The number of people riding public transportation in Michigan has increased dramatically in the first quarter of 2008, with double-digit ridership increases being reported by many of the state’s metropolitan communities.
“The increases from month to month have been significant, with Battle Creek, Flint, Saginaw and Kalamazoo registering double digit increases in February, 2008 over a year ago,” stated Michigan Public Transit Association Executive Director Clark Harder.
The total number of passengers boarding Michigan’s public transit agency buses is recorded for every bus operating on every route, both urban and rural, line-haul and demand response (dial-a-ride). These numbers are recorded statewide by the more than 70 agencies that operate public transportation in every county of the state.
“In 2006 Michigan’s public transportation agencies provided over 92 million individual rides, which represented an 8.7% increase over 2005, roughly three times the national increase in transit ridership for the same period,” Harder said. While final statistics on 2007 are not yet available, monthly ridership numbers suggested a similar increase would be recorded for 2007 over 2006.
In the first quarter of 2008, riders have increased in Detroit’s Department of Transportation (DDOT) by an average of 200,000 per month over 2007 figures. In several small urban communities the level has increased by 20% and higher from the same time a year ago. The increases have not been occurring just in urban areas, though, as many rural communities and counties have also seen significant increases in their demand-response, or dial-a-ride, type operations.
“We attribute the increases to a couple of significant factors. First, the price of gasoline is clearly causing many people to park their vehicles and try public transportation for the first time. Second, transit systems are constantly reviewing and refining their routes to better serve the demand and this reflects in an increase in usage,” Harder said.
The increasing ridership on public transportation doesn’t come without complications,
however.
“Just like with individual autos, the price of fuel has soared for public transit vehicles. Transit agencies are feeling the pinch of the significantly greater demand and costs, while public transit federal and state funding remains basically flat. When more people ride, it does boost the farebox revenue. However, just because more people ride, it still doesn’t allow transit agencies to significantly defray their costs, which outpace the farebox,” Harder stated.
There are 19 urbanized public transit agencies serving Michigan communities and 58 rural agencies serving townships, small cities and counties.
In March, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) announced that Americans
took 10.3 billion trips on public transportation in 2007, the highest level in 50 years, representing a 2.1% increase over the previous year.

The Transit Legislative Day on Tuesday, April 22, organized by the Let’s Get Moving Coalition was a resounding success. This was the third such legislative day in Lansing put on by our Coalition and the attendance was tremendous from locations throughout the lower peninsula, east to west. More than 75 attendees met personally with Senators, Representatives and their legislative staff people and made the case for continued strong funding for transit. Advocates included representatives of transit agencies, the disability community, transit riders, the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, local government, planning agencies, counties, cities and others. The morning kicked off at 8:30 with a presentation from Representatives Marie Donigan, Lee Gonzales and Gabe Leland who spoke about their work in the Legislative Transit Caucus, the special House subcommittee on public transit, and the House Appropriations process for transportation.

A highlight of the day came at 2 p.m. when House Speaker Andy Dillon, Rep. Donigan, Rep. Hoon Yung Hopgood and Rep. Tom Pearce joined representatives of the Coalition in a bi-partisan news conference in the Capitol Rotunda to announce record transit ridership and to call for increased funding. Hats off and a huge thank you to Megan Owens of Transportation Riders United (TRU) in Detroit (a LGM Coalition partner) for organizing the press conference.

The package of three bills in the State Legislature which would provide stiffer penalties for assaults that occur on public transit employees and property have been scheduled for a first hearing in the Michigan House Judiciary Committee. Rep. Paul Condino (D-Southfield) has put the bills on the committee schedule for Wednesday, February 27. After more than a decade of work by the Amalgamated Transit Union and Michigan Public Transit Association, this is the first time we have been able to see this package scheduled for even one hearing. We especially appreciate the efforts of the lead sponsors of the bills (Rep. Gabe Leland-Detroit, Rep. Lee Gonzales-Flint and Rep. Robert Dean-Grand Rapids) and Rep. Condino for their efforts in bringing these bills to the forefront.

The bills would elevate attacks that occur on public transit to the level of felonies, rather than misdemeanors; thus stiffening penalties significantly and providing greater deterrents against attacking public transit employers, passengers and public transit vehicles and property.

The 2008 MPTA Legislative Conference will be held February 21-22 at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Lansing. The program will feature opportunities to meet personally with legislators, hear from Legislative and Administrative leaders on the state budget, receive update reports on public transportation projects in Southeast Michigan and Grand Rapids, and hear the latest from the Michigan Department of Transportation Bureau of Public Transportation. If you haven’t yet registered, please visit the conference tab on this website and submit your information. Remember to make your hotel reservations soon too - before the guaranteed rooms are all gone!

National Center on Senior Transportation
Releases Requests for Proposals for Demonstration Grants

The National Center on Senior Transportation (NCST) is soliciting proposals from aging/human service agencies, tribal organizations, faith-based organizations, units of state and local government, public and private transportation providers and other entities interested in developing and implementing innovative approaches to increasing senior transportation options and improving older adult mobility.
Successful projects will be collaborative, replicable, and consistent with senior transportation-related goals of the national United We Ride initiative of the Federal Transit Administration. The goals are to:
Ø Increase transportation options for older adults
Ø Simplify older adults’ access to transportation services
Ø Increase the quality of transportation services for older adults
Successful applicants will receive grant awards ranging from $50,000 - $90,000 and 24 months of individually tailored technical assistance. Higher or lower amounts may be awarded based on specific proposals.
Proposals are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Monday, Dec. 17, 2007, and should be submitted electronically via email to twilson@n4a.org or using the online form which can be reached through the center’s Web site (www.seniortransportation.net). Electronic or online submission is preferred but hard copies will be accepted. Hard copy of the proposal must be received on or before Dec. 17, 2007.
The mailing address:
Tabitha Wilson
Assistant Director, NCST
1730 Rhode Island Ave., NW
Suite 1200
Washington, D.C. 20036
Please visit the center’s Web site at www.seniortransportation.net for more information and to download a copy of the RFP. Questions related to the solicitation should be directed to Ms. Wilson at the above email address or by phone, (202)872-0888.

With the exception of Ingham County election results where CATA narrowly lost approval of an operating millage, public transportation enjoyed continued strong support by local voters at the polls on Tuesday.

Voters in Leelanau and Grand Traverse Counties led the way with 80% and 78% approval of BATA’s millage renewal proposal, while Kalamazoo voters gave a 72% approval to a one mill/one year proposal. Alpena voters supported continued Dial A Ride service with a like 72% approval rating. In Saginaw, city voters turned out a 66% approval for STARS millage renewal and in Shiawassee County voters in Owosso said “yes” to a new .25 mill/5 year millage for SATA by 66%. In neighboring Corunna, voters approved a similar proposal for SATA’s operations by a slightly higher 68%.

Apparently only voters in the Lansing area turned down a public transportation millage at Tuesday’s election as CATA’s .3 mill, indexed five year proposal was rejected by 52% of those voting. It would have generated over $1.8 million in the first year for CATA’s operations.

Here are details:

Bay Area Transportation Authority
Grand Traverse County:
Yes: 13,878 78%
No: 3996 22%

Leelanau County
Yes: 3414 80%
No: 854 20%
(Leelanau County had 23% voter turnout. It passed in all townships in Leelanau County with Leelanau and Empire townships over 90% support.)

Kalamazoo Transit Authority:
Yes: 5907 72%
No: 2311 28%

Alpena Dial A Ride:
Yes: 1668 72%
No: 660 28%

Saginaw Transportation Authority for Regional Service:
Yes: 4019 66%
No: 2081 34%

Shiawassee Area Transportation Agency
City of Owosso
Yes: 1001 66%
No: 512 34%

City of Corunna
Yes: 188 68%
No: 88 32%

Capital Area Transportation Authority in Ingham County:
No: 10892 52%
Yes: 10254 48%

(Please note: All election results are unofficial and compiled from statewide news sources, as available.)

National Center on Senior Transportation
Releases Requests for Proposals for Demonstration Grants

The National Center on Senior Transportation (NCST) is soliciting proposals from aging/human service agencies, tribal organizations, faith-based organizations, units of state and local government, public and private transportation providers and other entities interested in developing and implementing innovative approaches to increasing senior transportation options and improving older adult mobility.
Successful projects will be collaborative, replicable, and consistent with senior transportation-related goals of the national United We Ride initiative of the Federal Transit Administration. The goals are to:
Ø Increase transportation options for older adults
Ø Simplify older adults’ access to transportation services
Ø Increase the quality of transportation services for older adults
Successful applicants will receive grant awards ranging from $50,000 - $90,000 and 24 months of individually tailored technical assistance. Higher or lower amounts may be awarded based on specific proposals.
Proposals are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Monday, Dec. 17, 2007, and should be submitted electronically via email to twilson@n4a.org or using the online form which can be reached through the center’s Web site (www.seniortransportation.net). Electronic or online submission is preferred but hard copies will be accepted. Hard copy of the proposal must be received on or before Dec. 17, 2007.
The mailing address:
Tabitha Wilson
Assistant Director, NCST
1730 Rhode Island Ave., NW
Suite 1200
Washington, D.C. 20036
Please visit the center’s Web site at www.seniortransportation.net for more information and to download a copy of the RFP. Questions related to the solicitation should be directed to Ms. Wilson at the above email address or by phone, (202)872-0888.

The Detroit People Mover was recently honored with a national APTA Adwheel Award for public relations and marketing. You can read all about it right here .

Harbor Transit Director Julie Bildner, longtime MPTA board member, and her top aide have announced their upcoming retirements. Read about it here: www.grandhaventribune.com

Recently-retired Ionia Dial-A-Ride Director Lynn Lafler, a past President of the MPTA, isn’t letting any grass grow under his feet. This week it was announced that he has been appointed as the next Ionia City Clerk, effective October 1st. Read all about it here, in the Ionia Sentinel:

http://www.sentinel-standard.com/articles/2007/09/07/news/02news.txt

Congratulations Lynn and good luck in your new duties!