Traverse City Record-Eagle

Grand Traverse County

March 6, 2010

BATA nabs $1M in stimulus funds

$12.4 million received for rural transit agencies

BY SHERI McWHIRTER

Traverse City -- Bay Area Transportation Authority will receive a sizable chunk of federal stimulus money designed to support Michigan's rural transit agencies.

State transportation officials will dole out $12.4 million to non-urban transit agencies across the state, including more than $1 million to BATA. The agency will buy six new hybrid buses, surveillance cameras to install inside buses and mobile computer terminals for eight buses.

"We survive on stimulus money in terms of being able to replace our fleet and continue service to the public with upgrades in equipment," said Tom Menzel, BATA executive director.

BATA serves Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties. In total, 62 Michigan counties will benefit from stimulus funds, state officials said.

Derek McCombs, BATA's transportation manager, said on-board computer terminals will be tested on eight buses and if successful, the agency will apply for more grants to outfit the entire 60-bus fleet with high-tech equipment.

"It's a more efficient way to dispatch. It will reduce paperwork," McCombs said.

Hybrid buses will be purchased from Hoekstra Transportation, a Grand Rapids-based company. The buses are manufactured in North Carolina.

One new bus is set to arrive in Traverse City this month or next, with the rest to be delivered this summer, Menzel said.

The new buses will arrive just in time.

BATA's fleet is aging and about 60 percent of its buses need to be replaced, Menzel said. One bus has a broken frame and is not worth repairing, so BATA will put its trolley bus back into service, perhaps as early as next week.

"I'm down to no back-ups," Menzel said.

The trolley will serve in-town routes, he said.

Two local limousine companies wanted to buy BATA's trolley, including Celtic Shuttle and Tours and New York Luxury Limos, both based in Traverse City. Menzel said he's glad BATA didn't sell the vehicle because now it's needed for regular service as the agency awaits the hybrids.

This round of stimulus funding is the second in a two-part distribution of about $25 million to Michigan's rural and small city bus systems. Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Kalkaska, Manistee, Otsego and Wexford counties also received stimulus dollars for transit expenses.

Counties in line for funds

Area counties to receive federal stimulus grants for transit purposes:

Antrim$264,861

Benzie$270,968

Charlevoix$310,260

Cheboygan$21,095

Crawford$258,154

Grand Traverse/

Leelanau$1,040,157

Kalkaska$110,738

Manistee$51,350

Otsego$39,244

Wexford$193,381

Source: Michigan Department of Transportation

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