On Nov. 8, 2022, voters will be asked to consider a 10-year, .95 mill measure to maintain and expand public transit services, connecting people and communities across Oakland County. The Oakland Transit millage will expand and maintain existing public transit services, including transportation provided by the SMART bus system, Western Oakland Transportation Authority, North Oakland Transportation Authority and Older Persons Commission in the Rochester area.
The millage funds new service to key areas, including major employment centers, health care campuses and local colleges and universities.
The millage will expand reservation-based service – flexible transportation for seniors, people with disabilities, and veterans who need to make essential trips, such as doctor’s appointments and grocery shopping.
Waterford Senior Center Coordinator Erin Asdell talks about the importance of access to public transportation:
“When you say ‘I don’t need a bus, I have a car,’ what about your neighbor? What about your family member? What about your mother, your grandmother? How are they getting to medical appointments? Who is helping them? WOTA has just been such a wonderful solution in our community.”
-Waterford Senior Center Coordinator Erin Asdell
The millage will expand app-based service – on-demand transportation open to the general public, using small vehicles.
Funds from the millage will support services that specifically benefit Oakland County residents and businesses.
Local service details will be developed collaboratively with members of the public, community organizations, transit providers, local governments and county leadership.
Public transit user Nizam Ifaz shares why he rides the bus instead of using his car:
“The reason I still use public transportation even though I have a car is because sometimes it is a lot easier to avoid parking when you use a bus to get there. Also, a lot of times you can save a lot of gas and money. The best thing that I like about riding the bus is during the winter time, when I would have to walk somewhere, I could use the bus, and it protects me from the weather. It’s just a comfy place where I can do homework or listen to my class lectures while I’m going to my destination.”
-Public Transit User Nizam Ifaz
Public transit user Alexander Selsley talks about why he enjoys riding the bus:
“My favorite thing about riding the bus, if I had to pick one thing, which is actually kind of hard, is meeting people and finding out about things. We live in a really cool city with a lot of interesting people, and I’ve had some great interactions with random people on the bus, and I’ve learned about some interesting events that I’ve ended up going to.”
-Public Transit User Alexander Selsley
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, go to oakgov.com/oaklandtransit.
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