Memorial Day is this Monday, May 28^th. We will be operating our holiday service that day and you will want to note adjustments to prepare for your commute. Please keep in mind that customer service and the Royal Oak Transit Center will be closed on Monday. If you need to stop in and purchase a fare card please plan accordingly.

Fixed Route

• Operating Sunday service
• Customer Service – Closed
• Downtown and Royal Oak Transit Centers – Closed

Connector

The following service will not operate:

• Connector
• Somerset Shuttle
• Oakland Mall Shuttle
• Farmington/ Farmington Hills Dial-A-Ride
• Groesbeck Flex Route Service Be sure to book your Connector and /or ADA trip by 4:00 p.m. on Friday May 25^th for trips on Tuesday, May 29^th

Be sure to book your Connector and /or ADA trip by 4:00 p.m. on Friday May 25^th for trips on Tuesday, May 29^th

Prearranged ADA trips will operate as scheduled on Monday, May 28^th.

Visit our website or call Customer Service for additional Details.

Public transit connects thousands of people to jobs, school and appointments every day, a service provided by our army of dedicated drivers. Everyday residents all over our region don’t have to worry about parking, road conditions, or the general stresses of driving, because our drivers handle it, and we want to thank them. Transit Driver Appreciation Day will be observed on March 16^th this year and to thank the drivers for navigating particularly rough roads throughout the year, and especially this winter.   

Send your thoughts and thanks to your driver on Transit Driver Appreciation day, by picking up a Thank You card at one of the following locations:

Royal Oak Transit Center

Downtown Detroit Office

Online (options 1, 2, 3 or 4)

Thank you to the Detroit area Wendy’s for donating 500+ gift cards to make our driver’s day just a little more special. Public transit supports the local community and Detroit Area Wendy’s stepped up to support public transit by showing appreciation for the drivers.  To continue this circle of support for our community we’ve provided a link so you can find a nearby Wendy’s to visit, many via SMART routes.

Find a Detroit Area Wendy's near you!

With Rider Feedback, SMART Moves to Finalize New Service

After five successful sessions, the Public Hearings for SMART’s proposed services have come to an end.  We appreciate everyone who came out to share their opinions and provided us feedback and we were happy to have been able to speak with so many of you.

Now, our team will be moving forward to finalize the routes and services with your comments and suggestions in mind. Be sure to keep an eye out for these updates!

As the days get shorter this time of year, many of us are catching the bus before the sun comes up or at night.  Here are a couple of tips to help keep you safe and easily seen by your driver at your stop.

• Be visible – wear light or bright color clothing to make yourself visible to an approaching bus.
• Flag the bus – Be sure to wave your arm to signal the driver that you would like to board.
• Find some light – If your bus stop is not under a street light, hold up a flashlight or cell phone light while flagging the bus.

September 28, 2015 (City of Taylor, MI) - SMART and the city of Taylor will celebrate the introduction of two new buses at a ribbon cutting ceremony at 11:00am at the William D. Ford Senior Citizens Center located at 6750 Troy, Taylor, Michigan  48180.  The two new buses are replacement vehicles to transport senior citizens to their choice of destinations, allowing them a continued quality of life and freedom of independence.  Attendees at the event include Mayor Rick Sollars, City Council members, riders of the bus service and SMART staff.

Through the SMART Community Partnership Program (CPP), communities have access to funding and SMART resources to help operate local community transit programs. The CPP helps local municipalities provide community transit programs for their residents and supports a variety of transit needs including:  administrative services, operating expenses, bus purchases, maintenance, loaner vehicles and technical assistance to help communities develop, design and operate service.  

“In addition to the bus services SMART provides for each community, the CPP helps local communities add another level of service for their residents.” said SMART General Manager John Hertel, “With federal dollars returned to the city, Taylor is able to help accommodate more seniors and people with disabilities to get them to services they need every day like medical appointments, grocery shopping and to the Senior Activity Center. SMART is proud of our partnership with Taylor in jointly serving their citizens.”

The bus service is operated by the community and the two buses are replacement vehicles and are equipped with a wheelchair lift to accommodate disabled passengers with seating for 13 passengers. The new bus has a 6.8 liter diesel engine for better mileage. The senior transportation program provides service 5 days a week and transports older adults and people with disabilities to medical appointments, grocery shopping, the Senior Activity Center, theater and plays and other trips.  

"We've really been looking forward to receiving these two buses," Mayor Rick Sollars said. "The William Ford Senior Activities Center plays a huge role in so many lives, and these buses are a key to many of the services that we provide. I'm sure the senior citizens in this community will put these vehicles to good use!"

SMART provides each CPP funding through Community Credits in 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 Program.  Approximately $6.5 million annually is redistributed by SMART via municipal and community credit programs to the area’s community-based transit programs.

September 21, 2015 (Highland Park, MI) - SMART and the city of Highland Park will celebrate the introduction of a new bus at a ribbon cutting ceremony at 11:00am at the Gabrielle Apartments located at 14201 Second Avenue, Highland Park, MI 48203.  The new bus is a replacement vehicle to transport senior citizens to their choice of destinations, allowing them a continued quality of life and freedom of independence.  Attendees at the event include Mayor DeAndre Windom, City Council members, riders of the bus service and SMART staff.

Through the SMART Community Partnership Program (CPP), communities have access to funding and SMART resources to help operate local community transit programs. The CPP helps local municipalities provide community transit programs for their residents and 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. 

“SMART plays an important role with communities like Highland Park in supporting their local transit programs for their residents, helping them get to medical appointments, work and school,” said SMART General Manager John Hertel, “Through our Community Partnership Program, SMART is able to bring federal dollars back to the community to ensure seniors and people with disabilities have access to the transit services they need.”

The Highland Park bus is operated by Peoples Community Service. The new bus serves as replacement vehicle and is equipped with a wheelchair lift to accommodate disabled passengers and has seating for 13 passengers. The new bus has a 6.8 liter diesel engine for better mileage. Peoples Community uses the bus four days a week to transport older adults and people with disabilities to medical appointments, the clinic, grocery shopping and other trips as needed.  

“It’s always a pleasure to add a valued service to our most cherished citizens, our seniors. The City of Highland Park would like to thank SMART for their contribution to our ongoing mission of ensuring Highland Park is an Age- Friendly city. Enhanced quality of life for the seniors is another step toward the Rebirth of Highland Park” 

-Mayor DeAndre Windom

SMART provides each CPP funding through Community Credits in 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 Program.  Approximately $6.5 million annually has been redistributed by SMART via municipal and community credit programs to the area’s community-based transit programs.

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 offers a family of transit services, including fixed route and small bus services as well as support for local transportation programs to connect people to employment and educational institutions, medical appointments and shopping centers.  Through SMART’s small bus programs, over one million rides are provided to seniors and people with disabilities annually.  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 www.smartbus.org or call Customer Service at 866-962-5515. 

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