MI: Scio Township Voters Approve Tax Increase to Fund New Transit Service

Voters in Scio Township approved a new 10-year, 0.3627-mill transit tax placed on the ballot by the Scio Township Board of Trustees in the November 3, 2015 election. The unofficial vote tally last night was 1,131 to 560 in favor, passing in all precincts.

The tax will fund transit services that are a part of TheRide’s Five-Year Transit Improvement Program (5YTIP), and will raise approximately $403,000 when first levied. Based on an average property value of $250,000, it is estimated that it will cost the average Scio Township property owner approximately $45 per year. Service will be ramped up over a three-year period with phase one beginning May 1, 2016.

The passage in Scio Township follows that by voters in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Ypsilanti Twp., who on May 6, 2014, overwhelmingly approved a 0.7-mill increase to fund a Five-Year Public Transit Improvement Program. Implementation of the 5YTIP began in August, 2014 and will ultimately provide a service increase of 44 percent. In May, 2016, three new bus routes will serve businesses and residential areas in Scio Township, and Dial-A-Ride services for seniors and people with disabilities will also be expanded.

Transit service in Scio Township will help preserve farmland and open spaces; and provide freedom for seniors to age in place, provide freedom for people with disabilities to remain active in the community, provide access to jobs for Scio Township residents, provide access to a larger workforce for Scio Township businesses, and provide access to educational opportunities and after-school activities.

For many years, TheRide has received requests from communities for public transit services. TheRide has used these requests and comments to design service that best serves the greatest number of residents. Scio Township residents have spoken, and will now have improved access to all of the benefits that public transportation service provides.

Scio Township’s new transit service will be ramped up during two phases over three years:

Phase 1:
Route 30: Jackson Road – Zeeb
Service every 30 minutes during peak travel hours Monday – Friday, and hourly service on weekday evenings and weekends.
Service hours are Monday – Friday 6:45 a.m. – 11:30 p.m., Saturdays 7:45 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. and Sundays 8:45 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Route 26: Scio Church
Service every 30 minutes during peak travel hours Monday – Friday, and hourly service on weekday evenings and Saturdays.
Service hours are Monday – Friday 6:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. and Saturdays 7:45 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Route 29: Liberty – Scio Ridge
Service every 30 minutes during peak travel hours Monday – Friday, and hourly service on weekday evenings and weekends.
Service hours are Monday – Friday 6:30 a.m. – 11:15 p.m., Saturdays 7:45 a.m. – 10:15 p.m. and Sundays 8:45 a.m. – 7:15 p.m.

A-Ride: Curb-to-curb transportation services for seniors and people with disabilities
This service will operate within three quarters of a mile of fixed-route bus service and provide connections to the rest of TheRide’s base service area in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, as well as parts of Pittsfield, Superior, and Ypsilanti Townships.

Phase 2 (2017 Implementation)
Expanded service on Jackson Road from Zeeb Road to Baker Road.
Service every 30-60 minutes
Monday – Friday
Hours of service to be determined