SMART keeps Oakland County moving — let’s move it forward
Driving a car is a privilege enjoyed by most adults in Michigan. But for thousands of our neighbors, it isn’t an option. Disability, age, or financial factors, including rising insurance and fuel costs, prevent many Oakland County residents from owning or operating vehicles. For them, the Subur- ban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation — SMART — is a superhero. SMART connects people to jobs, doctors’ appointments, university classes, shopping malls, and many more destinations across Oakland County and the rest of the region.
SMART services are a gateway to independence for seniors and disabled people, enabling continued participation in society. The system is a lifeline for students, who increasingly are starting their educational careers without personal vehicles. The agency continues to innovate, with new offerings like its FAST express buses and Flex, an affordable alternative to Uber or Lyft.
But there are limitations which prevent SMART from fulfilling its potential, particularly the gaps created when cities and townships refuse to participate. All Macomb County communities have joined SMART, but Oakland and Wayne are confusing patchworks of “optin” communities, with the full range of services SMART provides, and “opt-out” communities which have little or no public transportation.
Some of these opt-out municipalities are remote, rural townships, but many are densely populated and closer to existing SMART routes. Destinations like Novi’s Twelve Oaks Mall, Oakland County International Airport, or downtown Rochester’s attractive Main Street are frustratingly distant to walk to from the nearest SMART bus stops. Each of these attractions would be straightforward to reach using public transit if they were in SMART’s service area. While most optout communities have senior shuttles, few of them possess anything available enough for daily commuting or even schedules that are useful for everyday activities.
The most egregious “optout” might be Bloomfield Hills, which is completely surrounded by communities which participate in SMART. Buses running on Woodward through Bloomfield Hills cannot stop to pick up or drop off riders, and the lack of sidewalks makes a carfree sojourn to the splendid Cranbrook campus impossible.
We have an opportunity to fill in these transit gaps and provide the mobility Oakland County residents deserve. Every four years, SMART’s operational funding must be renewed, and current opt-in communities have consistently voted for it. This year, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners could place the transit funding question before every voter in the county. Oakland County Commission Chair David Woodward has expressed his intention to expand SMART county-wide and end the absurdity of SMART “opt-outs.”
As somebody who rides SMART, I’m looking forward to that cathartic moment. SMART’s 31-day pass costs less than two fill-ups at a fuel pump. However, the nearest bus stop I can reach is miles away, beyond walking distance. I could save lots of money if SMART were allowed to serve my community.
But it’s not just me — everybody would benefit from SMART going county-wide. Connecting more people with jobs by expanding SMART services is a victory for local businesses, providing workers with reliable rides to the positions employers are struggling to fill. County-wide SMART coverage would be transformative for people suffering from inadequate mobility options, making it easier for seniors to age in place, easier for young adults to start their careers, and much easier for people with disabilities to participate in society. The social and economic impacts of public transportation strengthen our communities.
Oakland County voters already support SMART — let’s take this chance to expand transit throughout the whole county, with nobody left behind.