October 18, 2023
Bi-Weekly Executive Newsletter
Dear Friends,
Yesterday, I hopped on a bus in Southfield and for the first time, was able to get to Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi without having to embark on a multi-mile walk.
You see, workers and shoppers alike who don’t have access to cars haven’t been able to get to many parts of the county on public transportation, including the job centers like Novi, Wixom and Bloomfield Hills and Township. Our swiss-cheese approach to public transportation, full of gaps and holes, have left so many people with few options to get around.
One rider told us he used to ride the SMART bus to Farmington Hills and would then have to catch an Uber to get to his job.
But that all changed nearly a year ago when voters agreed that, after decades of trying, a countywide transit system needs to be a key priority in Oakland County. I couldn’t be happier with the progress that’s been made since that fateful vote last November.
And now, the buses - big and small, Flex vehicles and para-transit vans - are traversing areas of the county that previously have been public transportation deserts.
Here are some of the milestones that have been reached in less than a year:
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SMART added a bus stop in Bloomfield Hills at Woodward and Long Lake Road, extended three of its routes and added 68 stops out to Novi and Wixom and plans to add new routes to White Lake, Rochester and Rochester Hills early next year.
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Western Oakland Transportation Authority expanded its service area into eight new communities and the hours it operates to 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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North Oakland Transportation Authority expanded its service area into four new communities.
- The Older Persons Commission began serving high-demand medical facilities in adjacent communities.
- The Oakland County Board of Commissioners approved a contract with People’s Express providing expanded service and hours on weekdays and weekends in southwest Oakland County.
- Oakland County created a Transit Division and hired a manager and two experienced planners to work with local providers and SMART to develop short and long-term plans for transit improvements and expansion.
- The county began reimbursing communities with transit-related expenses.
As a result of all these great changes, ridership is up 20 percent for WOTA, NOTA, OPC and People’s Express and the number of riders on SMART’s routes to Novi and Wixom is growing on a daily basis, including the rider we talked to earlier this week, who now can get dropped off right near his workplace.
These coordinated efforts also are opening up opportunities for the county to apply for – and hopefully receive – federal and state grant funding that will help establish a Bus Rapid Transit line along Woodward, obtain energy efficient transit vehicles and the resources needed to make improvements at bus stops throughout Oakland County.
This progress is truly remarkable and helps make Oakland County an even more attractive destination for new residents, employers and visitors. And we have the voters of Oakland County to thank for sharing the vision of an easily accessible, reliable and affordable public transportation system across the county.
The work on achieving that goal is not done, but I can assure you that the county and the service providers are working diligently to turn the vision into a reality.
With gratitude,
Dave Coulter
Oakland County Executive
Redeem your Senior Market FRESH coupons before Oct. 31
A quick reminder for those Oakland County residents who participated in our Senior Market FRESH program, please redeem any remaining coupons for fresh, local produce from participating Oakland County farmers markets by Tuesday, Oct. 31. Check out our 2023 Oakland County Farmer’s Market listing of locations that accept these coupons and don’t miss out!
Broadband connectivity survey closes Oct. 27
From online schooling to telehealth appointments to working from home, the Internet is necessary for day-to-day lives. In some areas of Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties, high-speed internet is unavailable, slow or unaffordable, making completing everyday tasks difficult.
By taking the 5-minute Michigan Moonshot survey and broadband speed test, you can help create an accurate map of Internet connectivity in the tri-county area. The more accurate the map, the better chances the state, county and communities will have at getting the funding needed to build and improve broadband availability, affordability and accessibility for residents in Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties.
To identify gaps in internet service and affordability issues, the three counties have partnered with Merit Network, a Michigan-based nonprofit, to develop a survey to reach all properties in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties.
To learn more and take the survey, visit www.michiganmoonshot.org/tri-county-broadband. Residents can take the survey in one of three ways:
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