Bus Garage Project Moves Forward at No Cost to Taxpayers

If construction of a garage for the township's SMART buses fails to excite you, then consider this: The entire $500,000-plus project, from planning to actual construction, is not going to cost taxpayers a dime.

The Macomb Township Board of Trustees voted at its meeting on May 25 to push the project through to the Planning Commission, which will work with the township's engineering firm, Spalding DeDecker Associates, Inc., to review construction of the garage.

Building a vehicle garage to house the township's SMART buses–used in the Dial-A-Ride program–was one of several goals Supervisor Mark Grabow cited in his 2011 State of the Township address.

The garage, which will be built on the site of the building on 23 Mile Road, will be built using SMART community credits and possibly Community Development Block Grant funds. 

For the past several years, Macomb Township has been accruing SMART community credits, which can be used toward projects such as the vehicle garage. However, the expiration date of these credits is fast approaching, and the township must use them, or lose them.

"At this point in time, the funds from the SMART community development money will be utilized for the structure and improvements and the final structure looks like it will also qualify for CDBG funds," Grabow said.

No general funds will be used in either the site work or construction of the garage and Grabow said it is unlikely the township will have to pay anything in a cost-share situation.

An early estimate for site work of the project totals out at $460,836, not including construction of the building itself.

This estimate also includes the cost of access road improvements to the Water and Sewer Department facility.

Dial-A-Ride provides curb-t0-curb service to doctor appointments, shopping, employment and miscellaneous errands to Macomb Township residents age 60+ and/or persons with disabilities.