'Wildly Popular' Dial-A-Ride Service Outstrips Projections

After SMART (Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation) launched its dial-a-ride program in 2012, officials thought the service might generate 4,400 rides a year. 

Turns out, they underestimated, by quite a bit. 

SMART Oakland County ombudsman Steven Brown told Farmington city council members Tuesday the service generated 1,800 rides each month, around 21,000 in a year. 

"We're very excited about the reception of the service," Brown said. "It has been wildly popular, in my estimation." 

Brown said the elimination of a taxi service in Farmington Hills helped drive demand for dial-a-ride, which provides door-to-door bus service with about an hour's notice. SMART's advance reservation service, which requires several days' notice, is a little less popular, with 80 rides per month in Farmington. 

Officials in Farmington and Farmington Hills drove development of the dial-a-ride service, after SMART cut bus routes in 2011. Monday night's discussion was a far cry from contentious conversations over SMART service two years ago, when Farmington officials first voted to opt out of the system, then reversed their vote a few weeks later.

Farmington and Farmington Hills councils both face another SMART decision this month. If the communities remain in the system, voters will decide in August whether to renew a .59 mill levy that helps fund the service, Brown said. 

He added that SMART has no plans to cut any Farmington-area bus routes, although reductions are always a possibility and depend on demand for the service.