About SMART

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’s fixed-route and small bus services connect people to employment and educational institutions. SMART is supported by federal and state funding, local contributions through a transit property tax millage from opt-in communities and bus fares.

Convenient

·         SMART bus routes provide access to more than 75,000 businesses and 1.3 million jobs.

·         Approximately 2.5 million people live within a ¼ mile radius of a SMART bus route.

·         Nearly 13 million seniors, students and professionals use SMART to travel to work, school, doctor’s offices and shopping centers annually.

·         All SMART buses are equipped with bike racks.

·         The SMART bus system offers a variety of fixed-route and curb-to-curb service options and programs with 57 bus routes and 6,000 bus stops.

Safe

·         New SMART drivers receive nearly 250 hours of training including 200 hours of on-the-road training.

·         On average, SMART bus drivers drive 21,000 miles accident free.

·         SMART buses receive preventative maintenance every 3,000 miles.

·         All SMART buses are equipped with two-way radios, turn-by-turn GPS and auto vehicle locator systems.

Reliable

·         SMART fixed route bus riders utilize the service for daily activities, with 70% using SMART to get to work and 20% using it to reach educational institutions.

·         SMART buses are on time 85% of the time.

·         Nearly 56% of new fixed-route riders prefer using SMART over their own vehicle or other means of transportation.

Eco-Friendly

·         One SMART bus potentially eliminates 60 cars on the road.

·         Public transportation produces 95% less volatile carbon monoxide and about 50% as much carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide per passenger per mile.

·         SMART recycles 600 tires, 600 gallons of anti-freeze and 28,890 gallons of oil annually.

·         All SMART buses are biodiesel powered.

Economic

·         Through its Specialized Services, Municipal and Community Credits programs, SMART redistributes approximately $6.5 million annually to 75 community-based transit programs.

·         SMART offers transit programs and tax incentives for businesses and their employees.

Leadership

SMART is governed by a board of directors comprised of representatives from Macomb Monroe, Oakland and Wayne Counties, which selects the general manager to handle daily operations.

General Management

John C. Hertel, General Manager

Steve Brown, Deputy General Manager

Jim Fetzer, Deputy General Manager of Operations

Macomb County Representatives

Mr. Jerry Moffitt, Chairman, Chief Deputy Treasurer, Macomb County

Mr. David Flynn, Commissioner District 8

Oakland County Representatives

Mr. Gerald Poisson, Vide Chairman, Deputy Oakland County Executive

Mr. Robert Daddow, , Deputy Oakland County Executive

Wayne County Executives

Mr. Matthew Schenk, Wayne County Chief of Staff

The Honorable Abdul Haidous, Mayor of the City of Wayne

Employment

SMART provides employment for nearly 1,000 people in southeast Michigan. These employees are represented by the following unions:

·         ATU Local 1564

·         AFSCME Local 1786

·         TEAMSTERS Local 247

·         UAW Local 417

Service and Programs

Services

·         Community Transit – SMART partners with opt-in communities to meet the specific needs of a neighborhood by providing vehicles, funding and technical support to help the community design and operate a customized plan.

·         Fixed-Route Service – Riders use buses at specific time points along an established route in their neighborhood to reach a predetermined destination.

·         Connector – Curb-to-curb small bus service operated directly by SMART.

o        Job Express – Direct service from fixed route buses at an established stop that takes you to the door of your work site.

o        Flexible Route Service – Flexible service used by passengers looking to get to an otherwise inaccessible location. Passengers can either board at designated time points or call SMART to get picked up at other locations within the service areas.

o        Dial-A-Ride – Community transit service that is an immediate response to a request for transportation within communities offering this type of service.

·         Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Paratransit Service – This is an advance reservation service providing curb-to-curb transportation for riders with disabilities. The service covers the same areas, times and transfers as SMART fixed-route service. ADA service area is within 3/4 of a mile of a SMART regular fixed-route. Individuals must be ADA certified to be eligible for this service.

Programs

·         Get A Job, Get A Ride! – This program helps new employees save on their transportation costs. Eligible participants hired within the past 30 days who are permanent, full-time employees can receive a complimentary 31 Day Pass to ride SMART’s fixed-route service.

·         TRANSITCHEK® – This program helps to encourage the use of public transportation. Employers can subsidize their employees' bus commuting costs by up to $115 a month per employee.

·         Community Credits – Each community within the SMART taxing district is guaranteed additional funding from money generated by the tax. Similar to a tax rebate, the monies can be spent on transit services in their community.

·         Municipal Credits – This is a revenue sharing program that supports operation of local transportation services. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) allocates $3 million through a state reimbursement program. These funds are distributed based on the population of Macomb, Oakland and Wayne Counties and are used strictly to support the operating costs of transit services.

·         Specialized Services – SMART administers this program for all communities within Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties (excluding Detroit).  This program is a statewide competitive program that allows private non-profit, private for-profit and local units of government to receive operating assistance for a community based program whose primary interest is older adults and persons with disabilities.  SMART obtains input on local transportation needs through quarterly meetings of County Coordination Committees fro each county.

·         JARC/New Freedom – SMART administers the Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) program and the New Freedom Program within the urbanized portions of Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties excluding the City of Detroit.  Eligible recipients of JARC and New Freedom funds are state or local government authorities, nonprofit organizations, or operators of public transportation

·         JARC is a federal formula for projects relating to the development and maintenance of transportation services designed to transport job seekers and eligible low-income individuals to and from jobs and job-related activities, and for public transportation projects designed to transport residents of urbanized areas and non-urbanized areas to suburban employment opportunities.

·         New Freedom is a new federal formula grant to support new public transportation services and public transportation alternatives beyond those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.  This program supports the expansion of mobility options for persons with disabilities.