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93-638: The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation ( SMART ) is the public transit operator serving the suburbs of Detroit , Michigan , United States. Beginning operations in 1967 as the Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority ( SEMTA ), the agency was reorganized and renamed SMART in 1989. SMART operates 45 bus routes (supplementing the Detroit Department of Transportation ), plus paratransit and microtransit services. The Michigan Legislature passed

186-416: A 2010 American Community Survey , the median income for a household in the city was $ 65,391, and the median income for a family was $ 77,119. Males had a median income of $ 62,071 versus $ 42,083 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 29,536. About 5.4% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over. As of

279-414: A fleet of 262 buses, consisting mostly of biodiesel-powered 40-foot Gillig BRT units, as well as some articulated New Flyer Xcelsior and battery-electric Proterra ZX5 buses. Three terminals, one in each county of the service area, store and maintain the fleet. Capacity Most SMART vehicles' fleet numbers, including minibuses and support vehicles, correspond to their model year; the first two digits of

372-653: A lack of funding, the commuter rail service was discontinued in October 1983. In 1979, SEMTA approved a regional transit plan, which included improved bus service and new rail transit, but the plan was never implemented due to lack of funds. The last commuter rail service was a former Penn Central route, named the Michigan Executive , that ran from the Michigan Central Depot in Detroit to Jackson. Its final operator

465-496: A leader in information technology, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing. Michigan ranks fourth nationally in high-tech employment with 568,000 high-tech workers, including 70,000 in the automotive industry . Michigan typically ranks second or third in overall Research & development (R&D) expenditures in the United States. Metro Detroit is an important source of engineering and high-tech job opportunities. As

558-521: A population of about 4.3 million and a workforce of about 2.1 million. In December 2017, the Department of Labor reported metropolitan Detroit's unemployment rate to be 4.2%. The Detroit MSA had a Gross Metropolitan Product (GMP) of $ 252.7 billion as of September 2017. Firms in the region pursue emerging technologies including biotechnology , nanotechnology , information technology , and hydrogen fuel cell development. Metro Detroit

651-486: A unified fare structure, known as Dart, with most of their passes accepted by both agencies. A four-hour pass (the equivalent of a single bus ride) costs US$ 2 for most riders, with a reduced fare of 50¢ for riders aged 6–18 or over 64, as well as disabled riders. Daily, weekly, and monthly passes are also available, either as physical tickets, or digital passes through the Token Transit app. Fixed routes are operated with

744-572: Is The Henry Ford , located in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn; it is America's largest indoor-outdoor museum complex. The recent renovation of the Renaissance Center , and related construction of a state-of-the-art cruise ship dock, new stadiums, and a new RiverWalk , have stimulated related private economic development. Nearby Windsor has a 19-year-old drinking age with a myriad of entertainment to complement Detroit's Greektown district . Some analysts believe that tourism planners have yet to tap

837-587: Is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan . A western suburb of Detroit , Livonia is located roughly 20 miles (32.2 km) northwest of downtown Detroit . As of the 2020 census , the city had a population of 95,535. Originally organized as Livonia Township in 1835, it was incorporated as a city in 1950. After most members of the indigenous tribes were pushed out of the area, ethnic European-American pioneers from New England and New York settled here. The borders of Livonia Township were defined by

930-592: Is a major U.S. port with an extensive toll-free expressway system. A 2004 Border Transportation Partnership study showed that 150,000 jobs in the Detroit-Windsor region and $ 13 billion in annual production depend on Detroit's international border crossing. A source of top talent, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor is one of the world's leading research institutions, and Wayne State University in Detroit has

1023-418: Is at the center of an emerging Great Lakes Megalopolis . Conan Smith, a businessperson quoted in a 2012 article by The Ann Arbor News , stated the most significant reason Washtenaw County , including Ann Arbor, is not often included in definitions of Metro Detroit is that there is a "lack of affinity that Washtenaw County as a whole has with Wayne County and Detroit or Oakland County and Macomb". Ann Arbor

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1116-668: Is commonly anchored by "mile roads", major east–west surface streets that are spaced at one-mile (1.6 km) intervals and increment as one travels north and away from the city center. Mile roads sometimes have two names, the numeric name (ex. 15 Mile Road) used in Macomb County and a local name (ex. Maple Road) used in Oakland County mostly. The principal City of Detroit has struggled with high crime for decades. About half of all murders in Michigan in 2015 occurred in Detroit. Since 2013,

1209-782: Is home to the Livonia Hockey Association , the largest amateur hockey association in Michigan, as well as two-time state champions the Livonia Knights. The city also boasts the Livonia City Soccer Club, one of the largest soccer programs in the state, with 1,300 participants. The Livonia Public Library includes the Civic Center Library, the Alfred Noble Library, the Carl Sandburg Library, and

1302-456: Is in Dearborn , directly adjacent to Detroit . In the decade leading up to 2006, downtown Detroit gained more than $ 15 billion in new investment from private and public sectors. Tourism is an important component of the region's culture and economy, comprising nine percent of the area's two million jobs. About 15.9 million people visit metro Detroit annually, spending about $ 4.8 billion. Detroit

1395-710: Is linked by an advanced network of major roads and freeways which include Interstate highways . Traditionally, Detroiters refer to some of their freeways by name rather than route number. The Davison, Lodge, and Southfield freeways are almost always referred to by name rather than route number. Detroiters commonly precede freeway names with the word 'the' as in the Lodge, the Southfield, and the Davison. Those without names are referred to by number. Surface street navigation in Metro Detroit

1488-581: Is nearly 43 miles by car from Downtown Detroit , and developed separately as a university city, with its own character. Smith said that county residents "just don't yet see ourselves as a natural part of that [Detroit] region, so I think it feels a little forced to a lot of people, and they're scared about it". Detroit and the surrounding region constitute a major center of commerce and global trade, most notably as home to America's 'Big Three' automobile companies : General Motors , Ford , and Chrysler . Detroit's six-county Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) has

1581-485: Is one of the leading health care economies in the U.S., according to a 2003 study measuring health care industry components, with the region's hospital sector ranked fourth in the nation. Casino gaming plays an important economic role, with Detroit the largest US city to offer casino resort hotels. Caesars Windsor , Canada's largest, complements the MGM Grand Detroit , MotorCity Casino , and Hollywood Casino in

1674-491: Is operated with a fleet of Champion and ElDorado minibuses, and Ford E-Series and Transit vans, painted white with red-and-orange stripes. Flex is an on-demand microtransit service, operated under contract by Via Transportation . The service operates similar to ridesharing ; a passenger books a ride via telephone or through the Flex smartphone app, and a marked minivan picks them up and takes them to their destination. Flex

1767-520: Is primarily headquartered in Metro Detroit. The area is an important source of engineering job opportunities. A rise in automated manufacturing using robotic technology has created related industries in the area. A 2004 Border Transportation Partnership study showed that 150,000 jobs in the Detroit–Windsor region and $ 13 billion in annual production depend on the city's international border crossing. In addition to property taxes, residents of

1860-457: Is represented by, Jewell Jones (Democrat). Various private and public colleges and universities are located in Livonia, including Madonna University , Schoolcraft College , and a small University of Phoenix campus. The most recent university to open in Livonia is a Davenport University campus, which opened in 2008, but left the city to move to Detroit in 2017. Most of Livonia is served by

1953-448: Is the home of the school of Global Education, an alternative education model which combines students' English and social studies classes with a focus on the student's role in the world. Churchill houses the MSC (Math/Science/Computer) and CAPA (Creative and Performing Arts) programs. Franklin currently offers an International Baccalaureate program for select students. Frost Middle School houses

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2046-650: Is the largest city or metro area in the U.S. to offer casino resort hotels ( MGM Grand Detroit , MotorCity Casino , Hollywood Casino , and nearby Caesars Windsor ). Metro Detroit is a tourist destination that easily accommodates super-sized crowds to events such as the Woodward Dream Cruise , North American International Auto Show , Youmacon , the Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival , 2009 NCAA Final Four , and Super Bowl XL . The Detroit International Riverfront links

2139-812: Is the only international wildlife preserve in North America that is located in the heart of a major metropolitan area. The Refuge includes islands, coastal wetlands, marshes, shoals, and waterfront lands along 48 miles (77 km) of the Detroit River and Western Lake Erie shoreline. Metro Detroit contains a number of shopping malls , including the upscale Somerset Collection in Troy, Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills, and Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi, all of which are draws for tourists. The region's leading attraction

2232-673: Is the primary public transit operator serving Detroit's suburbs, and fixed-route bus services comprise the majority of its service. 44 routes of various types operate across SMART's three-county service area. Frequent Affordable Safe Transit ( FAST ) is SMART's flagship service; its limited-stop bus routes serve as the main arteries of the network, connecting the suburbs with downtown Detroit. Five FAST routes currently operate along three major Metro Detroit avenues - Gratiot , Michigan , and Woodward - with service every 30 minutes on weekdays, and stops roughly every mile for most of their lengths. Local routes SMART's 33 local routes serve as

2325-476: Is underway for new routes to begin operations in 2023. SMART unveiled a new logo and branding in August 2022, coinciding with a new advertising campaign. The following month, SMART introduced their first electric bus, one of four Proterra ZX5 units purchased by the agency with a Federal Transit Administration grant. In February 2023, the original Dart payment app was discontinued, as its creator, Passport , exited

2418-457: Is waived for seniors (65 or older) and disabled riders. Connector services are operated using a fleet of propane -powered Champion Challenger minibuses. Community Transit is a similar paratransit service, available only to seniors and disabled riders. Unlike Connector, which is operated directly by SMART, Community Transit is operated by the municipal governments of member communities, as well as some nonprofit organizations. Community Transit

2511-582: The Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News . The Livonia Observer is printed twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays. The newspaper Between the Lines and the website PrideSource are headquartered in Livonia. Livonia has limited access to public bus service through the Detroit Department of Transportation . In 2012, the National Motorists Association released the results of

2604-643: The 12th-largest CSA in the United States as enumerated by the 2020 Census. The Detroit–Windsor area, a commercial link straddling the Canada-U.S. border , has a total population of about 5,700,000. As of the census of 2010, there were 4,296,250 people, 1,682,111 households, and 1,110,454 families residing within the metropolitan statistical area. The census reported 70.1% White , 22.8% African American , 0.3% Native American , 3.3% Asian , 0.02% Pacific Islander , 1.2% from other races , and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.2% of

2697-659: The APBA for the Detroit APBA Gold Cup . Metro Detroit is served by nine telephone area codes (six not including Windsor). The 313 area code, which used to encompass all of Southeast Michigan, is today confined exclusively to the City of Detroit and several neighboring Wayne County suburbs. 42°21′29″N 83°12′54″W  /  42.358°N 83.215°W  / 42.358; -83.215 Livonia, Michigan Livonia ( / l ə ˈ v oʊ n j ə / lə- VOHN -yə )

2790-580: The Auburn Hills City Council voted 5-2 to opt out of SMART. The city's exit was blocked by a judge in May, however, and Auburn Hills remained a member until the opt-out system's abolition in 2023. Macomb Township 's board of trustees similarly passed a resolution in March expressing interest in opting out of SMART services. 2022 saw a renewed push for a countywide expansion of SMART in Oakland County, ahead of

2883-592: The Detroit Race Course (DRC). From 1985, it ran only harness racing for Standardbred , and the track closed in 1998, when the large property was sold for redevelopment. The last race tracks operating in the state were Hazel Park Raceway , which closed in 2018, and Northville Downs, which closed in 2019. Among the immigrants attracted to Detroit for its industrial jobs in the 20th century have been Palestinian and Lebanese Christians, as well as Muslims. By 1985, Palestinian Christians had settled in Livonia, as well as

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2976-462: The Great Lakes . Metro Detroit also has one of the largest metropolitan economies in the U.S. with 17 Fortune 500 companies. The Detroit Urban Area , which serves as the metropolitan area's core, ranks as the 12th most populous in the United States, with a population of 3,776,890 as of the 2020 census and an area of 1,284.83 square miles (3,327.7 km ). This urbanized area covers parts of

3069-556: The Great Recession ) which led to reduced property tax revenue, and the inability of the authority to reach an agreement with its unions. In January 2012, the Farmington City Council voted 4-1 to opt out of SMART, though they unanimously reversed their decision two weeks later. Meanwhile, neighboring Farmington Hills narrowly voted to remain in the system. Lathrup Village , which had opted out of SMART in 1995, rejoined

3162-627: The Legislature of the Territory of Michigan on March 17, 1835. The settlers named the community "Livonia", after Livonia, New York , a town in the western part of the state, from where many had migrated. Livonia Township was split off from Nankin Township , in which a Livonia post office had been established in June 1834. During the days of the township, a number of small communities developed. One of these

3255-596: The Livonia Public Schools district, consisting of two early childhood centers, thirteen elementary schools, four upper elementary Schools, three middle schools and three high schools. The district also serves students in portions of Westland . A portion of northeast Livonia is served by the Clarenceville School District . There are currently four high schools in Livonia, all of which are public: Franklin , Churchill and Stevenson high schools in

3348-633: The Livonia Public Schools district; and Clarenceville High School in the Clarenceville Public School District . Ladywood High School, a Catholic all-girls private school run by the Felician Sisters , closed in 2018. Bentley High School , the first high school built in the district, closed in 1985. Each high school in the Livonia Public School District offers a different educational program. Stevenson High School

3441-675: The Renaissance Center to a series of venues, parks, restaurants, and hotels. In 2006, the four-day Motown Winter Blast drew a cold weather crowd of about 1.2 million people to Campus Martius Park area downtown. Detroit's metroparks include fresh water beaches, such as Metropolitan Beach , Kensington Beach , and Stony Creek Beach . Metro Detroit offers canoeing through the Huron-Clinton Metroparks . Sports enthusiasts can enjoy downhill and cross-county skiing at Alpine Valley Ski Resort, Mt. Brighton, Mt. Holly, and Pine Knob Ski Resort. The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge

3534-568: The 1967 transportation act did not provide the regional authority with any means to levy taxes. By 1974, the Detroit Department of Street Railways (DSR) had been reorganized as a city department of Detroit, leaving SEMTA only coordination over the suburban services. That same year, SEMTA acquired a commuter train service between downtown Detroit and Pontiac from the Grand Trunk Western Railroad. Due to declining ridership and

3627-581: The 2000s, 115 of the 185 cities and townships in Metro Detroit were more than 95% white. African Americans have also moved to the suburbs: in 2000 44% of the more than 240,000 suburban blacks lived in Inkster , Pontiac , Oak Park , and Southfield . The largest airport in the area is Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) in Romulus , an international airport that serves as a commercial hub for Delta Air Lines and Spirit Airlines . The other airports in

3720-401: The City of Detroit pay an income tax rate of 2.50%. Detroit automakers and local manufacturers have made significant restructurings in response to market competition. GM made its initial public offering (IPO) of stock in 2010, after bankruptcy , bailout , and restructuring by the federal government . Domestic automakers reported significant profits in 2010, interpreted by some analysts as

3813-531: The FBI has reported a 26% decrease in property crimes and a 27% decrease in violent crimes. Professional sports has a major fan following in Metro Detroit. The area is home to many sports teams, including seven professional teams in five major sports. The area's several universities field teams in a variety of sports. Michigan Stadium , home of the Michigan Wolverines , is the largest American football stadium in

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3906-823: The Metropolitan Transportation Authorities Act of 1967, which included the creation of the Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority (SEMTA). SEMTA was charged to take over the ownership and operations of the fractured regional transit systems in Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties, including the city of Detroit. The new authority acquired several suburban transit bus operations including Lake Shore Coach Lines (1971), Pontiac Municipal Transit Service (1973), Dearborn's Metropolitan Transit (1974), Birmingham's Great Lakes Transit (1974), and Royak Oak's Martin Lines (1975). However,

3999-730: The Middle School Alternative Classrooms for the Academically Talented (MACAT) program. The public K-6 Webster Elementary School is home to the Alternative Classrooms for the Academically Talented (ACAT) program, as well as many after-school programs. Webster also has classes for disabled children. In 2008, the original Webster school was burned down by an arsonist, and Webster was moved to a closed-down school, Tyler Elementary. St. Genevieve Catholic School closed in 2016. The Metro Detroit–area newspapers are

4092-530: The Vest Pocket Library. Livonia's mayor is Maureen Miller Brosnan. The city is located in Michigan's 11th congressional district . Livonia is in Michigan's 7th State Senate District, and is represented by Dayna Polehanki (Democrat). Most of Livonia makes up Michigan's 19th State House District, which elected Laurie Pohutsky (Democrat) in 2018. A part of southeast Livonia is in the 11th district, which

4185-536: The anchor. The city previously featured two other malls which have since been dismantled. Wonderland Mall was the first, opening in 1959 and closing in 2003; it was replaced with a development called Wonderland Village , anchored by Walmart and Target . Livonia Mall was built to the north in 1964. It also closed in 2008 and was redeveloped as Livonia Marketplace , featuring a second Walmart, along with Sears and Kohl's . The Sears store closed in 2020. Other big-box stores are located near Laurel Park Place. Livonia

4278-548: The beginning of an industry rebound and an economic recovery for the Detroit area. The region's nine-county area, with its population of 5.3 million, has a workforce of about 2.6 million and about 247,000 businesses. Fourteen Fortune 500 companies are based in metropolitan Detroit. In April 2015, the metropolitan Detroit unemployment rate was 5.1 percent, a rate lower than the New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Atlanta metropolitan areas. Metro Detroit has made Michigan's economy

4371-560: The beginning of rebound. Metro Detroit serves as the headquarters for the United States Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (TACOM), with Selfridge Air National Guard Base . Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) is one of America's largest and most recently modernized facilities, with six major runways, Boeing 747 maintenance facilities, and an attached Westin Hotel and Conference Center. Detroit

4464-504: The census of 2010, there were 96,942 people, 38,714 households, and 26,856 families living in the city. The population density was 2,715.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,048.5/km ). There were 40,401 housing units at an average density of 1,131.7 per square mile (437.0/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 92.0% White , 3.4% African American , 0.2% Native American , 2.5% Asian , 0.4% from other races , and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.5% of

4557-475: The city has a total area of 35.86 square miles (92.88 km ), of which 35.70 square miles (92.46 km ) is land and 0.16 square miles (0.41 km ) is water. The city has many creeks and rivers, but most notably majority portions of both Newburgh and Nankin Lake in the south and south-west. The two lakes are connected by both a river and Edward N. Hines Drive, known simply as Hines Drive by locals. According to

4650-496: The city of Dearborn has a large concentration of Arab Americans , mainly Shi'ite Muslim Lebanese , whose ancestors immigrated here in the early 20th century. Recently, the area has witnessed some growth in ethnic Albanian , Asian and Hispanic populations. Metro Detroit has a sizeable population of Indian Americans , with an estimated 1.5% of the population being of Indian descent. Indians Americans in Metro Detroit are employed in various engineering and medical fields. In

4743-451: The city of Detroit. Mike Duggan , then Wayne County's deputy county executive and vice chair of SMART's board of directors, was named the agency's general manager in February 1992. The first millages to fund SMART passed by wide margins in Macomb and Wayne counties in May 1995, followed by a similar millage in Oakland County the following June. While the Macomb millage was levied countywide,

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4836-482: The city, Mainly Saint Mary's Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church. The community settled in Livonia in the late 1960s and has since continued a steady growth. There were 38,089 households, out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.3% were non-families. Of all households, 22.9% were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who

4929-403: The city. The casino hotels contribute significant tax revenue along with thousands of jobs for residents. Gaming revenues have grown steadily, with Detroit ranked as the fifth-largest gambling market in the United States for 2007. When Casino Windsor is included, Detroit's gambling market ranks either third or fourth. There are about four thousand factories in the area. The domestic auto industry

5022-439: The city. The population density was 2,815.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,086.9/km ). There were 38,658 housing units at an average density of 1,082.3 per square mile (417.9/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 95.45% White , 0.95% African American , 0.22% Native American , 1.94% Asian , 0.01% Pacific Islander , 0.32% from other races , and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.72% of

5115-407: The combined Detroit–Windsor area has a population of about 5.7 million. When the nearby Toledo metropolitan area and its commuters are taken into account, the region constitutes a much larger population center. An estimated 46 million people live within a 300-mile (480 km) radius of Detroit proper, including the major metropolitan areas of Chicago , Toronto and Cleveland . Metro Detroit

5208-564: The counties of Macomb , Oakland , and Wayne . These counties are sometimes referred to as the Detroit Tri-County Area and had a population of 3,862,888 as of the 2010 census with an area of 1,967.1 square miles (5,095 km ). The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), a federal agency of the United States, defines the Detroit–Warren–Dearborn Metropolitan Statistical Area ( MSA ) as

5301-627: The first millage in 1995. Detroit is one such community, as its own DDOT provides fixed-route bus service to the city, though it is served by SMART's FAST limited-stop routes, as well as other routes during peak hours. Communities in Macomb County and Oakland County are not able to opt out of SMART, as their millages have been levied countywide since 1995 and 2023, respectively. Four Oakland County communities opted out in 1995 but later rejoined: Bloomfield Township and West Bloomfield (both 1996), Walled Lake (2006), and Lathrup Village (2014). The 34 remaining opted-out Oakland County communities were added to

5394-459: The first, and so far only, community to leave the system since 1995. Walled Lake rejoined the following year. In order to prevent possible service cuts, SMART raised its fares by $ 0.50 on December 1, 2009; there was also a $ 0.50 charge added to regional monthly pass users and DDOT transfers. In October 2011, SMART discontinued 22% of its scheduled service and laid off 123 employees. This was widely attributed to declining property values (following

5487-471: The fleet number are the two-digit model year plus 20. For instance, vehicles 3746 and 37007 are both of the 2017 model year. Connector is a dial-a-ride service available across the SMART service area, which requires a reservation made by telephone at least one day in advance. It is available to residents of all ages, provided they live more than 1/3 of a mile away from a fixed route, though the distance requirement

5580-608: The following October. In March 2021, SMART began offering Flex, a microtransit service, operated by Via Transportation under contract. Flex was initially offered in three small zones within SMART's service area, with one covering Dearborn and most of Taylor alongside portions of surrounding communities, another serving portions of Troy and surrounding cities, and the third serving communities along M-59 in Macomb County. Two more zones were added in August 2021 and May 2022, covering Auburn Hills and Pontiac , and Farmington and Farmington Hills , respectively. In February 2022,

5673-433: The full economic power of the estimated 46 million people who live within a 300-mile (480-km) radius of Detroit. Metro Detroit is a six-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA) with a population of 4,392,041—making it the 14th-largest MSA in the United States as enumerated by the 2020 United States Census . The Detroit region is a ten-county Combined Statistical Area (CSA) with a population of 5,325,219—making it

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5766-441: The home of the " Big Three " American automakers ( General Motors , Ford , and Chrysler ), it is the world's traditional automotive center and a key pillar of the U.S. economy. In the 2010s, the domestic auto industry accounts, directly and indirectly, for one of ten jobs in the United States, making it a significant component for economic recovery. For 2010, the domestic automakers have reported significant profits indicating

5859-517: The largest concentration of Arab-Americans in the United States, particularly in Dearborn . The metro area also has the 25th largest Jewish population worldwide . In 1701, French officer Antoine de La Mothe Cadillac , along with fifty-one additional French-Canadians , founded a settlement called Fort Ponchartrain du Détroit , naming it after the comte de Pontchartrain , Minister of Marine under Louis XIV . The French legacy can be observed today in

5952-792: The largest single-campus medical school in the United States. Metro Detroit is a prominent business center, with major commercial districts such as the Detroit Financial District and Renaissance Center , the Southfield Town Center , and the historic New Center district with the Fisher Building and Cadillac Place . Among the major companies based in the area, aside from the major automotive companies, are BorgWarner (Auburn Hills), Rocket Mortgage (Downtown Detroit), Ally Financial (Downtown Detroit), Carhartt (Dearborn), and Shinola (Detroit). IBM and Google are among

6045-765: The main public transit connection between Detroit's suburbs. Each is classified as either a high-ridership "main corridor" route, a long-distance "crosstown" route, or a "community" route focused on serving denser areas. Almost all connect to FAST, enabling connections to downtown Detroit. Most local routes run hourly, though a few are more frequent. ( River Rouge ) Select late-night trips start and end at Michigan + Schaefer ( Grosse Pointe Park ) No Sunday service west of Lodge Freeway (truncated to 10 Mile + Evergreen) No Sunday service west of Woodward Avenue (truncated to Detroit Zoo ) ( West Bloomfield ) Commuter routes In addition to FAST and local routes, SMART operates seven commuter express routes between Downtown Detroit and

6138-517: The metropolitan area are: Bus service for the metropolitan area is provided jointly by the Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) and Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) which operate under a cooperative service and fare agreement. The elevated Detroit People Mover encircles downtown providing service to numerous downtown hotels, offices and attractions. The Woodward Avenue Streetcar has recently began service to provide service between downtown and New Center, and

6231-447: The metropolitan areas of Flint , Monroe , and Ann Arbor , respectively). It had a population of 5,318,744 as of the 2010 census, making it one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States, covering an area of 5,814 square miles (15,060 km ). Lenawee County was removed from the CSA in 2000, but added back in 2013. With the adjacent city of Windsor, Ontario , and its suburbs,

6324-479: The millages in Wayne and Oakland were only voted upon by communities whose councils opted to participate. Other communities chose to leave SMART to avoid the new property tax, setting up the "opt-out" system that remained in place for much of SMART's history. In October 1994, SMART introduced Job Express, a shuttle service (similar to microtransit ) which transported workers from SMART hubs to nearby workplaces. The service

6417-431: The names of many area cities (ex. Detroit , Grosse Pointe , Grosse Ile ) and streets (ex. Gratiot , Beaubien, St. Antoine, Cadieux). Later came an influx of persons of British and German descent, followed by Polish , Irish , Italian , Lebanese , Assyrian/Chaldean , Greek , Jewish , Maltese , and Belgian immigrants who made their way to the area in the early 20th century and during and after World War II . There

6510-594: The new millage proposal on August 10, 2022 in a bipartisan vote, with two Republicans joining all 13 Democrats on the board. The proposal appeared on the November 2022 general election ballot in all Oakland County communities, and passed with 57% of the vote. As a result, SMART's service area expanded to all of Oakland County on January 3, 2023, though new services in portions of the county ( Novi , Bloomfield Hills , and Wixom ) did not begin operation until September 2023, with initialization of further services in 2024. SMART

6603-445: The population. There were 38,714 households, of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.6% were non-families. Of all households 26.7% were made up of individuals, and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

6696-498: The population. Arab Americans were at least 4.7% of the region's population (considered white in the US Census). As of the 2010 American Community Survey estimates, the median income for a household in the MSA was $ 48,198, and the median income for a family was $ 62,119. The per capita income for the MSA was $ 25,403. The region's foreign-born population sat at 8.6%. The region contains

6789-500: The population. 16.3% were of Polish , 15.9% German , 11.2% Irish , 8.6% Italian and 8.5% English ancestry according to Census 2000 . Livonia has a substantial Middle Eastern population, mostly Arab , and trace their ancestry to the Levant region, mainly from Syria , Jordan , Palestine , and Lebanon , and are of the Christian faith . The Arab-American community has few churches in

6882-446: The project. In 1985, with the half-built project in limbo, the city of Detroit negotiated with SEMTA to take over the project, and it was transferred to the newly created Detroit Transportation Corporation . With little interest in the suburbs for expanding mass transit and Detroit not interested in joining the system, SEMTA was restructured as SMART in 1989, reducing the authority's service area from seven counties to four and excluding

6975-457: The proposed SEMCOG Commuter Rail would extend from Detroit's New Center area to The Henry Ford , Dearborn , Detroit Metropolitan Airport , Ypsilanti , and Ann Arbor The Regional Transit Authority (RTA) was established in December 2012 to coordinate the services of all existing transit providers, and to develop a bus rapid transit service along Woodward Avenue . The Metro Detroit area

7068-419: The scheduled millage renewal that August. The Oakland County Board of Commissioners proposed replacing the existing SMART millage with a new ten-year .95 millage, levied on all homes in the county, not just in existing member communities. Approved by voters in November 2022, the millage abolished opt-out system in Oakland County, allowing for the expansion of SMART services to the far reaches of Metro Detroit. Work

7161-654: The six counties of Lapeer , Livingston , Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair , and Wayne. As of the 2010 census, the MSA had a population of 4,296,250 with an area of 3,913 square miles (10,130 km ). The nine county area designated by the OMB as the Detroit–Warren–Ann Arbor Combined Statistical Area ( CSA ) includes the Detroit–Warren–Dearborn MSA and the three additional counties of Genesee , Monroe , and Washtenaw (which include

7254-571: The suburbs during weekday rush hours. They run toward Detroit in the morning, and toward the suburbs in the afternoon; all seven follow roughly the same path through Downtown Detroit, serving Spirit Plaza and the Rosa Parks Transit Center . Routes 255, 530, 620, and 635 run primarily on local roads, twice daily, while routes in the 800-series run primarily on freeways, three times daily. A 50¢ surcharge applies to all fares and passes when riding 800-series routes. trips SMART and DDOT share

7347-456: The system in 2014. On January 1, 2018, SMART began operating three high frequency, limited-stop FAST bus services, connecting downtown Detroit to suburban communities with frequent service. FAST represented the first major expansion of the system since the 2011 service cuts. In May 2019, SMART and DDOT unified their fare structures and introduced Dart, a common fare payment system, with regional passes and mobile ticketing. The QLINE joined Dart

7440-658: The system in 2023. In 2022, the SMART millage in Macomb and Wayne counties was extended to five years, and moved to the November general election ballot. Both were approved by wide margins. In Oakland County, the SMART millage was replaced with a ten-year countywide public transit millage, which abolished the opt-out system in Oakland County, and funds three smaller paratransit providers (the North Oakland Transportation Authority, Western Oakland Transportation Authority, and Older Persons' Commission) alongside SMART. The county's Board of Commissioners approved

7533-442: The technology companies with a major presence in Metro Detroit. HP Enterprise Services makes Detroit its regional headquarters, and one of its largest global employment locations. The metropolitan Detroit area has one of the nation's largest office markets with 147,082,003 square feet. Chrysler 's largest corporate facility is its U.S. headquarters and technology center in the Detroit suburb of Auburn Hills, while Ford Motor Company

7626-495: The transit payments market. Mobile Dart passes were moved to the Token Transit app. Since 1995, SMART has been funded in large part by a millage , renewed by voters in member communities in midterm election years through 2022. The millage has historically been approved by wide margins in every member community in Oakland and Wayne counties, though less so in Macomb County, passing there by a narrow margin of 39 votes in 2018. The millage

7719-502: The western suburbs of Farmington and Westland. As of 2005, there were a number of Christian Palestinian Americans who had immigrated from Ramallah . They have developed and operated several small- and medium-sized businesses. Six U.S. presidents have visited Livonia: Richard Nixon , Gerald Ford , Ronald Reagan , George H. W. Bush , Bill Clinton and George W. Bush . According to the United States Census Bureau ,

7812-642: The world. Metro Detroit hosts many annual sporting events including auto and hydroplane racing. The area has hosted many major sporting events, including the 1994 FIFA World Cup , Super Bowl XVI , Super Bowl XL , Wrestlemania 23 , the 2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game , many Stanley Cup Championship rounds , the first two games of the 2006 World Series , and the last two games of the 2012 World Series . The Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn hosts various Auto racing : NASCAR , INDYCAR , and ARCA . The Detroit River hosts Hydroplane racing held by

7905-528: Was Amtrak , as funded by the State of Michigan. The already pared down Executive service ended in 1984. Beginning in 1983, SEMTA oversaw the construction of the Detroit People Mover , which was conceived as part of a much larger project of light rail lines and a downtown subway. Mismanagement of the project resulted in tens of millions of dollars in cost overruns, causing the federal government to pull out of

7998-449: Was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age in the city was 44.5 years. 20.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.2% were from 25 to 44; 31.5% were from 45 to 64; and 17.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 100,545 people, 38,089 households, and 28,071 families living in

8091-469: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.07. In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% was from 18 to 24, 28.7% was from 25 to 44, 24.3% was from 45 to 64, and 16.9% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males. As of 2000, Livonia

8184-487: Was Elmwood, initially known as McKinley's Station. It was a stop on the Detroit, Lansing and Northern Railroad . It had a separate post office from 1858 until 1906. Another post office in the township was Giltedge, which operated from 1899 until 1902. Livonia was incorporated as a city on May 23, 1950, by vote of the citizens of the township . An incentive was that this status would allow the residents to gain tax revenues from

8277-488: Was a large migration of African Americans into the city from the rural South during The Great Migration and following World War I. Today, the Detroit suburbs in Oakland County , Macomb County , and northeastern and northwestern Wayne County are predominantly ethnic European American. Oakland County is among the most affluent counties in the United States, with a population of more than one million. In Wayne County ,

8370-713: Was extended from four to five years in Wayne and Macomb counties, and to ten years in Oakland County, beginning in 2022. SMART is notable among US transit systems for the ability of individual communities to "opt out" of the system. Opted-out communities are not subject to the taxes levied by the SMART millage, but as a result do not receive SMART's services. Some of these communities are members of smaller transit agencies providing paratransit services for seniors and disabled residents, but lack scheduled fixed-route bus service. 17 communities in Wayne County currently opt out of SMART service, of which all but one ( Livonia ) opted out with

8463-401: Was launched in March 2021, and currently operates in five designated zones across the service area, covering all or part of 20 communities. Metro Detroit Metro Detroit is known for its automotive heritage, arts, entertainment, popular music, food, cultural diversity, and sports. The area includes a variety of natural landscapes, parks, and beaches, with a recreational coastline linking

8556-536: Was offered in three areas, extending one mile each from the Royal Oak Transit Center , Fairlane Town Center , and Macomb Mall . Initial plans called for up to fifteen such service zones, though only two were added (one spurring from Lakeside Mall , and another serving Somerset Collection ), and the Macomb Mall area was expanded to cover much of Groesbeck Highway . Livonia opted out of SMART in 2005, as

8649-527: Was the city in the United States with over 100,000 people that had the highest percentage of non-Hispanic white people. In addition to its schools, colleges, churches, parks, recreation center, libraries and the St. Mary Mercy Hospital, Livonia also has commercial and industrial sectors, restaurants and retail stores . Laurel Park Place , an upscale fashion mall with 74 stores, was built in 1989 at 6 Mile Road and Newburgh Road. Von Maur department store serve as

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