[ad_1]
Public transportation is a critical service that connects doctors to patients, employers to employees, and businesses to customers.
It will drive our economy in Oakland County and help attract new businesses, making us more competitive.
That’s why I urge residents to vote “yes” on the Nov. 8 ballot for the Oakland County Public Transportation Millage.
Oakland County’s transportation proposal supports SMART bus service as well as the North Oakland Transportation Authority, the Commission on Seniors, and the West Oakland Transportation Authority.
It supports existing services and expands new transportation choices and options for all Oakland County residents.
This countywide public transit redistricting proposal would replace our current SMART millage and build on the SMART program’s success in maintaining, improving, and expanding services for all of our communities.
There are three reasons I’m asking residents to vote “yes”:
- Public transport helps vulnerable residents.
Thousands of seniors, veterans and people with disabilities cannot drive or afford a car, so they rely on public transportation. Low-income residents and working parents use public transportation to get to and from work every day. By voting “yes” on Oakland County’s public transit millage, we’re helping vulnerable members of our community get to work, school, doctor’s appointments, and the grocery store.
- Public transportation boosts our local economy.
Research shows that public transportation is a vital part of prosperous communities and is critical to attracting new businesses, growing our economy, and connecting people to jobs. For every $1 invested, $4 in economic output is generated by attracting new businesses and expanding the talent pool for local employers. SMART bus routes access more than 67,000 businesses and 850,000 jobs. But many job centers like Novi and Rochester Hills are out of reach. By supporting this reform, we’re helping our hospitals, retail and retail stores, and child care and nursing facilities around our communities — the essential workers we all depend on.
- Public transport is affordable, transparent and financially responsible.
Oakland County public transportation fares are affordable, transparent and accountable. If passed, it would cost the average homeowner in Oakland County just $9 a month. Every dollar collected or spent is publicly tracked online to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used wisely and transparently, with annual independent audits to encourage fiscal responsibility. And 100 percent of the money generated by the mill stays in Oakland County, ensuring they directly help our residents and the community.
In Oakland County, we focus on creating jobs and opportunities. We are investing in the future. By voting “yes” on the Oakland County public transit proposal on Tuesday, November 8th, we can ensure that vulnerable residents in our communities have access to safe and reliable public transportation and keep our economy growing.
David Coulter is Oakland County Executive.
[ad_2]
Source link
