The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) will provide free rides across all of its services in Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties on Election Day, Aug. 4.
SMART says the move will remove cost as a barrier for residents traveling to and from their polling places. The Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) will offer the same free service on its routes within the city of Detroit.
“Wayne County is committed to making sure every resident can take part in our democracy,” said Wayne County executive Warren Evans. “When we remove barriers like transportation, we make it easier for people to be heard. We are grateful for SMART’s partnership in helping residents across the county get where they need to go on August 4.”
Free rides will be available from 12:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Election Day. No fare, pass, or ticket will be required. The offer applies to every SMART service:
• Fixed Route buses, including major corridor, crosstown, limited-stop, and express routes
• Connector, SMART’s advance-reservation, curb-to-curb service
• ADA Paratransit, advance-reservation, curb-to-curb service for riders who cannot use fixed-route buses because of a disability
• SMART Flex, on-demand service in the Dearborn, Troy/Clawson, Auburn Hills/Pontiac, Hall Road, and Farmington/Farmington Hills areas
Riders who use SMART Connector or ADA Paratransit should reserve their trips in advance, as they normally would. For route schedules, trip planning, and bus stop locations, riders can visit smartbus.org or call SMART Customer Service at 866-962-5515.
“Every day, SMART connects our neighbors to work, to school, to medical appointments, and to one another,” said Tiffany J. Gunter, General Manager and CEO of SMART. “On Election Day, that mission means making sure a lack of transportation never stands between a resident and their polling place. Free rides, all day, across our entire network, for everyone. That is what regional public transit is for.”
The two agencies operate the region’s largest public transit network, giving voters across Southeast Michigan a fare-free way to reach the polls.
“SMART connects our region, and Election Day is no exception,” said SMART board of directors chair J.P. Rea. “Whether someone is riding to work, to a medical appointment, or to their polling place, our job at SMART is the same: make sure a lack of transportation is never a barrier.”
The services also offered free rides during last year’s municipal election.
“DDOT and SMART share a commitment to keeping our region moving and our communities connected,” said Robert Cramer, executive director of transit for the City of Detroit. “Making sure Detroiters can reach their polling place without worrying about a fare or a ride is exactly the kind of partnership that serves our residents best.”
