Keep SMART Rolling: Vote YES on Public Transit!
by Tom Yazbeck
Transportation is freedom. A just society ensures that everybody can travel where they need to go, regardless of their ability to drive. But convenient public transportation is scarce or absent in much of Southeast Michigan. This year, that could finally change, and bring new opportunities for thousands of our disabled, elderly, and low-income neighbors.
Continued funding for SMART, the main public transit agency in Southeast Michigan, depends on the approval of voters in Macomb, Wayne, and Oakland Counties on November 8. While all of Macomb County participates in SMART, many communities in Wayne and Oakland don’t. Vast areas are off-limits to non-drivers, who must either pay for expensive Uber rides or find a friend or family member to chauffeur. Voters in most of these places have never been given a choice about whether they’d like to join SMART within the last 20 years.
For the first time ever in Oakland County, voters countywide will see their county’s Public Transportation Millage at the end of their ballots. Most voters in Oakland (and all in Macomb) are being asked to renew funding for transit at a rate of 0.95 mils, but many Oakland County communities will be deciding for the first time. As one might expect, there is some opposition to a new tax, but services in the cities SMART will expand to would be far more extensive than what currently exists.
In addition to maintaining existing services, the Oakland County Public Transportation Millage would expand fixed bus routes (scheduled services, with clearly marked stops), paratransit (special, often door-to-door services for individuals with disabilities), and microtransit (on-demand services that work much like ridesharing apps) to many new places. These services are tailored to suit different communities with different transportation needs, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for any particular individual or community.
Transportation Riders United has been working hard in Oakland and Macomb Counties to educate the region about this vital election. In 2018, the last time voters weighed in on the issue, only about 40 votes stood between Macomb County keeping or losing ALL public transit services. Thankfully, those voters kept SMART rolling in Macomb County — but the stakes are even higher this year, in both counties north of 8 Mile Road. Help us make sure as many people as possible vote YES for your County’s Public Transportation Millage!
Visit www.keepsmartrolling.com to find out how you can help or reach out to me, Thomas Yazbeck, at thomas@detroittransit.org.
Transportation Riders United — www.detroittransit.org
Oakland Transit information — https://www.oakgov.com/OaklandTransit/Pages/default.aspx
SMART: www.smartbus.org
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