Following resident concern about availability of Livonia Community Transit (LCT) the matter was sent to the City Council Senior Citizens, Families and Environment Committee. The meeting was held Wednesday, April 19th at City Hall.

The Livonia Community Transit program is operated under Livonia’s Housing Department. Interim Housing Director, Ermon Sims, and other LCT staff attended the meeting to share updates.

Background: Livonia Community Transit (LCT) provides transportation services to seniors (60 years old and over) and disabled residents of Livonia. Transportation is available to locations within the City of Livonia and limited service outside the city limits. Learn more here: https://livonia.gov/213/Livonia-Community-Transit

Ridership for the LCT has declined following the 2020 pandemic:

• 2019 – 32,000
• 2020 – 20,000
• 2021 – 19,000
• 2022 – 22,300

Reasons for decline were identified by staff as due to availability and not need. Prior to 2020 there were 25 bus drivers and now there are only 16. LCT employees are at-will and have one of the lowest pay grades in the city, $13.36 per hour (other communities offer $18 per hour). Low compensation with no benefits were identified as reasons why it is difficult to find bus drivers.

Interim Director Sims will be submitting a wage increase proposal to the Civil Service Commission.

The Council Committee motioned that a formal request also be made to the administration to look at potential wage increase and to identify funds that could be used as a temporary incentive to address the shortfall in services (Full-time city employees were previously given a $1,000 bonus and part-time employees received a $500 bonus with CARES Act money – at-will employees were not eligible for this benefit).