Provide one year of preventive maintenance replace bus stop key-walks replace and upgrade IT hardware and software renovate facilities provide one year of operating assistance hire general planning…

The Federal Transit Administration awarded $18,959,771 through the Federal Transit Formula Grants program (CFDA 20.507) to the Suburban Mobility Authority For Regional Transportation (SMART) on September 10, 2025. This formula grant funds a comprehensive five-year initiative extending through September 30, 2030, that provides preventive maintenance, one year of operating assistance, and capital infrastructure improvements for regional public transportation services across Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, and Monroe counties in Michigan. The award supports hardware and software upgrades, bus stop replacements, communications equipment enhancements, facility renovations, shop equipment upgrades, and off-site fueling station improvements for SMART's transit operations.

As a subrecipient, Lake Erie Transit (LETC) will benefit from project activities including automated vehicle location (AVL) system replacement, one-year preventative maintenance and operating expenses, off-site fueling station upgrades, transit security enhancements, and shop equipment upgrades. The program's intended outcomes focus on improving public safety, information technology infrastructure, employee working conditions, and building safety and efficiency for public transportation users throughout the four-county service region. These formula grant funds directly support maintaining transit assets in a state of good repair while enhancing service reliability and accessibility for the general public and specialized populations including seniors and individuals with disabilities.

Purpose

The purpose of this award is to provide one year of preventive maintenance replace bus stop key-walks replace and upgrade IT hardware and software renovate facilities provide one year of operating assistance hire general planning consultants replace and upgrade communications equipment and upgrade off-site fueling station utilized by lake erie transit.

Activities

Funds will be used to cover all eligible preventive maintenance and operating expenses for both smart and letc; replace and upgrade hardware software items replace and upgrade bus communication equipment bus stop replacement enhancements shop equipment upgrade off-site fueling station and consultants.

Expected outcomes

The projects will continue and improve public safety IT technology employee working conditions and building safety and efficiency.

Intended beneficiaries

Public transportation users throughout wayne oakland macomb and monroe counties.

Subrecipient activities

Lake erie transit (letc)- projects include facility renovation AVL replacement 1- year preventative maintenance and operating expenses upgrade off-site fueling station transit security upgrades and shop equipment.