Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Transportation plays a pivotal role in a person’s ability to access employment, medical care, social services and enriching social activities needed to live a happy, healthy and productive life.  

All residents deserve the opportunity to engage with their community in meaningful ways, regardless of if they own a personal vehicle or maintain a driver’s license. Public transportation ensures residents can actively engage with their community, regardless of their circumstances or needs.  

Healthy Residents & Livable Neighborhoods: Public transit services ensure residents can rely on getting to work, medical appointments, and social activities at local community or senior centers. Residents report feeling happier, healthier and more connected to their community when they consistently interact with local events, businesses and social services. 

Reliable public transportation networks can also reduce the need for residents to finance a personal vehicle, allowing more flexibility and freedom to invest in housing, education, or personal enrichment.  

Public Safety: From investing in security cameras for all Oakland Transit fleet vehicles to the SMART Spaces initiative, a program that’s working to modernize bus stops to increase safety, accessibility and efficiency, Oakland County’s community transit providers are dedicated to providing safe and enjoyable rides to residents. Riders also have the opportunity to complete vehicle-specific surveys to address concerns regarding driver safety, trip punctuality, or additional questions.  

The Access to Transit Program was developed by Oakland Transit to give communities the funding needed to increase safety for residents travelling to and from bus stops or trip pickup and drop-off locations. Program projects include developing safer crosswalks in areas of high traffic and modernizing existing sidewalks and bus stops to meet accessibility standards.  

Skilled & Educated Workforce: High-quality public transportation services in Oakland County increase access to education and employment opportunities for residents. Reliable rides help students efficiently complete their degrees and professionals succeed in the workplace.  

As ridership has increased for local transit providers, opportunities to expand operations have created new positions for skilled professionals. This growth will continue to improve transit services, providing more residents access to the services needed to grow their skills and careers.  

Environmental Sustainability: Personal vehicle use is one of the largest contributors to air pollution and fuel consumption. Quality transit services can help reduce automobile emissions in a community by providing an alternative to driving a personal vehicle, mitigating the impacts of transportation on climate change and residents’ personal health. 

Thriving & Inclusive Economy: Quality public transportation services attract residents and economic investment and provides reliable access to jobs, public services, and local businesses. When communities are well-connected, residents are more involved in local events, businesses and services.  

Access to public transportation also offers an alternative to personal car use, which can reduce the financial burden of car repairs and maintenance on residents. Fewer commuter vehicles on the road also decreases traffic, improving commute times and decreasing wear and tear on public road infrastructure.