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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“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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• 430 Main Street/Big Beaver
• 450/460/465 Woodward
• 730 Ten Mile
• 740 Twelve Mile

Please note the date and time the detour is in effect by viewing the corresponding Service Bulletin.

Heading to the Festival?

• Woodward and Lincoln (Route 450/460/465)
• 11 Mile and Washington Avenue (Route 430/730/740)

Royal Oak Transit Center

Due to the road closures, the Royal Oak Transit Center will be closed Thursday, September 3 through Monday, September 7.

Holiday Schedule
Don’t forget Monday, September 7, SMART services will operate the Holiday schedule (Sunday Service).

Service Changes

Due to the anticipated traffic congestion on Woodward Avenue, Routes 450 and 460 will detour after 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 15th,  north of the State Fair Transit Center. Passengers may board SMART buses by flagging at any safe location along the detour route. Please take a minute to check out the corresponding service bulletin.

Regular fares apply for all SMART services. Please anticipate delays and plan your SMART trip accordingly.

SMART is keeping its promise!  We are pleased to announce that ten new hybrid buses have hit the road. Check out this video and look for them in your neighborhood.  Take a ride.  We think you’ll agree, SMART is on the move.

SMART is proud to introduce into its fleet this month, 61 new Connector paratransit propane autogas fuel system buses.  The new propane Connector buses will be fueled with affordable, clean, domestically produced propane gas; making SMART the second largest propane autogas powered paratransit fleet in Michigan and one of the top five largest in the United States.  

“SMART is committed to responsibly and eco-consciously serving the communities in southeast Michigan.  By using domestically produced propane we help support local jobs and our economy,” said John C. Hertel, General Manager, “In addition, using the autogas technology will improve our operations, lower costs and preserve the environment in which we work, live and play.”

By investing in the new autogas vehicles, SMART will reduce emissions, save money, and extend the life of the vehicle.

The total fuel and maintenance savings is projected to be $1.1 - $1.7 million over the lifetime of the fleet with a return on investment of less than four months.  

Further, SMART anticipates the autogas vehicles will last longer.  This technology has been shown to extend vehicle life due to less wear and tear on the engines by other autogas fleets.

SMART began its search for alternative fuels to meet the goals of the authority:  lower fuel costs and resolve the stringent and complicated emission control issues experienced with the diesel-fueled paratransit buses.  After researching various alternative fuels, propane became the clear winner.  It is affordable and is readily available.  Propane is a byproduct of natural gas processing and is becoming increasingly available in the United States due to the abundant supply of natural gas.   In addition, the cost of building on-site refueling stations at each of its three terminals was determined to be less expensive than other refueling station options. The vehicles and propane stations are grant funded.

“Residents in Southeast Michigan are breathing easier due to SMART’s decision to fuel paratransit buses with propane autogas,” said Todd Mouw, vice president of sales and marketing for ROUSH CleanTech. “Plus, this abundant alternative transportation fuel means reduced operating and ownership costs for the transit agency.”

The Connector, small bus vehicles serve seniors and people with disabilities helping to get them to work, school and medical appointments throughout the region.  It is an advance reservation, curb-to-curb service where riders may travel anywhere within a 10 mile radius of a designated service area. One of the biggest differences customers will notice is a much quieter ride.

Several local businesses participated in the effort to bring the new autogas buses to SMART.  Mobility Transportation is the commercial dealer for Champion the bus manufacturer.  ROUSH equipped the vehicles with the CleanTech propane autogas fuel system. 

Delivery of all 61 SMART Connector autogas vehicles has been on-going since February and to date 14 vehicles have been placed into service.  After receipt of a bus, SMART performs an FTA inspection and then transfer’s equipment from the retiring bus to the new bus.  This includes the removal and installation of the cameras, farebox, radio and automatic vehicle locator (AVL) system equipment.  The full fleet is expected to be in service by the end of July.

*Autogas is the term for propane when used in an on-road engine. 

About SMART: Serving since 1967, SMART is southeast Michigan’s 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 www.smartbus.org.

About ROUSH CleanTech: ROUSH CleanTech, an industry leader of alternative fuel vehicle technology, is a division of ROUSH Enterprises based in Livonia, Mich. ROUSH CleanTech designs, engineers, manufactures and installs propane autogas fuel system technology for light- and medium-duty Ford commercial vehicles, and Type A and Type C Blue Bird school buses. As a Ford QVM-certified alternative fuel vehicle manufacturer, ROUSH CleanTech delivers economical, clean and domestically produced fueling options for fleets across North America. Learn more at or by calling 800.59.ROUSH. 

About Mobility Transportation:  Mobility Transportation Services provides Michigan built buses and commercial passenger vans throughout the U.S. and Guam.  (800)496-4280.  Info@mobilitytrans.com. www.mobilitytrans.com

About Champion Bus:  Champion Bus, Inc., a subsidiary of Allied Specialty Vehicles (ASV), manufactures small and medium sized commercial buses for public transit, paratransit, parking, airport, hotel/resort, assisted living, group tour, church and university markets. Founded in 1953, Champion Bus was the first bus manufacturer to become QVM certified by the Ford Motor Company. All bus models manufactured at the company’s ISO 9001 certified facility in Imlay City, Mich. are Altoona tested, FMVSS/CMVSS compliant and have passed FMVSS No. 220 and ECE r.66 rollover safety tests. Backed by a dependable dealer network in North America, Champion Bus provides quick delivery of replacement parts and responsive customer service and technical support. For more information, visit www.championbus.com.

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Kudos to our very own Tracey Laird, who helped a little girl get to safety!  Way to go, Tracey!

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/smart-bus-driver-helps-lost-child/31658860