Mass Transportation Authority (Flint)

The Mass Transportation Authority (abbreviated MTA) is the government operator of public mass transportation based in Flint, Michigan that provides local bus services in Genesee County[2] and commuter bus services to Oakland, Livingston, Lapeer, Ingham and Saginaw counties.[3]

Mass Transportation Authority
MTA Transit Center in Downtown Flint
SloganServing Those Who Support Us
Founded1972
Headquarters1401 S. Dort Hwy.
Flint, Michigan
LocaleFlint, Michigan
Service areaGenesee County, Michigan
Service typecity bus service
commuter bus service
special needs van service
Routes14
HubsDowntown Transportation Center
615 Harrison St.
Flint, MI
StationsFlint station
Daily ridership16,000 (Q2 2017)[1]
Fuel typeDiesel
Hydrogen fuel cell
Propane
Compressed natural gas
Chief executiveEd Benning
Websitehttp://mtaflint.org

Description

Service began in 1972,[4] with the fleet consisting of 26 buses serving the city of Flint with 14 routes and hourly service. Current MTA fleet vehicles span from 1996 to 2016.[5] The total MTA fleet includes 283 in service vehicles with two hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, 143 propane vehicles, and 16 hybrid diesel or gasoline/electric. Thirteen 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).[2][6] The MTA also provides peak route service to several charter schools in Genesee County.[6] Several regional routes are also operated using coach-style buses, providing all day commuter bus service to Oakland, Livingston, Lapeer, Ingham and Saginaw counties.[3] The MTA also operates Your Ride, a mini-bus service for special needs customers.[7] It also owns and operates the inter-modal Flint station, which also serves Amtrak, Greyhound Lines, and Indian Trails.

Special services

In 2015, the MTA partnered with Genesys Health System's Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) to provide transportation services for eligible citizens.[8]

Your Ride also has special services called Ride to Groceries, Ride to Wellness, and Ride to Worship.[9]

The Federal Transit Administration awarded the MTA a $310,040 grant to support the Ride to Wellness Initiative in September 2016.[10] The Flint Jewish Federation donated $40,000 to the MTA to support the Ride to Wellness Initiative in March 2017.[11] It received another grant for $734,752 for the program from the United States Department of Transportation in May of 2019.[12]

The Michigan Department of Transportation announced the MTA was awarded a $603,500 Michigan Mobility grant for the Vets for Wellness in October 2018.[13]

The MTA Flint Trolley is back until October 2019. The trolley provides rides to the Flint Farmers’ Market from the downtown Flint area every 15 minutes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Residents interested in riding the trolley can be picked up at the following sites: University of Michigan-Flint “S” Lot, Northbank Center, Churchhills, Flint Farmers’ Market, Third Street and Wallenberg, Saginaw and Second streets, University of Michigan-Flint Pavilion and Soggy Bottom Bar. [14]

Proposed routes

Since January 2014, the MTA has been attempting to secure government funding to provide intercity service between Bay City and Detroit.[15]

Upgrades and expansions

Since 2009, the MTA has made several upgrades and expansions to its fleet and facilities.

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.[16]

Starting in October 2012, the MTA began refurbishing 36 of its buses, extending their lives by 6–8 years.[5] On the same day, they announced their board of directors approved a $4.2 million deal to purchase 60 propane powered mini-buses that replaced the diesel-engine vans used by Your Ride.[17]

The MTA purchased an additional 35 propane-powered mini-buses for their Your Ride service, nearly doubling their previous fleet, starting in the spring of 2013. The report also said the MTA Your Ride service purchased another 62 mini-buses in fall 2014, for a grand total of 160 vehicles.[18]

In September 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 were used to buy 32 compressed natural gas buses. They replaced some buses that were 20 years old and had over 600,000 miles on them. Some of the money was used to train mechanics and drivers in conjunction with a workforce training development program at Baker College of Flint.[19][20]

The MTA made upgrades to its Davison service center on M-15 (N. State Rd.) in the summer of 2017.[21]

The MTA purchased the former Baker College Center for Transportation Technology complex at Dort Highway and I-69 for $1 million in the fall of 2018. It will be used to house its Ride to Wellness vehicles. Other buildings on the grounds will be used for bus driver training, a school-to-work program for mechanics training, and vehicle storage and maintenance.[22]

In November 2019, the MTA received a $4.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to purchase new buses and refurbish their older buses.[23]

References
  1. Dickens, Matthew. "Transit Ridership Report Second Quarter 2018" (PDF). APTA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 October 2018. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  2. Primary Routes MTA Flint official site
  3. Regional Routes Flint MTA official site
  4. Fueled by Efficiency MTA moves Flint forward My City Magazine, November 1, 2013
  5. Genesee County MTA extends fleet longevity by refurbishing buses The Flint Journal via MLive.com, October 11, 2012
  6. Peak Period Routes - January 2019 Flint MTA official site
  7. Your Ride Flint MTA official site
  8. Genesys PACE Center opens in Flint Grand Blanc View, August 6, 2015
  9. MTA starts new medical office route in Flint WJRT-TV, April 11, 2016
  10. $310,040 in federal funding to benefit Flint's Ride to Wellness Initiative The Flint Journal via MLive.com, September 17, 2016
  11. Flint Jewish Federation donates to support new MTA program WJRT-TV (ABC12), March 16, 2017
  12. Federal grant announced to improve transportation and health care access in Genesee County WEYI-25 (NBC 25), May 22, 2019
  13. Mid-Michigan veterans, seniors to benefit from $605K transportation grant The Flint Journal via MLive.com, October 1, 2018
  14. Flint Farmers’ Market unveils a slew of new amenities and services The Flint Journal via MLive.com, June 5, 2019
  15. MTA ready to roll with I-75 bus rapid transit study for route from Bay City to Detroit The Flint Journal via MLive.com, January 20, 2014
  16. MASS TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY INC Stimulus Watch
  17. MTA board approves $4.2 million purchase of 60 propane fuel vehicles The Flint Journal via MLive.com, October 11, 2012
  18. MTA signs deal on propane fuel for buses, plans to up fleet from 57 to 92 by September The Flint Journal via MLive.com, June 3, 2013
  19. $15M in fed, state funds allows Flint MTA to buy buses, launch workforce program The Flint Journal via MLive.com, September 8, 2016
  20. Flint MTA gets $12.8M in federal funding for 32 new buses The Flint Journal via MLive.com, January 11, 2017
  21. Flint MTA adding new buses in city, upgrades to Davison Center WJRT-TV (ABC 12), January 12, 2017
  22. MTA buys former Baker College property in Flint for $1 million The Flint Journal via MLive.com, October 4, 2018
  23. Flint Mass Transportation Authority to receive $4.3 million federal grant Mid Michigan Now (WEYI-TV/WSMH), November 20, 2019
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