Plans for countywide transportation authority back in motion in Calhoun County
BATTLE CREEK — Plans to create a countywide transportation authority in Calhoun County are back in motion.
The Battle Creek City Commission voted unanimously July 11 to authorize City Manager Rebecca Fleury to send a letter to the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners asking them to establish the authority, dubbed the Transportation Authority of Calhoun County (TACC), as allowed under Public Act 196.
The vote came two months after a handful of city commissioners voiced concerns about the creation of the authority — namely surrounding Battle Creek's representation on an authority board, should it be formed — prompting county officials to pause discussions on the measure.
In response to commission concerns, the county is now working to modify the composition of the proposed authority board to include additional representation from Battle Creek. The city’s Public Transportation Committee (PTC), meanwhile, acknowledges that the current funding model for Battle Creek Transit is unsustainable.
Despite support from state and federal sources, the city’s transit system relies heavily on the city’s general fund to help fund its operations. Over the past 10 years, the city’s general fund contribution to transit has grown nearly 30% and in fiscal year 2024, the contribution will hit a historic high of roughly $1.1 million.
"The funding is not sustainable, our general fund contributions currently," Ward 4 City Commissioner Chris Simmons explained during the July 11 meeting. "This (countywide authority) has the potential to leverage more money from the federal and state government for these type of services for our citizens.
"Hopefully we can lead the way and something good will come out of this."
Calhoun County currently stands out in a seven-county region in southwest Michigan as the only one that doesn't have countywide transit service. A proposal to create a countywide transit authority could be on the county board agenda as early as Sept. 7, county communications director Lucy Blair indicated Friday.
More: Could a countywide transit authority become reality in Calhoun County?
Battle Creek Transit is currently part of a shrinking list of transportation providers in the county. The city's only taxi service shut down in September 2019, blaming rising insurance costs. Aequitas Mobility Services, an on-demand public transit service intended to address gaps in public transit, shut down three months later.
The coronavirus pandemic only exacerbated the situation, with driver shortages briefly limiting Battle Creek Transit service on multiple occasions, including as recently as December. An on-demand countywide pilot program funded by the state, BCGo, has also struggled to meet residents' needs.
The failure of existing services to adequately meet demand coupled with operating costs that have risen faster than federal and state grant revenues is making it increasingly difficult for existing providers to maintain operations.
To keep up with rising costs, Battle Creek Transit last summer enacted its first fare increase in 19 years.
Something has to give, transit users and officials say.
A transit study commissioned by county officials in 2019 identified the need to fill transportation gaps throughout the county, especially between Battle Creek, Marshall and Albion, the county's three population centers.
"Really what’s driving this is the need and what we’re hearing from the community," Battle Creek Transit Director Mallory Avis explained in May.
The authority would act as its own public body in charge of transit operations, deciding what services are offered and fare structure, among other aspects. If created, all cities, townships and villages in the county would have 30 days to decide whether to opt-out.
A millage likely would be levied by the authority to support operations. Only those municipalities included in the authority would be subject to a millage vote, which could come as soon as August 2024.
Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Battle Creek restarts countywide transit discussion
