Voters in Scio Township approved a new 10-year, 0.3627-mill transit tax placed on the ballot on Tuesday to fund transit services that are a part of TheRide’s Five-Year Transit Improvement Program (5YTIP). The tax 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 Township, 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%. 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.