Walled Lake Joins SMART; Service to start in January
On November 7, 2006 the voters in the City of Walled Lake approved the Oakland County Public Transportation Authority millage. The .59 property tax will generate approximately $145,000 annually for the Walled Lake and participate in the SMART Community Partnership Program.
The SMART Community Partnership Program or CPP allows local communities or groups to become partners with SMART and to share the responsibility of operating efficient transportation based on a community’s specific needs. So every participating community offers a unique service. Walled Lake will design, directly operate and control transit services within their community. Two vehicles will be available including 1- 21 foot lift equipped bus and 1 lift equipped van. In addition, CPP’s receive no cost labor on maintenance of all partnership vehicles, computerized scheduling software and help in developing and planning the bus service.
The residents of Walled Lake will have access to several SMART Fixed Routes by transferring to any of these routes.
Route 385 Orchard Lake
Route 405 Northwestern Highway
Route 780 Fifteen Mile
851 Park and Ride
SMART will advance funding to in order to begin service in January 2007. All current participating communities in the Oakland County Public Transportation Authority pay for transit out of the winter tax collection. Since the Walled Lake millage was placed on the November ballot, taxes will not be collected and paid until the winter 2007 tax bill. SMART has graciously offered to loan $75,000 for start up funds plus a brand new bus and van to Walled Lake in order to begin transit services in January 2007. The loan will be paid back after the tax is collected.
SMART is the suburban transit system for Southeast Michigan providing more than 11 million rides annually around the suburbs and to downtown Detroit. SMART customers include commuters, entry level workers, senior citizens and people with disabilities. For information on SMART routes and schedules visit www.smartbus.org or call Customer Information at 866-962-5515.