The Kalamazoo Transit Story:The Kalamazoo Transit Story:Kalamazoo Metro Transit and Kalamazoo CountyKalamazoo Metro Transit and Kalamazoo County

July, 2009July, 2009Presented By: William J. Schomisch, City of Kalamazoo Transportation DirectorPresented By: William J. Schomisch, City of Kalamazoo Transportation Director

Dale R. Hein, Project Manager for the Kalamazoo County Transportation AuthorityDale R. Hein, Project Manager for the Kalamazoo County Transportation Authority

Metro Transit was “born” January 1, 1967Metro Transit was “born” January 1, 1967

Operates as a department of the City of Operates as a department of the City of Kalamazoo; overseen by a 7-member Kalamazoo; overseen by a 7-member citizen Transit Authority Board (TAB)citizen Transit Authority Board (TAB)

Metro Transit Metro Transit fixed-route; Metro Van; Care-A-Metro Transit fixed-route; Metro Van; Care-A-

Van; and Community Service Van programVan; and Community Service Van program 21 fixed-routs; 6:00 a.m. to 10:15 p.m., Monday 21 fixed-routs; 6:00 a.m. to 10:15 p.m., Monday

through Saturday; no Sunday service; serves through Saturday; no Sunday service; serves Kalamazoo urbanized areaKalamazoo urbanized area

37 fixed-route buses; 15 Metro Van vehicles; 6 37 fixed-route buses; 15 Metro Van vehicles; 6 Community Service VansCommunity Service Vans

$14.5 million annual operating budget; 121 $14.5 million annual operating budget; 121 employeesemployees

In 2008—2,309,510 service miles, 196,618 In 2008—2,309,510 service miles, 196,618 service hours, and 3,094,981 passenger tripsservice hours, and 3,094,981 passenger trips

Funded through federal (urban), state, local Funded through federal (urban), state, local (millage) and farebox(millage) and farebox

Current fare is $1.35; transfers are freeCurrent fare is $1.35; transfers are free

Kalamazoo County Care-A-Van was Kalamazoo County Care-A-Van was established in 1984established in 1984

Demand/response service countywide with Demand/response service countywide with priority for seniors and persons with priority for seniors and persons with disabilitiesdisabilities

Care-A-Van Operated through Kalamazoo County Human Operated through Kalamazoo County Human

Services DepartmentServices Department Service delivery contracted out to a private Service delivery contracted out to a private

providerprovider 17 mid-sized coaches17 mid-sized coaches In 2004—408,635 service miles, 25,748 service In 2004—408,635 service miles, 25,748 service

hours, and 78,051 passenger trips providedhours, and 78,051 passenger trips provided Annual operating budget was $1,386,660Annual operating budget was $1,386,660 Care-A-Van funded by federal (rural), state, and Care-A-Van funded by federal (rural), state, and

farebox. No dedicated local funding since 1984.farebox. No dedicated local funding since 1984. Current fare range: $3.35 to $12.15Current fare range: $3.35 to $12.15 In 1994, Metro Van was initiated as the result of In 1994, Metro Van was initiated as the result of

the new ADA legislationthe new ADA legislation

Between 1994 to 2003, both Metro Van and Between 1994 to 2003, both Metro Van and Care-A-Van operated independently, but Care-A-Van operated independently, but complimented each othercomplimented each other

October, 2002, Care-A-Van lost a portion October, 2002, Care-A-Van lost a portion of its federal rural fundingof its federal rural funding

Within County, urban areas increased; rural Within County, urban areas increased; rural areas decreased resulting in a loss of federal areas decreased resulting in a loss of federal rural fundingrural funding

Care-A-Van lost $72,000 annually in rural Care-A-Van lost $72,000 annually in rural federal fundingfederal funding

Care-A-Van administrators requested a Care-A-Van administrators requested a portion of Metro Transit’s $1.8 million portion of Metro Transit’s $1.8 million annual 5307 urban allocationannual 5307 urban allocation

City and County could not come to City and County could not come to agreementagreement

City and County turned to KATS to help City and County turned to KATS to help resolve issueresolve issue

KATS formed sub-committee which KATS formed sub-committee which eventually recommended Care-A-Van eventually recommended Care-A-Van receive $72,000 in 5307 moniesreceive $72,000 in 5307 monies

KATS questioned why area had two KATS questioned why area had two separate transit systemsseparate transit systems

KATS urged both the County and City to KATS urged both the County and City to combine the two systems; withheld 10% of combine the two systems; withheld 10% of federal funding as an incentivefederal funding as an incentive

City and County finally agreed to a three-City and County finally agreed to a three-part solution in January 2009part solution in January 2009 Care-A-Van would merge with Metro Care-A-Van would merge with Metro

TransitTransit A new, 9-member, countywide transit A new, 9-member, countywide transit

authority would be created to operate all authority would be created to operate all public transit services in countypublic transit services in county

New authority would go to voters no later New authority would go to voters no later than November 2006 to secure dedicated than November 2006 to secure dedicated local funding sourcelocal funding source

March 1, 2005—Care-A-Van transferred to City March 1, 2005—Care-A-Van transferred to City from Countyfrom County

December, 2005—County Board of December, 2005—County Board of Commissioners established a 9-member Commissioners established a 9-member Kalamazoo County Transportation Authority Kalamazoo County Transportation Authority (KCTA)(KCTA)

January to August, 2006—KCTA conducted January to August, 2006—KCTA conducted community outreach, decided on ballot language, community outreach, decided on ballot language, and went to the voters on November 4and went to the voters on November 4 thth with a with a 0.45 mill annual request for two years0.45 mill annual request for two years

Millage levy request approved by 51% to 49% Millage levy request approved by 51% to 49% marginmargin

In 2007—the transition planning to move the Metro In 2007—the transition planning to move the Metro Transit System under the KCTA began in earnestTransit System under the KCTA began in earnest

April, 2007—Three new Portage fixed-routes were added April, 2007—Three new Portage fixed-routes were added to Systemto System

November, 2007—City of Kalamazoo voters renewed 1.0 November, 2007—City of Kalamazoo voters renewed 1.0 mill levy in the City of Kalamazoo for one year only mill levy in the City of Kalamazoo for one year only (2008)(2008)

August, 2008—KCTA expanded Care-A-Van service August, 2008—KCTA expanded Care-A-Van service hours and dayshours and days

December 31, 2008—Existing Countywide and City December 31, 2008—Existing Countywide and City millages would expiremillages would expire

November 4, 2008—KCTA returned to county voters with November 4, 2008—KCTA returned to county voters with a 4-year graduated request which failed 58% to 42%a 4-year graduated request which failed 58% to 42%

System is currently operating on fund balances—limited System is currently operating on fund balances—limited timelinetimeline

January, 2009—City and County January, 2009—City and County Administration partner in 3-part tactical Administration partner in 3-part tactical plan to stabilize Metro Transit’s local plan to stabilize Metro Transit’s local fundingfunding KCTA returns to voters in May, 2009, to KCTA returns to voters in May, 2009, to

fund all demand/response services fund all demand/response services countywidecountywide

TAB would request new millage in the TAB would request new millage in the City of Kalamazoo only in November, City of Kalamazoo only in November, 20092009

Fares to be increased to $1.50 from $1.35Fares to be increased to $1.50 from $1.35

May 5, 2009—Countywide vote is May 5, 2009—Countywide vote is approved for a 4-year, 0.4 mill request by a approved for a 4-year, 0.4 mill request by a margin of 63% to 37%margin of 63% to 37%

Next step—0.6 mill levy in City of Next step—0.6 mill levy in City of Kalamazoo only for line haul services Kalamazoo only for line haul services scheduled for November 3, 2009scheduled for November 3, 2009

KCTA to seek legislative amendment to KCTA to seek legislative amendment to Public Act 196 to allow for two millages in Public Act 196 to allow for two millages in same service area through one countywide same service area through one countywide transit authoritytransit authority

Questions and Answers