Did you know that an Oakland Transit Millage will appear on the Nov. 8 ballot?
The countywide 0.95 mill proposal will replace the millage that supports the SMART bus system that is levied in 24 communities, and it will provide funding to three local transit providers – North Oakland Transportation Authority (NOTA), Western Oakland Transportation Authority (WOTA), and the Older Persons Commission (OPC) in the Rochester area.
SMART provides more than 3.9 million rides annually to residents in Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb counties and in the last year, has provided more than 115,000 reservation and app-based rides in Oakland County alone.
Pontiac Councilman Mikal Goodman talks about how he used public transit to get back and forth from work and school:
In 2021, WOTA, NOTA, and OPC provided rides to nearly 90,000 people to healthcare appointments, shopping, and other essential destinations.
The Oakland Transit Millage will expand and maintain those existing public transit services and will fund new transportation options to key areas, including major employment centers, health care campuses and local colleges and universities.
Wayne State University student Corey Rowe uses his commute time to read or finish homework. Learn more about why he believes using public transit makes his life less stressful:
The millage will get vulnerable members of the community, including seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities, to and from work, doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping and other essential destinations. It would expand transportation to parts of Oakland County that are not currently served by any designated, multi-community transit provider.
This map shows where SMART, North Oakland Transportation Authority, Western Oakland Transportation Authority and Older Persons Commission currently provide services, and the areas where there is limited local transportation:
The .95 rate will cost the owner of a home or business valued at $200,000 (taxable value of $100,000) about $9 a month.
Funds from the millage will be fully transparent, annually audited and will support transit services that specifically benefit Oakland County residents and businesses.
To learn more about the Oakland Transit Millage, visit oakgov.com/oaklandtransit.
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