SMART for funding for alternative fuel vehicles to serve Macomb, Oakland and Wayne Counties in Michigan

Press Contact: 202/225-4071 (office)

Project Name:	SMART for funding for alternative fuel vehicles to serve Macomb, Oakland and Wayne Counties in Michigan
Project Address:	Buhl Building, 535 Griswold Street Suite 600, Wayne County, Detroit, MI 48226
Amount Requested:	$2,000,000
Federal Department or Agency:	Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
Individual or entity requesting this appropriation:	Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART)
Value to Michigan’s 15th Congressional District and the American taxpayer:
Public transportation is a leader in conserving oil as an inherently energy efficient way to travel consuming an average of one-half the oil than a typical automobile However, as a consumer of fuel, a spike in prices over a long term negatively affects the budget and strains SMART's ability to provide adequate service to meet the consumer demand. As an example, SMART uses approximately 3.3 million gallons of diesel fuel each year. A cost increase of only one cent per gallon would result in a $33,000 annual increase for SMART. Since FY 2008, SMART's fuel expenses have risen 51 percent. These funds will enable the initial acquisition of alternative fuel vehicles, ultimately leading to full replacement of the fixed-route fleet. This will save SMART money in fuel and replace aging buses, while continuing to serve the 13 million riders in the region.

Representative John Dingell