Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation

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Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation
Logo Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation.svg
SMART 2019 Gillig BRT 3914.jpg
SMART bus in Farmington Hills
Founded1967
Headquarters Buhl Building
Downtown Detroit, Michigan
Locale Detroit
Service area Metro Detroit counties of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb
Service type Local bus service, express bus service, paratransit
Alliance RTA
Routes44
Hubs Spirit Plaza
Jason Hargrove Transit Center
Royal Oak Transit Center
Dearborn Transit Center
Macomb Mall
Fleet262
Fuel type Biodiesel
Electric
General ManagerDwight Ferrell [1]
Website SMART

The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) is the public transit operator serving the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan, United States. Beginning operations in 1967 as the Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority (SEMTA), the agency was reorganized and renamed SMART in 1989. SMART operates 45 bus routes (supplementing the Detroit Department of Transportation), plus paratransit and microtransit services. [2]

Contents

History

1967–1989: SEMTA

The Michigan Legislature passed the Metropolitan Transportation Authorities Act of 1967, which included the creation of the Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority (SEMTA). SEMTA was charged to take over the ownership and operations of the fractured regional transit systems in Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties, including the city of Detroit. [3]

The new authority acquired several suburban transit bus operations including Lake Shore Coach Lines (1971), Pontiac Municipal Transit Service (1973), Dearborn's Metropolitan Transit (1974), Birmingham's Great Lakes Transit (1974), and Royak Oak's Martin Lines (1975). However, the 1967 transportation act did not provide the regional authority with any means to levy taxes. [4] By 1974, the Detroit Department of Street Railways (DSR) had been reorganized as a city department of Detroit, leaving SEMTA only coordination over the suburban services. [3] That same year, SEMTA acquired a commuter train service between downtown Detroit and Pontiac from the Grand Trunk Western Railroad. Due to declining ridership and a lack of funding, the commuter rail service was discontinued in October 1983.[ citation needed ]

In 1979, SEMTA approved a regional transit plan, which included improved bus service and new rail transit, but the plan was never implemented due to lack of funds. [3] The last commuter rail service was a former Penn Central route, named the Michigan Executive, that ran from the Michigan Central Depot in Detroit to Jackson. Its final operator was Amtrak, as funded by the State of Michigan. The already pared down Executive service ended in 1984.[ citation needed ]

Beginning in 1983, SEMTA oversaw the construction of the Detroit People Mover, which was conceived as part of a much larger project of light rail lines and a downtown subway. Mismanagement of the project resulted in tens of millions of dollars in cost overruns, causing the federal government to pull out of the project. In 1985, with the half-built project in limbo, the city of Detroit negotiated with SEMTA to take over the project, and it was transferred to the newly created Detroit Transportation Corporation. [5]

1989–2009: Reorganization as SMART, opt-out system

Logo used from 1989 to 2022, still extant on most vehicles Ride SMART logo.png
Logo used from 1989 to 2022, still extant on most vehicles

With little interest in the suburbs for expanding mass transit and Detroit not interested in joining the system, SEMTA was restructured as SMART in 1989, reducing the authority's service area from seven counties to four and excluding the city of Detroit. [3] Mike Duggan, then Wayne County's deputy county executive and vice chair of SMART's board of directors, was named the agency's general manager in February 1992. [6]

The first millages to fund SMART passed by wide margins in Macomb and Wayne counties in May 1995, [7] [8] followed by a similar millage in Oakland County the following June. [9] While the Macomb millage was levied countywide, the millages in Wayne and Oakland were only voted upon by communities whose councils opted to participate. Other communities chose to leave SMART to avoid the new property tax, setting up the "opt-out" system that remained in place for much of SMART's history. [8]

In October 1994, SMART introduced Job Express, a shuttle service (similar to microtransit) which transported workers from SMART hubs to nearby workplaces. The service was offered in three areas, extending one mile each from the Royal Oak Transit Center, Fairlane Town Center, and Macomb Mall. [10] Initial plans called for up to fifteen such service zones, though only two were added (one spurring from Lakeside Mall, and another serving Somerset Collection), and the Macomb Mall area was expanded to cover much of Groesbeck Highway. [11]

Livonia opted out of SMART in 2005, as the first, and so far only, community to leave the system since 1995. [12] [13] Walled Lake rejoined the following year. [2] [14]

In order to prevent possible service cuts, SMART raised its fares by $0.50 on December 1, 2009; there was also a $0.50 charge added to regional monthly pass users and DDOT transfers. [15]

2011–2017: Service cuts

In October 2011, SMART discontinued 22% of its scheduled service and laid off 123 employees. This was widely attributed to declining property values (following the Great Recession) which led to reduced property tax revenue, and the inability of the authority to reach an agreement with its unions. [3]

In January 2012, the Farmington City Council voted 4-1 to opt out of SMART, though they unanimously reversed their decision two weeks later. Meanwhile, neighboring Farmington Hills narrowly voted to remain in the system. [16]

Lathrup Village, which had opted out of SMART in 1995, rejoined the system in 2014. [17]

2018–2022: Expansion, integration, and rebranding

On January 1, 2018, SMART began operating three high frequency, limited-stop FAST bus services, connecting downtown Detroit to suburban communities with frequent service. [18] FAST represented the first major expansion of the system since the 2011 service cuts.

In May 2019, SMART and DDOT unified their fare structures and introduced Dart, a common fare payment system, with regional passes and mobile ticketing. [19] [20] The QLINE joined Dart the following October. [21]

In March 2021, SMART began offering Flex, a microtransit service, operated by Via Transportation under contract. Flex was initially offered in three small zones within SMART's service area, with one covering Dearborn and most of Taylor alongside portions of surrounding communities, another serving portions of Troy and surrounding cities, and the third serving communities along M-59 in Macomb County. Two more zones were added in August 2021 and May 2022, covering Auburn Hills and Pontiac, and Farmington and Farmington Hills, respectively. [22]

In February 2022, the Auburn Hills City Council voted 5-2 to opt out of SMART. [23] [24] The city's exit was blocked by a judge in May, however, and Auburn Hills remained a member until the opt-out system's abolition in 2023. [25] Macomb Township's board of trustees similarly passed a resolution in March expressing interest in opting out of SMART services. [26]

2022–present: Rebranding and Oakland County expansion

2022 saw a renewed push for a countywide expansion of SMART in Oakland County, ahead of the scheduled millage renewal that August. The Oakland County Board of Commissioners proposed replacing the existing SMART millage with a new ten-year .95 millage, levied on all homes in the county, not just in existing member communities. [27] Approved by voters in November 2022, [28] the millage abolished opt-out system in Oakland County, allowing for the expansion of SMART services to the far reaches of Metro Detroit. [27] [29] Work is underway for new routes to begin operations in 2023. [30]

SMART unveiled a new logo and branding in August 2022, coinciding with a new advertising campaign. [31] The following month, SMART introduced their first electric bus, one of four Proterra ZX5 units purchased by the agency with a Federal Transit Administration grant. [32] [13]

In February 2023, the original Dart payment app was discontinued, as its creator, Passport, exited the transit payments market. Mobile Dart passes were moved to the Token Transit app. [20] [33]

Millage and opt-out system

Since 1995, SMART has been funded in large part by a millage, [8] renewed by voters in member communities in midterm election years through 2022. The millage has historically been approved by wide margins in every member community in Oakland and Wayne counties, though less so in Macomb County, passing there by a narrow margin of 39 votes in 2018. [34] The millage was extended from four to five years in Wayne and Macomb counties, and to ten years in Oakland County, beginning in 2022.

SMART is notable among US transit systems for the ability of individual communities to "opt out" of the system. Opted-out communities are not subject to the taxes levied by the SMART millage, but as a result do not receive SMART's services. Some of these communities are members of smaller transit agencies providing paratransit services for seniors and disabled residents, but lack scheduled fixed-route bus service.

17 communities in Wayne County currently opt out of SMART service, of which all but one (Livonia) opted out with the first millage in 1995. [12] Detroit is one such community, as its own DDOT provides fixed-route bus service to the city, though it is served by SMART's FAST limited-stop routes, as well as other routes during peak hours.

Communities in Macomb County and Oakland County are not able to opt out of SMART, as their millages have been levied countywide since 1995 and 2023, respectively. Four Oakland County communities opted out in 1995 but later rejoined: Bloomfield Township and West Bloomfield (both 1996), Walled Lake (2006), [14] and Lathrup Village (2014). [17] The 34 remaining opted-out Oakland County communities were added to the system in 2023. [35]

2022 changes & Oakland County expansion

In 2022, the SMART millage in Macomb and Wayne counties was extended to five years, and moved to the November general election ballot. [36] [37] Both were approved by wide margins. [28]

In Oakland County, the SMART millage was replaced with a ten-year countywide public transit millage, which abolished the opt-out system in Oakland County, and funds three smaller paratransit providers (the North Oakland Transportation Authority, Western Oakland Transportation Authority, and Older Persons' Commission) alongside SMART. [27] [29] The county's Board of Commissioners approved the new millage proposal on August 10, 2022 in a bipartisan vote, with two Republicans joining all 13 Democrats on the board. [29] The proposal appeared on the November 2022 general election ballot in all Oakland County communities, and passed with 57% of the vote. [28] [35] As a result, SMART's service area expanded to all of Oakland County on January 3, 2023, though new services in portions of the county (Novi, Bloomfield Hills, and Wixom) did not begin operation until September 2023, with initialization of further services in 2024. [30]

Wayne County member communities

Services

Fixed-route buses

SMART is the primary public transit operator serving Detroit's suburbs, and fixed-route bus services comprise the majority of its service. 44 routes of various types operate across SMART's three-county service area.

FAST

New Flyer XD60 on FAST Woodward SMART 2020 New Flyer XD60 4010.jpg
New Flyer XD60 on FAST Woodward

Frequent Affordable Safe Transit (FAST) is SMART's flagship service; its limited-stop bus routes serve as the main arteries of the network, connecting the suburbs with downtown Detroit. Five FAST routes currently operate along three major Metro Detroit avenues - Gratiot, Michigan, and Woodward - with service every 30 minutes on weekdays, and stops roughly every mile for most of their lengths. [18]

Route Name#TerminiLength Headway (minutes)Notes
Mon-FriSatSun
FAST Michigan261Spirit Plaza Detroit Metro Airport 22.1 miles (35.6 km)306060
FAST Woodward461Troy Civic Center24.0 miles (38.6 km)606060–110Concurrent from Birmingham south, with service every 30 minutes combined; local stops in Pontiac on 462
462 Great Lakes Crossing Outlets/Auburn Mile32.5 miles (52.3 km)6060120
FAST Gratiot563Gratiot + 23 Mile27.0 miles (43.5 km)303060
562Wayne State UniversityHarrison Township24.1 miles (38.8 km)2 trips daily--Weekday rush hour only; concurrent with 563 from Warren Avenue to Mt. Clemens

Local routes

SMART's 33 local routes serve as the main public transit connection between Detroit's suburbs. [2] Each is classified as either a high-ridership "main corridor" route, a long-distance "crosstown" route, or a "community" route focused on serving denser areas. Almost all connect to FAST, enabling connections to downtown Detroit. Most local routes run hourly, though a few are more frequent. [38]

#Route NameTerminiLength Headway (minutes)Notes
Mon-FriSatSun
125Fort Street/Eureka RoadW Jefferson Avenue + Coolidge Highway

(River Rouge)

 Detroit Metro Airport 22.1 miles (35.6 km)306060
140Southshore Dearborn Transit Center Southgate Meijer16.8 miles (27.0 km)60--Interlined with 250
160DownriverWest Road + Grange Road (Trenton)26.4 miles (42.5 km)6060-
200Michigan Avenue Local Fairlane Town Center Michigan Avenue + John Hix Road (Wayne)11.4 miles (18.3 km)90120120Concurrent from Wayne Road east

Select late-night trips start and end at Michigan + Schaefer

210 Westland Meijer16.8 miles (27.0 km)90120120
250Ford RoadDearborn Transit Center14.4 miles (23.2 km)60--Interlined with 140
275Telegraph -Taylor/Tel-Twelve 12 Mile + Telegraph Road (Southfield) Southland Center/Taylor Meijer27.4 miles (44.1 km)40–6060-Overlaps with 375 from 7 Mile to 12 Mile
280Western Wayne CrosstownOld Redford Meijer (Northwest Detroit)Detroit Metro Airport Evans Terminal23.0 miles (37.0 km)607575Only services Evans Terminal at Metro Airport
305Grand River Wixom Meijer16.1 miles (25.9 km)606060
375Telegraph -Old Redford/PontiacAmazon Pontiac 24.4 miles (39.3 km)6060-Overlaps with 275 from 7 Mile to 12 Mile
405Northwestern Highway Jason Hargrove Transit Center Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital21.4 miles (34.4 km)6060-
415GreenfieldNorthlandMeijer Royal Oak 8.7 miles (14.0 km)707045Interlined on weekdays and Saturdays
420Southfield9.1 miles (14.6 km)7070-
430Main Street Royal Oak Transit Center Crooks Road + I-75 (Troy)9.4 miles (15.1 km)60--Select trips at peak hours divert to Royal Oak High School
450Woodward Local - Pontiac Jason Hargrove Transit Center Phoenix Center (Pontiac)16.9 miles (27.2 km)6060120Concurrent from southern terminus to 10 Mile, and from 11 Mile to Maple; 460 diverts from Woodward to service downtown Royal Oak
460Woodward Local - Somerset Somerset Collection 11.8 miles (19.0 km)6060120
492Rochester Oakland University 28.1 miles (45.2 km)6060-
494DequindreBeaumont Hospital-Troy (Sterling Heights)15.1 miles (24.3 km)6060-
495John R Oakland Mall 8.7 miles (14.0 km)304545
510Van DykeBel Air Shopping Center (Detroit) Lakeside Mall 15.8 miles (25.4 km)20–303060Trips alternate between northern termini
Shelby TownshipWalmart19.2 miles (30.9 km)
525GroesbeckClinton Township Meijer18.3 miles (29.5 km)60--
550Garfield Macomb Mall Lakeside Mall12.0 miles (19.3 km)60--Interlined with 615
560Gratiot LocalGratiot + 8 Mile23 Mile + Altman Road (New Baltimore)21.1 miles (34.0 km)203060Most runs end at Gratiot & 23 Mile; one trip per hour continues to New Baltimore
610Kercheval-HarperJefferson Avenue + Alter Road

(Grosse Pointe Park)

15 Mile + Gratiot (Clinton Township)17.0 miles (27.4 km)606065
615JeffersonMoross Road + Mack Avenue (Detroit/Grosse Pointe Farms)Macomb Mall11.0 miles (17.7 km)60--Interlined with 550
7109 Mile Crosstown9 Mile + Telegraph (Southfield)20.7 miles (33.3 km)456045First eastbound trip daily starts at 9 Mile + Woodward

No Sunday service west of Lodge Freeway (truncated to 10 Mile + Evergreen)

73010 Mile Crosstown10 Mile + Telegraph (Southfield)28.9 miles (46.5 km)6060-First two trips daily start, and last two end, at Royal Oak Transit Center
74012 Mile Crosstown13 Mile + Little Mack Avenue (Roseville)Wixom Meijer41.9 miles (67.4 km)606060Select trips start and end in Royal Oak

No Sunday service west of Woodward Avenue (truncated to Detroit Zoo)

759Highland RoadOakland UniversityBogie Lake Road (White Lake)19.7 miles (31.7 km)5050-
76013 Mile/14 Mile Crosstown13 Mile + Little Mack Avenue 12 Mile + Telegraph Road (Southfield)26.4 miles (42.5 km)60--Last westbound trip daily ends at Oakland Mall
78015 Mile Crosstown15 Mile + GratiotMaple Road + Orchard Lake Road

(West Bloomfield)

28.3 miles (45.5 km)5060-Last 3 westbound trips daily end at Somerset Collection
790Pontiac CrosstownColumbia Avenue + Baldwin Avenue, PontiacAdams Marketplace (Rochester Hills)17 miles (27 km)606060Most weekday trips divert to serve Oakland County Courthouse
796Perry-OpdykePhoenix CenterAuburn Hills Marriott (Pontiac)12.2 miles (19.6 km)60--

Commuter routes

In addition to FAST and local routes, SMART operates seven commuter express routes between Downtown Detroit and the suburbs during weekday rush hours. They run toward Detroit in the morning, and toward the suburbs in the afternoon; all seven follow roughly the same path through Downtown Detroit, serving Spirit Plaza and the Rosa Parks Transit Center. [2]

Routes 255, 530, 620, and 635 run primarily on local roads, twice daily, while routes in the 800-series run primarily on freeways, three times daily. A 50¢ surcharge applies to all fares and passes when riding 800-series routes.

#Route NameSuburban terminusLengthDaily

trips

Notes
255Ford Road Express Westland Police Department20.1 miles (32.3 km)2Signed only as "Express" on headsign
530Schoenherr Lakeside Mall 23.4 miles (37.7 km)2
620Charlevoix Macomb Mall 20.4 miles (32.8 km)2
635Jefferson ExpressCrocker Boulevard + Metro Parkway (Harrison Township)23.4 miles (37.7 km)2
805Grand River Park & Ride12 Mile + Novi Road (Novi)35.9 miles (57.8 km)3Concurrent with 305 from downtown Farmington to Novi Road
830Downriver Park & RideWest Road + Grange Road (Trenton)22.8 miles (36.7 km)3Concurrent with 160 from Dix/I-75 to Dix/Northline, and from Trenton/Eureka to southern terminus
851West Bloomfield-Farmington Hills Park & RideOrchard Lake Road + Lone Pine Road (West Bloomfield)33.6 miles (54.1 km)3Breaks from freeway route to serve intermediate stops in Midtown Detroit and Southfield

Fares

SMART and DDOT share a unified fare structure, known as Dart, with most of their passes accepted by both agencies. [19] [21] A four-hour pass (the equivalent of a single bus ride) costs US$2 for most riders, with a reduced fare of 50¢ for riders aged 6–18 or over 64, as well as disabled riders. Daily, weekly, and monthly passes are also available, either as physical tickets, or digital passes through the Token Transit app. [39]

Current bus fleet

Fixed routes are operated with a fleet of 262 buses, consisting mostly of biodiesel-powered 40-foot Gillig BRT units, as well as some articulated New Flyer Xcelsior and battery-electric Proterra ZX5 buses. Three terminals, one in each county of the service area, store and maintain the fleet. [13]

Fleet #YearMakeModelLengthSeating

Capacity

PropulsionEngine
3003–30052011 Gillig BRT 40'38 Diesel-electric hybrid Cummins ISB6.7
3006–30082013
3009–30182014
3019–30202014 Diesel Cummins ISL9
3601–36592016
3701–37802017 Cummins L9
3801–38402018
3901–39382019
4001–40232020 New Flyer XD60 60.8'60 Diesel Cummins L9
4024–40272021 Proterra ZX5 40'40 Battery electric Proterra ProDrive

Most SMART vehicles' fleet numbers, including minibuses and support vehicles, correspond to their model year; the first two digits of the fleet number are the two-digit model year plus 20. For instance, vehicles 3746 and 37007 are both of the 2017 model year. [40]

Dial-a-ride and paratransit

Connector

Connector minibus SMART Connector 2015 Champion Challenger 35057.jpg
Connector minibus

Connector is a dial-a-ride service available across the SMART service area, which requires a reservation made by telephone at least one day in advance. It is available to residents of all ages, provided they live more than 1/3 of a mile away from a fixed route, though the distance requirement is waived for seniors (65 or older) and disabled riders. [41]

Connector services are operated using a fleet of propane-powered Champion Challenger minibuses. [13]

Community Transit minibus operated by the City of Farmington Hills SMART Community Transit (Farmington Hills) 2012 Champion Challenger 32106.jpg
Community Transit minibus operated by the City of Farmington Hills

Community Transit

Community Transit is a similar paratransit service, available only to seniors and disabled riders. Unlike Connector, which is operated directly by SMART, Community Transit is operated by the municipal governments of member communities, as well as some nonprofit organizations.

Community Transit is operated with a fleet of Champion and ElDorado minibuses, and Ford E-Series and Transit vans, painted white with red-and-orange stripes. [13]

Microtransit

Flex Chrysler Pacifica SMART Flex Chrysler Pacifica.jpg
Flex Chrysler Pacifica

Flex is an on-demand microtransit service, operated under contract by Via Transportation. [42] [43] The service operates similar to ridesharing; a passenger books a ride via telephone or through the Flex smartphone app, and a marked minivan picks them up and takes them to their destination. [44] Flex was launched in March 2021, and currently operates in five designated zones across the service area, covering all or part of 20 communities.

Flex vehicles are driven by independent contractors, referred to by Via as "driver partners." [45] The fleet used for Flex, owned by Avis Budget Group, [45] consists mostly of Chrysler Pacifica and Toyota Sienna minivans. Each vehicle seats three to five Flex passengers, and some are equipped to transport wheelchairs.

Flex fares are distance-based, ranging from $2 to $8, and paid through the Flex app with a major credit or debit card. Dart passes are also accepted on Flex.

Governance

SMART is headquartered in the Buhl Building in downtown Detroit. [46] It is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors, consisting of two members each from Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties, and one from Monroe County, appointed by their respective county executives. [44] [47]

Board of Directors members

Wayne County

Oakland County

Macomb County

Monroe County

Labor relations

The majority of SMART's workforce is unionized. Fixed-route bus drivers are represented by Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1564, [48] Connector drivers by Teamsters Local 247, mechanics by UAW Local 771, [49] and dispatchers and supervisors by AFSCME Local 1786. [50]

The independent contractors employed by Via Transportation for SMART Flex are not unionized.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Sask Transit</span> Public transit service

Fort Sask Transit (FST) is a public transit service in the city of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. It operates two routes within the city, and a third route is contracted to Strathcona County Transit to connect with its service network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Hargrove Transit Center</span> Major public transit station in Detroit, Michigan

The Jason Hargrove Transit Center (JHTC) is a major public transit station in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the third iteration of the State Fair Transit Center, located at the old Michigan State Fairgrounds, near the Gateway Marketplace and intersection of 8 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue. It serves as the secondary hub for the Detroit Department of Transportation bus network, as well as a major transfer point for the suburban SMART network, served by 13 bus routes in total.

References

  1. ↑ SMART names Dwight Ferrell as its new general manager, Mass Transit Magazine, published August 16, 2021
  2. 1 2 3 4 "System Map" (PDF). Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation. September 11, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "History of Regional Transit in Southeast Michigan". Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation. Archived from the original on August 4, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Southeastern Michigan Transportation History Part II: The New Regional Transportation Authority Moves Forward". Detroit Transit History. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  5. ↑ Barron, James (November 23, 1984). "Flaws Slowing People Mover Project" . The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Saving SMART". Detroit Free Press . Knight Ridder. February 29, 1992. pp. 8A – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Waldmeir, Pete (May 28, 1995). "Big SMART victory was no plot; just a case of voters doing the decent thing". The Detroit News . Gannett – via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 3 Ourlian, Robert; Seymour, Liz (May 29, 1995). "SMART checking ways to improve routes". The Detroit News . Gannett. pp. 10A – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "SMART Approval". Detroit Free Press . Knight Ridder. June 8, 1995. pp. 10A.
  10. ↑ Pullen, Ginger; Thurtell, Joel (November 1, 1994). "Van service gives commuters a lift'". Detroit Free Press . Knight Ridder. pp. 5C – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Selinger, Marc (June 18, 1996). "Macomb to add to bus services". Detroit Free Press . Knight Ridder. pp. 1B – via Newspapers.com.
  12. 1 2 Bello, Marisol (December 30, 2005). "Detroit is bracing for a lean new year". Detroit Free Press . Gannett. pp. 1A – via Newspapers.com.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 "Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation". CPTDB Wiki. Canadian Public Transit Discussion Board.
  14. 1 2 "Election 2006". Detroit Free Press . Gannett. July 9, 2006. pp. 2B – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Public Notices". Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation. Archived from the original on September 26, 2009.
  16. ↑ "Farmington City Council Reverses Decision and Stays in SMART". WDIV . January 31, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  17. 1 2 "This Suburb Opted In to SMART After 19 Years". Motor City Freedom Riders. March 4, 2015.
  18. 1 2 Runyan, Robin (December 28, 2017). "Ride to the airport for $2.00 on new SMART bus service". Curbed Detroit. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  19. 1 2 Lawrence, Eric D. (April 17, 2019). "DDOT, SMART to launch unified payment system to cut hassle for Detroit bus riders". Detroit Free Press . Gannett . Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  20. 1 2 "Detroit launches Dart app for mobile transit payments and passes, powered by Passport". Michigan Chronicle . September 9, 2019.
  21. 1 2 Lawrence, Eric D. (August 20, 2019). "QLINE to join DDOT, SMART unified payment system beginning in October". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  22. ↑ "SMART Flex Service Has On Demand Transit in Pontiac, Auburn Hills, and Troy". Oakland County Times. December 21, 2021.
  23. ↑ Laitner, Bill (February 22, 2022). "Auburn Hills council votes to drop SMART bus service". Detroit Free Press . Gannett.
  24. ↑ Rowe, Corey. "Auburn Hills Transit: Call to Action". Rochester Riders.
  25. ↑ Lawrence, Eric D. (May 18, 2022). "Auburn Hills wants to leave SMART bus system — but judge's ruling becomes major hurdle". Detroit Free Press . Gannett . Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  26. ↑ Tuttle, Nicole (March 12, 2022). "Macomb Township seeks to opt out of SMART". The Macomb Daily .
  27. 1 2 3 Lawrence, Eric D. (August 10, 2022). "Oakland County commissioners OK countywide transit millage for ballot". Detroit Free Press . Gannett.
  28. 1 2 3 Hall, Christina; Lawrence, Eric D. (November 9, 2022). "Oakland County all in on transit as millage passes; Macomb, Wayne voters also show support". Detroit Free Press . Gannett . Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  29. 1 2 3 McNichol, Peg (August 12, 2022). "Oakland County voters will decide countywide transit millage". The Oakland Press . Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  30. 1 2 Yazbeck, Thomas (February 10, 2023). "New SMART Bus Routes Coming in 2023!". Transportation Riders United.
  31. ↑ "Board of Directors Meeting - August 25, 2022" (PDF). Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation. August 24, 2022.
  32. ↑ McLenon, Alex (September 27, 2022). "SMART acquires its first electric buses". WDET . Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  33. ↑ Lawrence, Eric D. (February 22, 2023). "DDOT, SMART bus riders to use new app for digital passes". Detroit Free Press . Gannett . Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  34. ↑ Hall, Christina (August 17, 2018). "It's official: SMART millage passes in Macomb Co. by a whole 39 votes". Detroit Free Press . Gannett . Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  35. 1 2 "Oakland County voters pass millage to expand public transportation". WXYZ . November 9, 2022.
  36. ↑ Lawrence, Eric D. (August 11, 2022). "Wayne County board OKs SMART millage for ballot in opt-in communities". Detroit Free Press . Gannett . Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  37. ↑ Lawrence, Eric D. (July 14, 2022). "Macomb County voters will get to decide fate of SMART transit millage". Detroit Free Press . Gannett . Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  38. ↑ "Schedules by Route". Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  39. ↑ "Fares". Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  40. ↑ "Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation". CPTDB Wiki. Canadian Public Transit Discussion Board. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  41. ↑ "Using Connector Service". www.smartbus.org. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  42. ↑ "SMART launches SMART Flex, Detroit's first on-demand transit service with Via". Via Transportation . March 28, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  43. ↑ Marini, Miriam (March 24, 2021). "SMART's new van service will help riders with shorter trips". Detroit Free Press . Gannett . Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  44. 1 2 Vision for Mobility. Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation. 2022.
  45. 1 2 "Detroit First Day". Drive With Via. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  46. ↑ "Contact". Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  47. ↑ "Board of Directors". Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  48. ↑ Lawrence, Eric D. "Pay, scheduling causes widespread SMART, DDOT driver shortage, missed routes". Detroit Free Press. Gannett . Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  49. ↑ "UAW Local 771". Union Facts. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  50. ↑ "SMART Facts & History". Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
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