FAST (Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation)

FAST (the acronym for Frequent, Affordable, Safe Transit) is Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation's (SMART) high frequency, limited-stop service serving the metropolitan area of the American city of Detroit, and a precursor to bus rapid transit, linking together the suburban Woodward, Michigan and Gratiot corridors, including Detroit Metro Airport and Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority, with the city of Detroit, D2A2, M-1 Rail QLINE, the Detroit People Mover and Transit Windsor. It launched on January 1, 2018.

History

Following years of studying for bus rapid transit corridors in the Detroit area, the Regional Transit Authority launched a pilot limited-stop service, Reflex, in September 2016, with service from downtown Detroit to Somerset Collection and the North River Park & Ride facility near Mount Clemens, along with a service from Mount Clemens to Wayne State University. Like FAST, Reflex operated in mixed traffic, but unlike FAST, Reflex only utilized simple flags for stations. Over a year later in the fall of 2017, SMART began releasing teasers relating to a BRT service of their own, and on December 27, 2017, the service was officially announced as FAST.

Initial service

The first five lines, 261 FAST Michigan, 461 & 462 FAST Woodward, and 561 & 563 FAST Gratiot, commenced on January 1, 2018. 562 FAST Gratiot began service the following day, January 2. Due to recent heavy snow systems, sign placement along FAST Gratiot's route wasn't completed by the launch day, leaving some stations to do with their former Reflex flags, and even on the launch day and for much of the following day, FAST lines were untrackable on the website and app.

Later history

On March 9, 2018, a new stop serving the Little Caesar’s Arena opened on the 461 & 462 FAST Woodward lines. On April 2, 2018, many stops were renamed and a new stop at the Chesterfield Township Meijer store opened on the 563 FAST Gratiot line. In June 2018, two new stops opened on the 261 FAST Michigan line in Romulus, one at Flynn Drive serving hotels and parking lots north of Detroit Metro Airport and one at a new Amazon facility at Vining and Ecorse Roads that opened to select weekday trips on June 18, though until officially opening on July 26 it was only shown on maps and schedules as Vining Road had not yet been extended to Ecorse Road.

The 261 FAST Michigan and 461 & 462 FAST Woodward lines were extended slightly to new stations in the southeast section of downtown Detroit on January 7, 2019. A stop on the 461 FAST Woodward at Big Beaver and Crooks Roads opened on April 1, 2019. The 462 FAST Woodward received a second extension on October 5, 2020, which replaced local route 753.

Dedicated shelters

The first dedicated FAST shelters were erected in July 2018 at the Schaefer station on the 261 FAST Michigan and on the southbound side of the 9 Mile station on the 461 & 462 FAST Woodward. Additional shelters were erected at the Meijer P&R and Crocker stations on the 563 FAST Gratiot in August 2018, on the southbound side of the Detroit Zoo station on the 461 & 462 FAST Woodward on September 11, 2018, on the northbound side of the 9 Mile station on the 461 & 462 FAST Woodward by February 11, 2019, on the northbound side of the 11 Mile station on the 461 & 462 FAST Woodward by March 15, 2019, on the northbound side of the 8 Mile station on the 561, 562, & 563 FAST Gratiot on April 18, 2019, on the southbound side of the 23 Mile station on the 563 FAST Gratiot on April 24, 2019, and on the northbound side of the Masonic station on the 561, 562, & 563 FAST Gratiot by May 4, 2019.

Routes

• 261 FAST Michigan - Jefferson and Beaubien, Downtown Detroit to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, coloured Peruvian blue on maps and schedules
• 461 FAST Woodward - Jefferson and Beaubien, Downtown Detroit to Troy Civic Center Park & Ride, coloured tomato red on maps and schedules
• 462 FAST Woodward - Jefferson and Beaubien, Downtown Detroit to Great Lakes Crossing Transportation Center, coloured tomato red on maps and schedules
• 561 FAST Gratiot - Larned and Griswold, Downtown Detroit to North River Park & Ride, coloured lime green on maps and schedules
• 562 FAST Gratiot - Wayne State University to Executive Drive in Harrison Township, coloured lime green on maps and schedules
• 563 FAST Gratiot - Larned and Griswold, Downtown Detroit to Chesterfield Meijer Park & Ride, coloured lime green on maps and schedules

Fleet

FAST uses a fleet of specially branded and assigned buses built by Gillig and New Flyer Industries that are equipped with free Wi-Fi services.

Active vehicles

Fleet number(s)	Thumbnail	Year	Manufacturer	Model	Engine	Transmission	Destination sign	Seating	Terminal	Notes
3601-3607, 3618, 3636, 3638, 3640-3641, 3643, 3648-3650, 3654-3656, 3658		April-July 2016	Gillig	BRT 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins ISL9	Allison B400R	Luminator Horizon	35 American Seating Vision	3601-3602, 3604, 3640, 3655-3656, - Wayne 3605-3606, 3618, 3636, 3641, 3643 - Oakland 3607, 3638, 3648-3650, 3654, 3658 - Macomb	First FAST buses with the new silver livery and the new logo. FAST vehicles in this fleet range exclusively use the new silver livery and the new logo.
3716-3717, 3723		May-August 2017	Gillig	BRT 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins L9	Allison B400R	Luminator Horizon	38 American Seating Vision	3716-3717 - Oakland 3723 - Macomb	Transferred back to SMART's local fleet in 2020 and 2021 before being transferred back to FAST in 2023. FAST vehicles in this fleet range exclusively use the new silver livery and the new logo.
3807, 3816, 3838		October-November 2018	Gillig	BRT 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins L9	Allison B400R	Luminator Horizon	35 American Seating Vision	3807, 3816 - Oakland 3838 - Macomb
3908, 3912-3913		2019	Gillig	BRT 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins L9	Allison B400R	Luminator Horizon	35 American Seating Vision	3908 - Oakland 3912-3913 - Macomb
4001-4004, 4008-4011, 4016-4019		February 2021	NFI	XD60	Cummins L9	Allison B500R	Luminator Horizon	53 American Seating Vision	4001-4004 - Wayne 4008-4010 - Oakland 4016-4019 - Macomb	Piggybacked from a Commonwealth of Virginia order. Delivered April 5, 2021. 4011 is retired.

In addition, any bus from SMART's local fleet can rarely be found on FAST services.

Retired/transferred vehicles

Fleet number(s)	Thumbnail	Year	Manufacturer	Model	Engine	Transmission	Destination sign	Seating	Terminal	Notes
3701-3715, 3718-3722, 3724-3729, 3731-3737, 3739, 3758, 3772		May-August 2017	Gillig	BRT 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins L9	Allison B400R	Luminator Horizon	35 American Seating Vision	3701-3705, 3718-3720, 3731-3735 - Oakland 3706-3710, 3721-3722, 3724-3725, 3736-3737, 3739, 3758, 3772 - Macomb 3711-3715, 3726-3729 - Wayne	Transferred back to SMART's local fleet in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
3801-3803, 3805-3806, 3808-3809, 3811-3812, 3817, 3819, 3821, 3823, 3825-3828, 3829-3835		October-November 2018	Gillig	BRT 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins L9	Allison B400R	Luminator Horizon	35 American Seating Vision	3801-3803, 3805, 3811, 3826-3830 - Wayne 3806, 3808-3809, 3817, 3819, 3831, 3834-3835 - Oakland 3812-3813, 3821, 3823, 3825 - Macomb	Transferred back to SMART's local fleet in 2021 and 2023.
3901, 3906, 3917		2019	Gillig	BRT 40' (G27D102N4)	Cummins L9	Allison B400R	Luminator Horizon	35 American Seating Vision	3901 - Wayne 3906, 3917 - Oakland	Transferred back to SMART's local fleet in 2021 and 2023.

References

• SMART Unveils New Service! Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation. Retrieved on December 28, 2017.

External links

• FAST website

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Vehicles
Diesel Low Floor	3019-3020, 3601-3659, 3701-3780, 3801-3840, 3901-3938
Diesel LF Articulated	4001-4023
Electric Low Floor	4024-4027
Hybrid Low Floor	3003-3005, 3006-3008, 3009-3018
Former	2101-2140, 3001-3002, 6001-6039, 9001-9033, 9201-9223, 9224-9225, 9301-9367, 9368-9369, 9370-9393, 9401-9423, 9501-9532, 9901-9920, 22301-22348, 22416-22460, 22349-22415, 23301-23357, 23358-23387, 95300-95384
Support Fleet	Various numbers
Routes
FAST	261, 461 & 462, 561, 562, & 563
Main Corridor Routes	125, 200, 210, 450, 460, 510, 560, 610
Community Routes	160, 415, 420, 494, 495, 525, 550, 615, 796
Crosstown Routes	140, 250, 275, 280, 305, 375, 405, 492, 710, 730, 740, 760, 780, 790
Commuter Routes	255, 430, 445, 515, 530, 580, 620, 635
Park & Ride Routes	805, 830, 851
School Routes	566
Special Event Routes	Woodward Dream Cruise
Former Regular Routes	100, 110, 115, 130, 135, 145, 150, 165, 180, 185, 190, 201, 202, 240, 245, 260, 265, 275, 280, 285, 295, 297, 305 (original), 315, 330, 385, 400, 410, 435, 440, 455, 465, 470, 475, 482, 485, 486, 488, 492 (original), 498, 520, 525 (original), 540, 559, 565, 567, 598 & 599, 625, 630, 720, 750, 753, 754, 755, 757, 758, Gateway Express, Pistons Express, NFL Draft
Former School Routes	112, 196, 203, 209
Former Park & Ride Routes	810 & 820, 832, 835, 849, 865, 875
1994-95 Detroit Routes	25, 37
Facilities
Passenger	Downtown Detroit, Fairlane Town Center Hub, Great Lakes Crossing Transportation Center, John D. Dingell Transit Center, Lakeside Mall Hub, Macomb Mall Hub, OCC Orchard Ridge Campus Hub, Oakland Mall Hub, Phoenix Center Hub, Royal Oak Transit Center, Rosa Parks Transit Center, Jason Hargrove Transit Center, Somerset Collection South Hub, Southland Center Hub, Troy Transit Center, Park & ride locations
Non-Passenger	Macomb Terminal, Oakland Terminal, Wayne Terminal
Bus Stops	1-9999, 10000-19999, 20000-20999, 21000-21999, 22000-22999, 23000-23999
Timelines
History	1989-1998, 1999-2008, 2009-2018, 2019-present
Detroit Area Transit Agencies Tecumseh