Farmington is in line to receive two new bus shelters and ADA upgrades along Grand River Avenue after an Oakland County committee voted Wednesday to direct $36,000 in transit grant funds to the city.
The Oakland County Transit Ad Hoc Committee approved the allocation 4-0 on Aug. 19 as part of a larger $690,400 package funding bus stop improvements across five communities. Farmington's shelters will go in at Grand River and Farmington Road and at Grand River and Brookdale, according to the committee's meeting agenda.
The total project cost is $45,000. Oakland County's grant covers 80%, and Farmington puts up a $9,000 local match.
It's the second round of county transit money headed to Farmington within the past year. The city council on Dec. 1, 2025, approved a separate $100,000 transit project, funded by an $80,000 county grant and a $20,000 city match, for three shelters at Jamestown Apartments, Chatham Hills Apartments and near Drake Road and Grand River Avenue.
City Manager David Murphy said in a December 2025 city announcement about that earlier grant that the project "reflects the City's commitment to improving transportation infrastructure and accessibility for residents and visitors."
Bigger pot for 2027
At the same meeting, the committee voted 4-0 to create a $2.5 million Access to Transit Program for fiscal year 2027. Committee Chair Brendan Johnson introduced an amendment on the floor raising the original $2 million proposal by $500,000, according to the meeting minutes.
The amendment passed 4-0.
The 2027 program expands who can apply. Downtown development authorities, including Farmington's, public transportation providers and other regional entities will be eligible for the first time, joining municipalities that have applied in past rounds.
The money comes from the Public Transportation Millage Fund, a 0.95-mill levy Oakland County voters approved in November 2022.
What's next
The two resolutions still need approval from the Economic Development & Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday, Sept. 2, and the full Oakland County Board of Commissioners on Thursday, Sept. 17. Grant agreements for the 2026 bus stop projects are expected to be executed this fall.
Committee members present Wednesday were Chair Johnson, Vice Chair Angela Powell, Marcia Gershenson and David Woodward. Michael Gingell and Philip Weipert were absent.
Nine communities submitted applications requesting $926,400 for improvements at 51 bus stops. The committee funded five communities covering 42 stops: Auburn Hills ($240,000), Southfield ($200,000), Waterford Township ($134,400), Huntington Woods ($80,000) and Farmington ($36,000).
