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

Mon Oct 30 16:33:07 UTC 2017

Thanks for sharing! This is an extremely important issue especially in this
part of the state and even though I am 2,000 miles away, I appreciate being
able to keep up on what is happening to improve quality access to viable
transit options for folks in these areas.

On Sun, Oct 29, 2017 at 5:49 PM, J.J. Meddaugh via NFBMI-Talk <
nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> 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
> <https://maps.google.com/?q=154+N.+Saginaw+St.,%C2%A0Pontiac&entry=gmail&source=g>
> • 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
> <https://maps.google.com/?q=22322+Rutland+Drive,%C2%A0Southfield&entry=gmail&source=g>
> • 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
>
>
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-- 
Best,
Kevin Andrews
Email: kevin.andrews94 at gmail.com
Mobile Telephone: (248) 508-8569