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.

NEW limited-stop service…It’s a game changer!

On January 1^st, SMART will introduce a new level of bus service on Gratiot, Woodward and Michigan that will change the way you think about getting around town! We are adding a high frequency, limited-stop service that connects the suburbs to the city.  With service on weekdays, nights and weekends, getting to the places you live, work and play around the region are more easily reached.

What is limited-stop service?  SMART’s limited-stop service means fewer stops spaced one mile or more. Riders may board and deboard at the identified limited-stop bus stations for a faster ride while maintaining access to key destinations and transfer points.  

The new limited-stop buses will also be easily recognized with a unique look. They are sleek and SMART, each is equipped with WiFi, with the same low fare as SMART’s regular fixed route service. 

Each limited-stop route map includes a list of all official bus stations for your convenience.

Gratiot 

Gratiot limited-stop service runs from either Chesterfield (Route 563) or from North River Park and Ride (Route 561) to Downtown Detroit.  There are also trips from North River Park and Ride to Mid-town (Route 562).  The new Gratiot service mirrors the same stops as the Route 598/599, with additional stops at 10 Mile, 13 Mile, Metro Parkway, Hall Road, 22 and 23 Mile Roads.
View the Limited-Stop Gratiot Map  

Woodward 

Woodward limited-stop service runs from Pontiac (Route 462) or Troy (Route 461) to Midtown as well as Downtown Detroit. The new Woodward service mirrors the same stops as the Route 498, with additional stops at the Detroit Zoo, 12 Mile, 14 Mile, Troy Civic Center, St. Joseph Hospital and Phoenix Center. 
View the Limited-Stop Woodward Map

Michigan 

Michigan limited-stop service, for the first time, provides a direct connection from Detroit Metropolitan Airport to Downtown Detroit, seven days a week.  Both airport terminals, as well as the Dearborn Transit Center, are served with each trip. 
View the Limited-Stop Michigan Map

Downtown 

All the new limited-stop routes meet downtown with stops in the Central Business District and near the entertainment district.  Now you can to get close to the places you want to go and connect with the regions network of routes and other mobility options. 
View the Downtown Map

We have a lot of new and exciting changes for the way you travel starting January 1, 2018! Our team is excited to announce the brand new, limited-stop service along Gratiot, Woodward, and Michigan that connects the suburbs to the city seven days a week! Follow the link below to learn more about the limited-stop service:

New FAST Service Information

Along with the new service news, we have some route modifications to share.

Riders will find TIME CHANGES on the following routes:

·         450/460 Woodward Local                 
·         560 Gratiot
·         710 Nine Mile
·         851 W. Bloomfield P&R

ROUTING CHANGE will occur on:

·         465 Auburn Hills Limited Service to the 465 between Detroit and Somerset has only
          one (1) early morning selected trip from Detroit; all trips from Somerset and
          Troy Civic Center to Auburn Hills will remain the same.

The following routes have been ELIMINATED:

·         475 Troy Limited                                

·         598/599 Gratiot Reflex

·         565 Gratiot Limited

These ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS may help in coordinating your commute:

·         Limited-Stop Gratiot

·         Limited-Stop Woodward

·         Limited-Stop Michigan                                  

Start the year off with a stress-free commute, know before you go and check out the new service as well as changes to your usual routes:

For additional questions or information, please call SMART Customer Service to talk with a representative at (866) 962-5515.

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.

We Love our SMART customers!  To those who have been riding our buses for decades to others who have just come aboard, you are the reason we - your SMART drivers, mechanics, office staff -  come to work everyday.  Wherever SMART takes you, remember, you are at the heart of everything we do, because you are not only our customers, but also are our friends and neighbors.  Thank you for supporting SMART and public transit.  See you on the bus!

Starting February 8th, when you stop into one of our transit centers and buy any bus pass*, you will receive a FREE GIFT (while supplies last)!  SMART Transit Centers are located at:

Royal Oak Transit Center

202 Sherman Drive

• Weekdays: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to Noon

• Weekdays: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

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.

“We are making great strides to replace our aging fleet as quickly as possible,” said John C. Hertel, general manager, “We are keeping the promise we made during the millage.  Not only will there be new buses on the road soon, but our riders will get to experience a much improved ride and better service.  They deserve it given their support during the millage and their understanding of the importance of the bus service for the region.”

Earlier this year, SMART introduced 61 propane autogas Connector buses to its fleet establishing it as the second largest propane autogas powered paratransit fleet in Michigan and one of the top five largest in the United States.  The new propane Connector buses are fueled with affordable, clean, domestically produced propane gas which will help reduce fuel and maintenance costs and extend the life of the engine. 

The SMART maintenance department repairs and maintains a mix of more than 600 buses including Fixed Route, Connector and Community Transit buses.  More than 80 percent of the Fixed Route buses have exceeded 500,000 miles with some reaching more that 700,000 miles.  Because of the age and number of miles accumulating daily on the fleet, SMART is intent on getting new buses ordered and on the road as soon as possible. The buses are manufactured by Gillig Corporation and are a BRT design, with stainless steel bike rack for 3 bikes, new illuminator LED signs and non-skid flooring.  In addition, SMART’s entire fleet of buses have been equipped with cameras and the new buses will have 11 cameras installed on each, providing a 360 degree view of the interior and exterior of each bus.  The cost for these new buses is approximately $433,000 each. 

In August 2014, the SMART millage was overwhelmingly passed with a 66% approval.  The SMART public transit millage was a renewal and increase from .59 mils to 1.0 mil.  This was the first tax increase for the authority since 2002.  The additional $27 million generated from the increased millage has been used to stabilize SMART’s budget and to purchase new buses to replace those that have exceeded 500,000 miles. 

Even with the increased millage, SMART still has the lowest millage rate in Michigan, yet serves a larger population and geographic area than the nine largest transit agencies in the state combined.  SMART provides 10 million rides annually with 70 percent of riders going to work.  Seniors and people with disabilities ride SMART 1.8 million times annually, using the service for dialysis treatments, medical appointments and for grocery trips. 

Serving residents 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. For routes and fare information, visit smartbus.org.

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