Flint Mass Transportation Authority

Flint Mass Transportation Authority

Slogan	Serving Those Who Support Us
Headquarters	1401 S. Dort Hwy. Flint, Michigan
Locale	Flint, Michigan
Service area	Genessee County, Michigan Saginaw County, Michigan Livingston County, Michigan Oakland County, Michigan Lapeer County, Michigan
Service type	city bus service commuter bus service School bus service special needs van service
Routes	28
Hubs	Downtown Transportation Center 615 Harrison St. Flint, MI
Stations	Flint station
Daily ridership	21,300 (4th Quarter 2014)[1]
Fuel type	Diesel Hydrogen fuel cell Propane Compressed natural gas (future)
Chief executive	Ed Benning
Website	mtaflint.org

The Flint Mass Transportation Authority (abbreviated Flint MTA or MTA) is the operator of public mass transportation based in Flint, Michigan that primarily serves Genesee County. Service began in 1972, with the fleet consisting of 26 buses serving the city of Flint with 12 routes and hourly service. Current MTA fleet vehicles span from 1985 to 2016. The total MTA fleet includes 283 in service vehicles with two hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, 143 Propane vehicles, and 29 Hybrid Diesel or Gasoline/Electric. Fourteen standard, all-day routes are provided within the city of Flint and its inner suburbs, as well as nine peak hour services (which feature different numbers for each variation of the route). Several regional routes are also operated using coach-style buses, providing all day commuter bus service to Oakland, Livingston, Lapeer and Saginaw counties. The MTA also operates Your Ride, a mini-bus service for special needs customers, and peak route services. In 2015, it partnered with Genesys Health System's Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) to provide transportation services for eligible citizens.^[2] It also owns the inter-modal Flint station, which serves Amtrak, Greyhound Lines, and Indian Trails.

Route list

Special routes

Your Ride also has special routes called Ride to Groceries, Ride to Wellness, and Ride to Worship.^{[7] [8] [9]} On September 16, 2016, the Federal Transit Administration awarded the MTA a $310,040 grant to support the Ride to Wellness Initiative.^[10]

Proposed routes

The MTA is currently attempting to secure government funding to provide intercity service between Bay City and Detroit.^[11]

Fleet upgrades

On July 25, 2009, the Flint MTA received a $7.985 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration that was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for new Project 25 digital radio dispatch equipment and mobile data terminals, new intelligent transportation system software and equipment, preventive maintenance, and the purchase and installation of new signage and security equipment.^[12]

On May 21, 2012 the MTA unveiled its new hydrogen fuel cell bus and opened their alternative fuel facility in Grand Blanc Township. The MTA is the first transportation agency in the Midwest with a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. The vehicles will be stored at the Grand Blanc Service Center and Alternative Fuel Facility location at Dort Highway and Maple Avenue. MTA's new fuel cell bus is hybrid-electric, zero emission and powered by a 120 kW UTC Power PureMotion fuel cell system.^[13]

On October 11, 2012, the MTA announced it will refurbish 36 of its buses, extending their lives by 6–8 years.^[14] On the same day, they announced their board of directors approved a $4.2 million deal to purchase 60 propane powered mini-buses that will replace the diesel-engine vans used by Your Ride.^[15] On June 3, 2013 it was announced the MTA will purchase an additional 35 propane-powered mini-buses for their Your Ride service, nearly doubling their previous fleet. The report also said the MTA Your Ride service will purchase another 62 mini-buses by fall 2014, for a grand total of 160 vehicles.^[16]

On September 8, 2016, the MTA received a $15 million grant ($12.8 million from the Federal Transit Administration and $2.2 million from the Michigan Department of Transportation) that will be used to buy 23 compressed natural gas buses. They will replace some buses that are 20 years old. Some of the money will also be used to train mechanics and drivers in conjunction with a workforce training development program at Baker College of Flint.^[17]

Funding

On August 7, 2012 Genesee County voters approved the Flint MTA's .04% millage increase to continue funding Your Ride services, and city of Flint voters approved a separate millage for funding of general operations of the entire service.^[18]

On August 5, 2014, Genesee County voters approved a .04% millage renewal that will generate $3.4 million over five years for the Your Ride service.^[19]

On November 4, 2014, Genesee County voters approved a new, additional millage of 0.425 for 5 years, expiring in 2019.^[20]

Since MTA has a perfect record for millage proposals, they have adopted the motto "Serving Those Who Support Us".

References

External links

• Flint Mass Transportation Authority official site
• Flint Mass Transportation Authority Five Year Plan 2015–2020