[nfbmi-talk] More Info on SMART's Proposed new Bus Service Including Public Forums

[J.J. Meddaugh]

The Freep posted an article on Saturday with more details on SMART's 
proposed new express bus service down Woodward, Gratiot, and Michigan 
Ave. It includes service direct service from Detroit to metro airport 
and limited stop service on these corridors.

Info on public forums is below as well.

Baby steps, but definitely exciting ones that will make many more trips 
feasible with transit.



With Amazon bid on table, SMART pitches new regional transit plan for 
Detroit area
Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press
Published 7:00 a.m. ET Oct. 28, 2017

Regional transit may get a new shot of life in metro Detroit if a 
proposal by the SMART bus system takes root.
The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation, metro 
Detroit's suburban bus system, is pitching a limited-stop, more frequent 
bus service that would connect Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties to the 
city of Detroit and Detroit Metro Airport.
The region's transit limitations — exemplified by last year's defeat at 
the polls of a 20-year, $4.7-billion regional transit master plan — have 
been on display in recent weeks as Detroit and other areas have made 
their pitches to Amazon for the company's second headquarters. The giant 
online retailer had made good transit part of the criteria for 
consideration.
"With the Amazon bid on the table … this was a really good wake-up call 
for us to say 'OK, the millage failed last year. What can we do? Let’s 
figure it out,' " said Melissa Roy, a member of SMART's board of 
directors. "Instead of cowering and trying to figure out how do we pull 
ourselves together after the election last year, let's put a solution in 
place ... and I'm really proud of SMART for stepping up and doing that."
On Nov. 3, the SMART board will consider the proposal, minus deals about 
specific stops, which would come following upcoming public meetings.
Robert Cramer, SMART's deputy general manager, said the proposal would 
be a big boost for metro Detroit transit.
"The goal with this is to get frequent quick routes that connect to as 
many other mobility options as possible," Cramer said. "This will really 
be something that can get you around ... the whole region."
The proposal, which Cramer said was not directly related to the Amazon 
competition, is expected to cost $14 million annually to operate with 
little in the way of startup costs. Following upcoming community 
workshops and public hearings to gather input, the service would launch 
in January. SMART says it is able to free up money for service 
improvements because it will be finished with new bus purchases that 
came as a result of its millage renewal in 2014.
Specific stop locations have not been determined, but there are broad 
outlines. Cramer called the proposal a concept at this point.
The service would run on Woodward, Gratiot and Michigan avenues, 
connecting downtown Detroit with Metro Airport, Pontiac and Troy and 
north of Mt. Clemens to 23 Mile in Chesterfield Township. Service would 
aim for 15 minutes between buses during peak hours, although it would be 
slightly longer on Michigan Avenue than the other routes), operate seven 
days per week and offer Wi-Fi on buses with stops every 1 to 2 miles. 
Some current routes would be eliminated, according to Cramer, but only 
if they essentially duplicate what the new service would offer. The 
service would not connect to Washtenaw County as the RTA plan had 
envisioned.
Fares would be the same as are currently offered on SMART buses — $2 for 
standard riders with discounts for seniors and others.
Read more:
RTA millage rejected by metro Detroit voters
New express bus connects Detroit to Somerset mall
The new service would mean the end for the Regional Transit Authority of 
Southeast Michigan-branded RefleX service, which is a limited-stop 
service run jointly by SMART and the Detroit Department of Transportation.
That service has been held up as an example of long-needed cooperation 
between the two bus systems, which had not always been known to 
work together well. It's unknown whether the SMART proposal would 
adversely affect those relations (officials with both insisted relations 
are good). It's also not clear how it would affect the RTA's efforts to 
again pursue approval of a regional transit master plan.
However, RTA Interim CEO Tiffany Gunter said the SMART proposal would 
actually help fulfill her organization's mission.
“It’s better transit and that’s our goal (in addition to) improved 
regional connectivity," said Gunter of the proposed SMART service. The 
RTA is an umbrella organization for SMART, DDOT, the Detroit People 
Mover and the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority.
Gunter touted the performance of the RefleX service as a successful 
pilot project. Gunter said RefleX had grown to accommodate 12,000 riders 
per week since its launch last year, which is "remarkable for a new 
transit service."
Gunter, however, had a suggestion for SMART as it pursues its efforts.
"What I would like to see … is more commitment to partnership with 
DDOT in delivering the service as was kind of the guidepost and the 
shining example we used through RTA," she said.
Despite this being planned as a SMART-only operation, DDOT Director Dan 
Dirks said the two bus systems have a good relationship, a position 
echoed by Cramer. Dirks said it's early in the process, and DDOT will 
have to see how the plans develop.
“We've got to work it through quite honestly whatever they're doing, and 
that’s not abnormal. We’ve just got to sit down and figure it all out 
from our perspective,” Dirks said.
Megan Owens, executive director of the Transportation Riders United 
advocacy group, said riders just want better service and they do not 
care who operates it, although she said she hopes this is not a step 
backward in cooperation between the transit agencies.
Owens said it's good news that SMART, which has weekday ridership of 
30,000 riders, is recognizing that transit riders want faster and more 
frequent service.
"I think if done right this could be really great for riders and for the 
community," she said. "I do wonder to what extent they have coordinated 
with the RTA or with DDOT about this."
Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence at freepress.com. Follow him on 
Twitter: @_ericdlawrence.
How to be heard
SMART has workshops and public hearings scheduled to gather input on its 
expanded service plans. Workshops planned:
• Monday, Oct. 30 – 5 p.m. at Lafayette Market, 154 N. Saginaw St., Pontiac
• Wednesday, Nov. 1 – 5 p.m. at City of Wayne Council Chambers, 3355 
South Wayne Road, Wayne
• Thursday, Nov. 2 – 11:30 a.m. at SMART Downtown Offices, 535 Griswold 
St., Suite 600, Detroit
• Thursday, Nov. 2  – 4 p.m. at Eastpointe City Hall, 23200 Gratiot, 
Eastpointe
Public hearings are also scheduled:
• Wednesday, Nov. 15 – 11:30 a.m. at SMART Downtown Offices, 535 
Griswold, Suite 600, Detroit
• Wednesday, Nov. 15 – 5 p.m. at Oakland Community College, Southfield 
Campus, 22322 Rutland Drive, Southfield
• Thursday, Nov. 16 – 5 p.m. at Mt. Clemens Public Library, 150 Cass 
Ave., Mt. Clemens
• Friday, Nov. 17 – 5 p.m. at John Dingell Transit Center, 21201 
Michigan Ave., Dearborn
• Monday, Nov. 20 – 5 p.m. at Ferndale City Council Chambers, 300 E. 9 
Mile, Ferndale