Regional transit may get a new shot of life in metro Detroit if a proposal by the SMART bus system takes root.

The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation, metro Detroit's suburban bus system, is pitching a limited-stop, more frequent bus service that would connect Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties to the city of Detroit and Detroit Metro Airport.

The region's transit limitations — exemplified by last year's defeat at the polls of a 20-year, $4.7-billion regional transit master plan — have been on display in recent weeks as Detroit and other areas have made their pitches to Amazon for the company's second headquarters. The giant online retailer had made good transit part of the criteria for consideration.

"With the Amazon bid on the table … this was a really good wake-up call for us to say 'OK, the millage failed last year. What can we do? Let’s figure it out,' " said Melissa Roy, a member of SMART's board of directors. "Instead of cowering and trying to figure out how do we pull ourselves together after the election last year, let's put a solution in place ... and I'm really proud of SMART for stepping up and doing that."

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On Nov. 3, the SMART board will consider the proposal, minus deals about specific stops, which would come following upcoming public meetings.

Robert Cramer, SMART's deputy general manager, said the proposal would be a big boost for metro Detroit transit.

"The goal with this is to get frequent quick routes that connect to as many other mobility options as possible," Cramer said. "This will really be something that can get you around ... the whole region."

The proposal, which Cramer said was not directly related to the Amazon competition, is expected to cost $14 million annually to operate with little in the way of startup costs. Following upcoming community workshops and public hearings to gather input, the service would launch in January. SMART says it is able to free up money for service improvements because it will be finished with new bus purchases that came as a result of its millage renewal in 2014.

Specific stop locations have not been determined, but there are broad outlines. Cramer called the proposal a concept at this point.

The service would run on Woodward, Gratiot and Michigan avenues, connecting downtown Detroit with Metro Airport, Pontiac and Troy and north of Mt. Clemens to 23 Mile in Chesterfield Township. Service would aim for 15 minutes between buses during peak hours, although it would be slightly longer on Michigan Avenue than the other routes), operate seven days per week and offer Wi-Fi on buses with stops every 1 to 2 miles. Some current routes would be eliminated, according to Cramer, but only if they essentially duplicate what the new service would offer. The service would not connect to Washtenaw County as the RTA plan had envisioned.

Fares would be the same as are currently offered on SMART buses — $2 for standard riders with discounts for seniors and others.

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The new service would mean the end for the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan-branded RefleX service, which is a limited-stop service run jointly by SMART and the Detroit Department of Transportation.

That service has been held up as an example of long-needed cooperation between the two bus systems, which had not always been known to work together well. It's unknown whether the SMART proposal would adversely affect those relations (officials with both insisted relations are good). It's also not clear how it would affect the RTA's efforts to again pursue approval of a regional transit master plan.

However, RTA Interim CEO Tiffany Gunter said the SMART proposal would actually help fulfill her organization's mission.

“It’s better transit and that’s our goal (in addition to) improved regional connectivity," said Gunter of the proposed SMART service. The RTA is an umbrella organization for SMART, DDOT, the Detroit People Mover and the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority.

Gunter touted the performance of the RefleX service as a successful pilot project. Gunter said RefleX had grown to accommodate 12,000 riders per week since its launch last year, which is "remarkable for a new transit service."

Gunter, however, had a suggestion for SMART as it pursues its efforts.

"What I would like to see … is more commitment to partnership with DDOT in delivering the service as was kind of the guidepost and the shining example we used through RTA," she said.

Despite this being planned as a SMART-only operation, DDOT Director Dan Dirks said the two bus systems have a good relationship, a position echoed by Cramer. Dirks said it's early in the process, and DDOT will have to see how the plans develop.

“We've got to work it through quite honestly whatever they're doing, and that’s not abnormal. We’ve just got to sit down and figure it all out from our perspective,” Dirks said.

Megan Owens, executive director of the Transportation Riders United advocacy group, said riders just want better service and they do not care who operates it, although she said she hopes this is not a step backward in cooperation between the transit agencies.

Owens said it's good news that SMART, which has weekday ridership of 30,000 riders, is recognizing that transit riders want faster and more frequent service.

"I think if done right this could be really great for riders and for the community," she said. "I do wonder to what extent they have coordinated with the RTA or with DDOT about this."

Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @_ericdlawrence.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly listed Melissa Roy’s position with the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation board. Roy is a board member. In addition, that version of the story should have made clear that SMART’s ridership is 30,000 riders each weekday.

How to be heard

SMART has workshops and public hearings scheduled to gather input on its expanded service plans. Workshops planned:

Monday, Oct. 30 – 5 p.m. at Lafayette Market, 154 N. Saginaw St., Pontiac

Wednesday, Nov. 1 – 5 p.m. at City of Wayne Council Chambers, 3355 South Wayne Road, Wayne

Thursday, Nov. 2 – 11:30 a.m. at SMART Downtown Offices, 535 Griswold St., Suite 600, Detroit

Thursday, Nov. 2 – 4 p.m. at Eastpointe City Hall, 23200 Gratiot, Eastpointe

Public hearings are also scheduled: