Introducing Bus Tracker!  Where you can get the real, real-time arrival of your bus any time you need it.  Using GPS technology and other wiz-bang stuff, you can use Bus Tracker by Map and watch as your bus move along the route on a map, or try Tracker by Time and see as the time counts down to your bus’s actual arrival at your stop!  Better yet, use Tracker by Text and receive a text message with the time you can expect the bus at your stop!  Three marvelous ways to help you plan and ensure that you don’t miss the bus! 

Here are your options to view Bus Tracker…

Tracker Map

Where is my bus along the route? Track all active buses along your route on the Bus Tracker map. Learn more. 

Tracker Time

When will my bus arrive at this stop? Check if the next bus is just around the corner. Our Tracker Time tool tells you the estimated arrival time of the next SMART bus.  Learn more.

Tracker Text

How do I get bus arrival information on the go?  Text SMART anytime to get a listing of bus arrival times at your stop. Learn More.

On the go? Bus Tracker by Text is the easiest and quickest way to find out when your bus will be arriving at your stop. Text SMART anytime to get the listing of bus arrival times in the next 30 minutes! 

Just locate your Bus Stop Id by clicking here. 

Then follow these easy steps to receive a text with the estimated time of arrival!

1.     Text SMART [stop id] to 41411

2.     Receive a return text with the estimated arrival time

Beep Beep...SMART buses are now stopping in Lathrup Village!  SMART can now easily connect residents to work, school, doctors and more.

Residents have always been able to catch a Fixed Route bus on 12 Mile, now they can catch a bus at one of twelve stops along Southfield Road, between 12 mile and Lincoln.  Check out the 420 or the 740 schedule to see where SMART can connect you.

Connector Service is also available to residents.  This curb-to-curb, advance reservation service is geared towards seniors and people with disabilities.  For information on who qualifies and how to book a trip, click here.

For a detail listing of services available to Lathrup Village Residences, check out the Community Page.

After the approval of the SMART millage in August, SMART is taking the next step to replace its aging buses. With their Board of Directors’ approval, SMART is purchasing 59, 40-foot, Fixed Route buses.  More than 80 percent of the bus fleet have exceeded 500,000 miles with some reaching more than 700,000 miles and are in desperate need of replacement.  This is the first of several bus orders that SMART will undertake to replace the fleet during the next few years.

 

The SMART transit millage was a renewal and increase from .59 mils to 1.0 mil.  This is the first tax increase for the authority since 2002.  SMART promised to use the additional $27 million generated from the increase millage to stabilize the budget and to purchase new buses to replace the aging fleet. 

 

“We are thrilled with the overall level of support from voters and their understanding of the importance of SMART bus service, especially for those who are not able to drive and depend on us”, said John C. Hertel, general manager, “We will continue to provide this much-needed transit service for the region and, as promised, we will use the additional money to replace the buses as quickly as we can over the next three years.”

 

Because of the age and number of miles accumulating on each bus, SMART is intent on getting new buses ordered and on the road as soon as possible.  “We are able to quickly start replacing these buses,” said John C. Hertel, “Our staff was thinking ahead by getting involved in the joint procurement contract so that we would be able to order buses as soon as the millage was decided.”

 

SMART has entered into a 5-year, joint procurement contract collaborating with 12 other transit agencies.  The procurement was headed by METRO Bus System located in Akron, Ohio.  By participating in the joint procurement, SMART reduced the bidding process time by approximately 6 to 8 months. The buses will be manufactured by Gillig Corporation in Haywood, CA. The contract allows for adding optional equipment and upgrades.  The new buses will have a sleek, modern ‘Bus Rapid Transit’ (BRT) design, a stainless steel bike rack that holds 3 bikes, a new exterior Luminator LED sign and non-skid flooring.  Delivery of the new buses will take approximately 18 months.

 

Even with the increased millage, SMART still has the lowest millage rate in Michigan, yet serves the largest population and geographic area than the nine largest transit agencies in the state combined.

 

Serving since 1967, SMART is southeast Michigan’s only regional public transportation provider, offering convenient, reliable and safe transportation for Macomb, Oakland and Wayne Counties. SMART’s Fixed Route and small bus services connect people to employment and educational institutions, medical appointments and shopping centers. SMART is supported by federal and state funding, local contributions through a transit property tax millage from opt-in communities and bus fares. For routes and fare information, visit smartbus.org.

Welcome to SMART’s new website!  We invite you to check out the improvements we’ve made to get you to the information you want and need, quickly and easily.  Not only is navigating simple, its mobile device-friendly, designed to work on any smartphone or tablet. The SMART Trip Planner and Service Bulletins are at your fingertips. One-click, colorful icons take you to our most popular pages – Schedules, Fares and Passes and to our newest feature – Bus Tracker.  Get the arrival times of your bus by route or at your bus stop.  No more worries about ‘Where’s my bus?’  Now, you’ll know.

Among the new site's features:

• NEW! Bus Tracker allows you to get realtime arrival information for your bus using the Tracker by: map, time or text features.
• Trip Planner gives you access to the SMART Trip Planner based on your travel needs.
• Service Nearby allows you to see all the bus routes closest to you.
• Service Bulletins Alerts are on the homepage and provides updates on planned detours and service changes.
• SMART News information on what is happening in and around SMART.

So, take a tour and see for yourself how easy it is to get the information you need and start your ride on SMART!

A variety of classic cars will be cruising Woodward in the next couple of days.  But this year, there will be a new and interesting classic vehicle…a flaming, hot SMART bus!

SMART is getting ready for the cruising fun and dressed up one of its 40 foot buses, with flames!  The transformed bus is now ready for cruising!  

“Riding the bus can be routine, so we wanted to give our riders something to brighten up their trip,” said John C. Hertel, general manager, “With so many cars cruising Woodward, we thought it would be fun to deck out a bus with traditional cruise-wear – bright, hot, flames!”

Each and every day, SMART buses carry 3,200 riders up and down historic Woodward Avenue, getting them to work, to school, or wherever they need to go.  That’s our job, but every year in August it is just a bit more fun as SMART buses share the road with wonderful classic cars – sharp and shiny – and some of the most beautiful vehicles ever made, so we thought, why not join in the fun?

Look for SMART bus #23318 on Woodward; it’s ready for cruising and the “heat is on”!  It may not be quite a classic, but we hope you like it.  If you see us on the road, Facebook us and tell us what you think.  www.facebook.com/rideSMARTbus