Transit Education Campaign

About the Program

Category: Civic Education and Public Information (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

Oakland County residents will eagerly tell you they are a part of Motor City. But that automotive enthusiasm does not extend to public transportation. Despite repeated efforts to improve and expand public transit over the last three decades, the transportation system in Oakland County has been a Swiss cheese approach, full of holes that have left hundreds of thousands of residents without the public transit that would provide an easy, affordable way to get to work, shopping or the daily routines of life. However, according to Move.org, Michigan is the most expensive state to own a car in - $775 per month. As a result, owning a car is unaffordable for many people in Oakland County. With that in mind, Oakland County focused on educating residents on public transportation options that could be available with Oakland Transit, a 10-year, 0.95 mill ballot proposal to maintain and expand public transit services throughout the county. The new millage would fund the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) system, Western Oakland Transportation Authority, North Oakland Transportation Authority and Older Persons Commission. Through press releases, mailers, town hall meetings, flyers, radio and television advertising and social media posts, residents were educated about the proposal and the benefits a countywide millage could bring. On Nov. 8, 2022, voters approved the millage with broad support.