Traverse City Record-Eagle

Election 2011

October 31, 2011

Our view: Keep BATA rolling

Bus service is key to region's growth

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It's one of the most visible taxpayer-supported services around, but much of what the Bay Area Transportation Authority does is a bit below the radar. In large part, that's because many of BATA's clients are members of a large, but largely invisible, portion of the community.

We all see the buses — sometimes with only a couple people on board — tooling around town and stopping now and then for someone waiting at a bus stop.

What most of us don't see, however, are the dozens of older and younger residents for whom BATA is literally a daily lifeline. BATA is their link to the world — medical appointments, shopping, to and from charter schools, and life outside home.

We may also not see the growing number of people using BATA's commuter lines to get to work every day from areas outside the city. Ride the fixed route service early in the morning or at night and you'll see more and more of your neighbors heading to work or home or into town or to the malls to shop.

On Nov. 8, Grand Traverse and Leelanau county voters will be asked to renew the millage BATA depends on for about a third of its overall budget. The actual millage levied will be 3.454 mills, rolled back from 3.5 mills in 2007.

That will bring in about $2.3 million a year — all of which must go to operations. The owner of a home with a taxable value of $100,000 will pay $34.50 a year.

BATA plans further service expansions, including routes into Leelanau County and to area vineyards, and Director Tom Menzel is still talking to area schools.

Public transportation is crucial for any area aspiring to grow, and the Grand Traverse area is no exception. Vote "yes" on the BATA millage Nov. 8.

Editor's note: Don't be confused by the ballot. Because of a 2007 law, some local development groups will now get a tiny cut of public transit money, and the ballot will list them: Traverse City's Downtown Development Authority, the Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties brownfield redevelopment and landbank authorities.

The amounts are miniscule; the transparency is good.

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