SMART To Hold Hearing For Riders
DEARBORN (WWJ) - Wayne County riders of the SMART suburban bus system expected to give officials an earful at a hearing Thursday over proposed cuts that might impact their ability to get to work or school.
The public hearing will be held at Dearborn's Center for the Performing Arts on Michigan Ave from 4pm until 7pm to hear feedback from riders about proposed cutbacks in service. SMART says a lack of union concessions, loss of federal funding through DDOT and shrinking revenue from lower property values and taxes will lead to a 22-percent reduction in service, with some routes being reduced or eliminated altogether.
About 123 of their employees would also get pink slips. The proposed reductions are to take place next month.
Brian Whittey of Clinton Township tells WWJ he's been effected by the route reduction.
"A few times I had to basically not work on Saturday because of this. Because there's no bus to take me," says Whittey who adds, "...so if it's no bus, I can't work."
Whittey said he's already lost a job once because of a bus that ran an hour or two late.
