to DTW and have to rent a car simply for the drive to and from the airport, because Lyft/Uber is simply too expensive and car rental is cheaper. It seems like such a ridiculous thing that in this day and age we don't have some sort of quick public transportation between these two metro areas that are so crucial to Michigan's economy. I'm so tired of the 1hr15min drive each way just to make this happen, but I do it for my friends.

Does anyone feel like there should be some easier transportation option between the DTW airport (and Detroit at large) and the Flint area, or am I just off base in my thinking?