Zoom link at website at smartbus.org/About/News/sou…

According to their website, “this week will feature a short presentation from the smarter mobility team to talk about their role in collecting public feedback.”

Meeting starts at 5:00.

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, email documenters@outliermedia.org with "Correction Request" subject line.

For more documenters reporting about SMART, see detroit.documenters.org/reporting/?age…

Meeting is starting. Jordan Erving (Oakland Co Ombudsman for SMART) explaining that the meeting is to hear how SMART can serve riders better.

Jenae Williams Smith is a consultant working on SMART mobility program. Looking to evaluate pilot microtransit program (Flex)'s fixed route and connector service.

Have been working on this project for about a year. Now in public engagement phase.

Found that most transit trips are short (less than 5 miles). Asking where people are going to work so that SMART can connect where the jobs are. Looking at the people who use SMART the most, which is most communities near Detroit.

Did 1,492 rider surveys, 27 pop-ups, 7 public meetings, and 2 focus groups.

#1 comment was needing reliable transit. #2 was amenities such as comfortable stops with real-time updates. #3 was frequency (every 15-30 minutes). #4 was customer service, and #5 was coverage.

Looked at where people are going but also asked where they would go if transit was available.

Offering a few scenarios. (Details on these scenarios will be at website which will be shared later.)

Info on the two scenarios are at smarter-mobility.org

There will be public comments in the community. They are listed on the site. Also Sept 18 (10 am) and Sept 24 (6pm) online meetings.

Moving to public comments.

First commenter asking about how to get in touch with Smarter Mobility team. Hard time getting to public meetings but wondering about emailing. Presenter says she welcomes emails.

Next commenter wondering whether the plans would change if Wayne County puts a SMART millage on the ballot, as the plans currently focus on opt-in communities.

Second question from commenter is about Flex Zones. Wonders about Flex Zones in communities without any fixed-route service. Could there be a Flex Zone with no fixed-route connectivity?

Response: For the first round, the goal for Flex Zones is that they can connect to a fixed route.

Last commenter was Downriver. Next commenter is Detroit resident. He says that the fast routes are not as reliable as they used to be. What is the obstacle to increasing frequency along the fast routes?

(Another commenter in the chat also frustrated by the lack of reliability and frequency for the fast route.)

Next commenter is Brother Cunningham requesting that the fast bus schedules be put in libraries and other places where there are DDOT schedules. Also feels that fast bus is inconsistent and hears a lot of complaints from people about this.

Also requesting a 6 Mile stop for Woodward fast bus. Need fast buses on Fort, Van Dyke, and Grand River.

Next commenter shared a bad experience last week with a flex driver who said that there was a problem with the app and he wouldn't be able to drive her to her location.

Downriver commenter coming back on and wondering about ticket kiosks. This delays pull-off times because riders take a long time putting fares in the fare boxes. Ticket kiosks would make this more efficient.

Next commenter from Detroit and says that the fast buses need to be more on time and more dependable.

Commenter says that a lot of stops are missing info cards or don't have cards for every route using the stops. Whom should he reach out to? Ombudsman says that this will be address. She thanks for commenters for their input, as this is the reason for the forum.

Brother Cunningham says that he has videos of ride-alongs with elected officials.

Ombudsman thanks everyone for joining and encourages them to join in-person or virtual meetings.

And that is it for a quick meeting! Ended at 5:30.

This concludes my coverage of SMART Sounding Board. For more information, including transcripts of the meeting, go to detroit.documenters.org/reporting/