SMART BUS

Gas prices are through the roof around the U.S., and in Michigan, but the cost of using public transportation hasn’t changed. Most may not even realize the options that are available to them.

Public transportation is among the businesses that have been impacted by COVID and SMART Bus is no exception.

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – Through a partnership with SMART, Macomb County is offering a new vaccination location in Sterling Heights. The vaccination site is at the Sterling Heights Senior Center on Utica Road, between Schoenherr and Van Dyke roads. It’s why the Macomb County Health Department partnered with SMART to help distribute the coronavirus vaccine. Macomb County executive Mark Hackel said the new site is currently dedicated to vaccinating Macomb County residents and workers who are 60-years-old and older. More information can be found on the Macomb County Health Department’s official website here.

MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – Through a partnership with SMART, Macomb County is offering a different approach for seniors to get their COVID vaccines. Willie Gattie, another Macomb County resident, received a similar call. The 66-year-old, who is visually impaired, said leaders were finally finding ways to get seniors the much-needed COVID vaccine. The bus drove up to the vaccination hub near 32 Mile Road where seniors received their vaccines. READ MORE:Tracking Michigan COVID-19 vaccine dataMacomb County’s SMART bus vaccination program draws praise, but doses remain in low supplyMacomb County seniors brave snowy roads to get vaccinated

(AP Photo/Hussein Malla)The Macomb County Health Department is expanding a program to help seniors who rely on bus services get to COVID-19 vaccination appointments. Interested seniors should call the SMART Macomb Vaccine Hotline at 586-421-6579 to register for the county wait list. Seniors or someone they know can avoid the call altogether by emailing the SMART Macomb Vaccine Hotline 24/7 at macombvaccine@smartbus.org, and including their name, address, phone number and date of birth. SMART will maintain a wait list, and the county will contact individuals from the list as appointments at Richmond/Lenox EMS or other community sites become available. Richmond/Lenox is being overwhelmed by calls and is not able to make appointments or add names to the wait list.