Communities in Three Counties to Receive New SMART Buses

DETROIT, July 2, 2009 – SMART will deliver more than 50 new buses to 38 local communities over the next few months through SMART’s Award winning Community Partnership Program (CPP).  Through this program, communities have access to funding and SMART resources to help operate local community transit programs.  A community pays only 5 percent of the cost of a new vehicle.

The CPP is a unique program to increase the availability of transit options for local residents. SMART uses federal grant dollars to purchase vehicles which enable the Authority to return federal funds back to the residents for transportation services. The CPP also supports a variety of transit needs including:  operating expenses, bus purchases, maintenance, loaner vehicles and technical assistance to help communities develop, design and operate service.  Currently, CPP participants are operating 366 vehicles throughout the tri-county area.

“SMART is pleased to be able to provide these new buses to our community partners,” said SMART Interim General Manager Steve Brown. “We have found that for many seniors, this service is a lifeline to independence and maintaining a quality of life that affords them freedom and flexibility to move around in their community without the worries of driving.”

SMART provides CPP funding through Community Credits of which a portion of the transit property tax is returned to local communities for operating and or capital purchases.  SMART also acts as the fiduciary agent for the State Municipal Credit funding program.  Approximately $6.5 million annually has been redistributed by SMART via Municipal and Community Credit programs to community-based transit programs.

The CPP program helps to address the needs of local seniors and the disabled. More than 600,000 riders per year use the bus service for medical appointments, shopping, and recreation.  The CPP serves a total of 75 communities in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties.  SMART’s Connector small bus service helps supplements local community transit programs and provides an additional 400,000 rides annually for seniors and the disabled. 

SMART is southeast Michigan’s only SMART is southeast Michigan’s only regional transit system, serving Macomb, Oakland and Wayne Counties. Recognized nationally as an innovator in community based service for its unique programs, SMART provides service to nearly 13 million passengers annually. For more information, go to www.smartbus.org or call Customer Information at 866-962-5515.

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