SEMCOG Seeks Public Input on Proposed Transit Plan for Southeast Michigan; First Two Meetings Scheduled for Monday, August 13; SMART to Provide Shuttle Service

    DETROIT, Aug. 9 On Monday, August 13, 2001, SEMCOG, the
Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, will hold two public meetings to
discuss its recently released transit plan for Southeast Michigan.
    The times and locations of these two meetings are:
    *  4:30-6 p.m. at the Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency,
       33500 Van Born Road, Wayne, MI 48184 (734-334-1300).
    *  7-8:30 p.m. at Cobo Conference Center, Detroit, MI; Room M-230.

    For those taking transit to the 4:30 p.m. meeting at the Wayne Regional
Education Service Agency, SMART, the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional
Transportation, will provide free shuttle service from the Michigan
Avenue/Middlebelt Road intersection in Inkster.  Shuttles will depart
Michigan/Middlebelt from all signed bus stops at the intersection at 3:15
p.m., 3:45 p.m., and 4:15 p.m.  At the conclusion of the meeting, shuttles
will take passengers from the meeting site back to the pick-up location.
    These meetings with the public are the first of several scheduled
throughout Southeast Michigan to discuss the proposed plan.  The others are:
    *  Livingston County: Thursday, August 30, 7-8:30 p.m., Livingston
Education Service Agency, 1425 W. Grand River, Howell 48843-1916;
517-546-5550.
    *  Macomb County: Wednesday, August 15, 4:30-6 p.m., Macomb Intermediate
School District, 44001 Garfield Rd., Clinton Township 48038-1100;
810-228-3300; and Thursday, August 23, 1:30-3 p.m., Eastpointe City Hall,
23200 Gratiot, Eastpointe 48021; 810-445-5016 (new meeting added).
    *  Monroe County: Wednesday, August 29, 7-8:30 p.m., Monroe Community
College, 1555 S. Raisinville Rd., Monroe 48161-9746; 734-242-7300.
    *  Oakland County: Monday, August 20, 4:30-6 p.m., Oakland Intermediate
School District, 2100 Pontiac Lake Rd., Waterford 48328-2735; 248-209-2000;
and Tuesday, August 21, 1:30-3 p.m., Oakland Community College, Room 250-260
(Southfield Campus), 22322 Rutland Dr., (9 Mile/Lodge Freeway), Southfield
48075 248-246-2650 (new meeting added).
    *  St. Clair County: Tuesday, August 28, 7-8:30 p.m., St. Clair County
Building, 201 McMorran Blvd., Port Huron 48060.
    *  Washtenaw County: Wednesday, August 29, 4:30-6 p.m., Washtenaw
Intermediate School District, 1819 S. Wagner, Ann Arbor 48106-1406;
734-994-8100 and Wednesday, September 5, 3-4:30 p.m., Ann Arbor Public
Library, 343 South 5th Avenue, Ann Arbor, 734-327-4200.

    SMART will also provide free shuttle service to the August 20 public
meeting at the Oakland Intermediate School District.  The shuttle will pick up
transit riders from the Phoenix Center in downtown Pontiac at 3:15 p.m., 3:45
p.m., and 4:15 p.m. and return them there after the meeting.
    The proposed transit plan calls for rapid-transit service in 12 Southeast
Michigan corridors and improved existing bus and community transit service.
SEMCOG estimates this improved transit system will require a $2 billion
investment over the next 25 years, with an additional $200 million annually in
operating costs. Improved transit would benefit the entire transportation
system by providing a balance of viable options.
    The complete plan and the plan summary are available in PDF on SEMCOG's
Web site (http://www.semcog.org ) or by contacting SEMCOG Information Services
(313-961-4266).
    For those unable to attend one of the meetings, there are other ways to
comment, including SEMCOG comment line (800-961-3334); SEMCOG fax
(313-961-4869); SEMCOG e-mail (transit@semcog.org ).
    As the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Southeast Michigan,
SEMCOG is required by federal transportation legislation to develop the
region's long-range transportation plan.
    SEMCOG is a regional planning partnership of governmental units serving
4.9 million people in the seven-county region of Southeast Michigan.

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