Owner Kalamazoo, MI Annual ridership 3,100,000 in 2013 | Number of lines 19 fixed routes | |
Locale Kalamazoo, MI, Portage, MI, Kalamazoo County, MI, Oshtemo Township, MI, Kalamazoo Township, MI, Comstock Township, MI, Texas Township, MI, Pavilion Township, MI, Parchment, MI Transit type bus service, para transit Number of stations Kalamazoo Transportation Center, Western Michigan University Campus Loading Zone, Crossroads Mall | ||
Kalamazoo Metro Transit is a public transport service that operates 19 routes in the Kalamazoo, Michigan, metropolitan area. Most routes serve the city proper, but some extend into the neighboring communities of Portage, Parchment, Comstock Township, Kalamazoo Township, and Oshtemo Township. Service is primarily by bus, although a special Metro County Connect Access service is available for riders with disabilities who cannot board regular buses.
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Metro Transit is primarily funded by a combination of federal, state, and local contributions; in 2003, rider fares made up 19.25% of the operating budget.
Kalamazoo Metro Transit was formed in 1967, when residents of Kalamazoo voted to acquire the failing private transit company Kalamazoo City Lines. In 1980, with the purchase of a new bus fleet, Metro Transit operated the first fully wheelchair-accessible fleet in Michigan.
In 2003, Kalamazoo Metro Transit carried riders on more than three million trips. About one-third of the passengers had no driver's license, automobile, or other means of motorized transport.
In 2006, voters approved a millage to permit Metro Transit to retain night and Saturday service and add two routes in Portage. Declining financial support from the state, a flagging local economy, and rising fuel prices, led Metro Transit to increase fares to the current rate (as of January 2010) of $1.50 per adult.
In August 2015 voters approved a millage of up to 0.75 mills to extend service to 10 p.m. on 3 routes, 11:15 p.m. for 3 routes and to 12:15 p.m. on 12 routes and also added daytime Sunday service from 8:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. on 17 routes starting in September 2016 and running through 2020.
Through a partnership with Western Michigan University WMU students and faculty are allowed to utilize any route in the system free of charge when showing their Bronco ID.
Oversight
Kalamazoo Metro Transit is governed by a seven-member Transit Authority Board of Directors appointed by the Mayor of Kalamazoo with consent of the Kalamazoo city commission and an executive director appointed by the city commission. The current executive director is Sean McBride.
The Transit Authority Board Board of Directors includes
Routes
The Kalamazoo Transportation Center serves as the primary transfer hub for Kalamazoo Metro Transit bus routes