On Monday, March 3rd, City Council held a Senior Citizens, Families and Environment Committee meeting on 3 subjects: transportation, special needs services offered by Parks and Recreation and the new Newburgh Senior Housing complex.

Transportation: New Liv&Go manager Dennis McKinney presented on the status of Liv&Go, Livonia’s transit program. There is currently an office manager, two dispatchers, 17 drivers (2 trainers) and 19 vehicles (although they often have maintenance needs that are outsourced due to the fact there is no in-house mechanic).

Liv&Go offers services to individuals in Livonia from 7am to 6:30pm, Mondays thru Fridays. Appointments can be made through the app (booking up to 2 weeks in advance) or by calling Liv&Go. The app gives real-time updates on rides and offers a payment system.

Ridership continues to grow with Liv&Go and functioning to meet the needs of those who have depended on the service.

Jacob Uhaze presented a mobility study that offered a road map for a phased transit approach to be implemented as needed and when funding is avaialble.*

Institute of VIA app – complete

Plymouth Road microtransit system to serve appox 17k with a 3 minivan service

Citywide microtransit like Farmington Hills to serve appox 30k riders

Deviated fixed-routes

Adding a regional connection

Recommendations also included capital investment for maintenance and right sizing the fleet), marking and branding, service improvements to optimize routes, increase in staffing and funding.

*This study was done prior to state changes that would open Livonia up to a regional transit program through a Wayne County millage. This is expected to be a future ballot initiative and could cost Livonia $5-5.5M. The administration has been told it will have a seat at the table when Wayne County goes through this process. It has also reached out to Wayne County Executive’s office and Regional Transit Authority to demonstrate transit lessons/successes in Livonia through Liv&Go. The administration also hopes to demonstrate that transit includes bike/walkability and would like funding generated through a millage used in Livonia to fund Bike/Walk Livonia and capital needs of Liv&Go.

Special Needs Programming:

Parks and Recreation Director, Ted Davis spoke to the services currently offered by P&R for those with special needs. Livonia AIR hosts 3 to 4 social events per season and Livonia is in a partnership with Canton through Wayne County for a program called RISE that offers physical classes. The Recreation Center is also used as a pick-up site for the Living and Learning Center in Northville and the new Senior Center will have a partnership with MiWork Matters to operate a coffee shop.

These programs are costly and Parks and Rec is at capacity for services but continues to make park improvements that accommodate those of all needs.

Newburgh Senior Housing:

Madison Bjertness gave an introduction as the new Housing Director.

Newburgh Village 2 (tentatively called that but will have a new name) is 9.5 acre property the city secured years ago and will now develop into affordable 2 bedroom ranch style units. The project is in the early stages and a bond request is in the notice of intent stage.

The utilities for this project are on the correct side of the road and Newburgh is a city road, thus minimizing future challenges. The Fire Department owns a portion of adjacent property that it is willing to work with the Housing Commission for in exchange for a pole barn facility for storage.

This new property will operate the same as Silver and Newburgh Village. It will be self-funded and not a liability to the city.

No motions were made at this meeting and all items remain in committee