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Council committee outlines phased mobility plan for Livonia; Wayne County transit millage noted as potential future cost
Summary
A committee report outlined a phased mobility plan that starts with Live and Go's shift to a digital booking app and could eventually include regional fixed-route transit if a Wayne County millage passes; the administration estimated a county millage could cost Livonia roughly $5 million–$5.5 million annually.
Livonia — A city committee presented a multi‑phase mobility study that maps how Livonia’s Live and Go on‑demand transit service could evolve from an app‑based microtransit system to a regional fixed route if countywide funding becomes available.
At a committee report to the council, Live and Go manager McKinney described current operations: one office manager, two dispatchers, 17 drivers and 19 vehicles (some needing maintenance). Jacob Yuhazi of the Planning and Administration Department presented the mobility study’s five steps: transition to a digital booking app (Via), pilot microtransit on Plymouth Road, citywide microtransit, a deviated fixed route, and a regional fixed route. The city is not planning all those changes immediately and said it must first “right‑size” and invest in existing services.
Council members and staff noted the mobility study predated changes that could open Livonia to a regional transit program funded by a Wayne County millage. The administration told the committee the county millage is expected to be a future ballot initiative; the city’s share of such a millage was described in the meeting as roughly $5 million to $5.5 million annually. Officials said Livonia has been told it would receive a seat at the regional planning table if the millage proceeds.
Councilman Rob Donovic provided historical context: Livonia previously opted out of a prior regional bus system and saved substantial sums, but state law has changed, he said, and communities can no longer individually opt out; the result shifts the decision to a countywide vote. Donovic urged residents to follow the issue as the county prepares any ballot language.
The committee report said the administration has reached out to Wayne County and the Regional Transit Authority to demonstrate Livonia’s Live and Go lessons and to ask that potential millage funds support bike‑and‑walk projects and capital needs for existing Livonia services.
No council vote was held on the mobility study itself; the item remains in committee for further study and public engagement.
