The mission of the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) is to provide the southeast Michigan region with high-quality, safe and cost-effective public transit that meets the needs of all its citizens, including seniors, people with disabilities, choice riders and those that are dependent upon public transit.
The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) is Southeast Michigan's regional bus system helping people connect to work, school, medical appointments, shopping centers, entertainment and cultural events. SMART provides different types of transit services, each meeting a different need and giving residents the opportunity to get where they need to go. SMART continually monitors its routes and ridership, to make sure its resources are effectively and efficiently utilized, eliminating unproductive routes and reassigning those resources to high demand routes.
Fixed Route, Connector and ADA Paratransit and Community Transit services have a combined ridership of nearly 11 million riders annually. Operating 234 Fixed Route buses on 47 routes, 7 days a week, 22 hours a day, SMART buses keep the region moving. Connector is designed for seniors and people with disabilities who can't access SMART's regular Fixed Route service, but want to maintain their independence and stay healthy. Additionally, our Community Partnership Program (CPP), offers a partnership with 76 municipalities and organizations to support local transit service by leveraging federal funding and returning those funds back to local communities to build their own transit program.
SMART was originally created in 1967 under Public Act 204 as Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority (SEMTA). In 1989 Public Act 481 of 1988 amended Public Act 204, reorganizing SEMTA without the City of Detroit and SEMTA was renamed the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART). The company is overseen by a board of directors, which govern policies, financial resources and the chief executives performance. SMART's board consists of prominent citizens from throughout southeast Michigan.
Since the first millage in 1995, SMART has worked hard to address the transit needs of the region with its limited resources. Always maintaining a balanced budget, SMART works to efficiently and effectively to be fiscally responsible to that as much service is on the road as possible every day. For more information, see our Financial and Annual Reports.
SMART is taking steps to upgrade your experience on SMART with improved efficiency of our fleet by purchasing new ecofriendly buses, improve the safety of our riders and coach operators with cameras on board our entire fleet and boost your experience on SMART with accurate arrival times at the stop.
Learn more about the history of public transit in southeast Michigan.