MUSKEGONAREA TRANSIT SYSTEM PROPOSALFOR ......2020/08/31 · August 31, 2020. Changes will include revisions to the areas, times of day, and days of week to be served Changes will

MUSKEGON AREA TRANSIT SYSTEM PROPOSAL FOR FIXED ROUTE AND GOBUS SERVICE CHANGES

TO BE EFFECTIVE AUGUST 31 2020

The Muskegon Area Transit System is proposing changes to its fixed route and GoBus programs effective August 31 2020 Changes will include revisions to the areas times of day and days of week to be served by MATS fixed route and GoBus services when in full service as well as eligibility changes for accessing a revised GoBus program A description of the proposed changes has been prepared and is available for reviewat wwwmatsbuscom andatMATSfacilities

Duringa 15‐daypublic commentperiod to be heldMay262020 to June9 2020 interestedpersonsmay submit written comments (including name and contact information) to publiccommentmatsbuscom or to MuskegonArea TransitSystemAttnTransitSystemsManager2624SixthStreetMuskegonHeightsMI 49444

Additionally MATS has made a public comment telephone line available and interested persons may make a public comment on this proposal during the 15‐day public comment period by contacting 231‐724‐3592 andleaving abrief voicemailmessage

A public hearing opportunity will be provided on Thursday June 11 2020 to gain further input on thisproposal This opportunity will be held in conjunction with the Muskegon County Board ofCommissionersrsquo Transportation Committee meeting scheduled for 330pm on that date The venue for this meeting will be determined by the County Board of Commissioners and posted with the meeting agenda at least 18 hours prior to the meeting at wwwcomuskegonmiusagendacenter It should benoted that due to COVID‐19 concerns this meeting and public hearing opportunity may be held viaelectronic means Information for accessing the meeting will be provided with the Transportation CommitteeAgenda

The proposed changes will

1) Eliminate All Daily Fixed Route Structures and Schedules that were in Effect in February 2020

2) Introduce a New Route Network and Schedules Using Eight Vehicles in Operation on Seven Routes Weekdays Only Between the Hours of 7am and 6pm

3) Realign the GoBus Program to Service Only ADA‐Certified Persons with Eligible Trips within frac34 Miles of the New Routes During the Days and Hours of Route Service in Accordance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Complementary Paratransit Service Provisions



Background

A Inrecentfiscalyearsthecostofprovidingpublictransportation serviceshascontinuedtoriseandhas exceeded the revenues available to MATS Ridership and fare revenues collected frompassengers decreased significantly between 2011 and 2019 as economic conditions improvedThe combination of rising costs and falling fare revenues contributed to an annual operating budget deficit for which sufficient fund reserves and local community resources could not be located

B In order toaddressthe structuralbudget deficit and to lay groundwork to streamline the design ofthe MATS system the County of Muskegon undertook a Route Study and Comprehensive Operational Analysis project in 2019 The results of this study were released in January 2020 and areavailableforreviewatwwwmatsbuscom

C The service changes contained in this proposal were informed in part by the findings of the recentRoute Study and Comprehensive OperationalAnalysis but also recognize the reality of thecurrentCOVID‐19 pandemic As such the changes in this proposal will serve to establish a new baselinelevel of services for MATSrsquo directly operated fixed route and demand response services to beimplemented August 31 2020 or thereafter upon the lifting of the COVID‐19 service restrictionsImplementing these service changes will reduce the amount of directly operated MATS services and the cost of delivering the MATS program while also realigning the system to provide a more streamlined and functional route network and a more effective demand‐response transportation servicefor eligiblepersonswithdisabilities inthegeographicareaserved

D The Route Study and Comprehensive Operational Analysis also provided recommendations for a new microtransit demand response service model to be deployed in the community As the impact of COVID‐19 is more fully understood and after the changes outlined in this proposal are approved for implementation MATS will further evaluate its financial position staffing and fleetresources and consider its ability to offer this new service or other sustainable transportationservices that extend above and beyond the new baseline level of service contained in this proposal Further implementation of Route Study findings or the possible introduction of newserviceswillbeconsideredat a latertimeandarenot includedorcommittedinthisproposal

Proposed Actions


In February 2020 prior to the implementation of COVID‐19 service reductions MATS operated the following fixed route services as part of its full‐service schedule With this proposal MATS proposes to eliminate each of these routes and schedules from operation These are proposed to be eliminatedandreplacedwithan alternate routenetwork andscheduleseffective August312020

Route SaturdayMonday ndash FridayRoute10ndash Henry 655amndash 551pm Route15ndash Sixth 628am ndash 1040pm 950amndash 540pm Route20ndash Apple1 635amndash 554pm Route25ndash Apple2 650am ndash 1040pm 950amndash 540pm Route30ndash Getty Wood 628amndash 1040pm 950amndash 540pm Route35ndash LakeshoreSherman 650amndash 540pm Route40ndash Peck Sanford 643amndash 509pm Route45ndash Peck Sanford 650amndash 601pm Route50ndash Harvey 637amndash 1036pm 937amndash 521pm Route55ndash East Sherman 634amndash 1034pm 934amndash 534pm Route60ndash LakeshoreHenry 540pmndash 1040pm 950amndash 540pm Route115ndash Montague 645amndash 545pm

MapofRouteNetwork tobeEliminated

2) Introduce a New Route Network Using Eight Vehicles in Operation on Seven Routes Weekdays Only Between the Hours of 7am and 6pm

EffectiveAugust312020MATSproposestointroducethefollowingroutenetworkandscheduledhoursofoperationintoservice Thiswillbecomethenewfull‐servicelevelofrouteoperationRouteswilloperateMondaythroughFridaybetweenthehoursof7amand6pmTherewillbenorouteserviceoperatedonSaturdaysSundaysordesignatedCountyHolidaysunder thisbaselineservice

Routesand Service TimesRoute MondayndashFridayRoute1 700amndash545pmRoute2 700amndash545pmRoute11 700amndash545pmRoute12 700amndash545pmRoute21 700amndash545pmRoute22 700amndash545pmRoute31 700amndash545pm

ServiceDaysndashUnderthisproposalMATSwillnotoperate routeservicesonSaturdays SundaysorthefollowingCounty‐observedHolidays(asobserved ondaysestablished annuallybytheCountyBoardofCommissioners)

NewYearrsquos DayMartinLutherKingJrDayPresidentrsquos DayMemorialDayIndependenceDayLaborDayVeteranrsquosDayThanksgivingDayDayAfterThanksgivingChristmas EveChristmas DayNewYearrsquosEve

MapofRouteNetwork tobeEffectiveAugust312020

Detailmaps andturn‐by‐turndescriptionsoftheseproposedroutes areprovidedbelowMATSretains the righttomakeminor alterations to thesealignments baseduponfield conditions or logisticalbarriersfoundduring the implementationprocessFinalbus‐stoplocation informationand keytimepointswillbepublishedinfinalrouteschedules


EffectiveAugust312020MATS proposestorealigntheGoBusprogramForyearstheGoBushasbeenacurb‐to‐curbdemand‐responseserviceavailablecounty‐widetoanypersonwithaself‐proclaimeddisabilityoranypersonage 65or older(previously age60orover)TheGoBusservicehasoperatedduringthesamedaysandtimes astherouteservicesandhasattemptedwithinlimitedresourcestoprovideboththerequiredAmericanswith DisabilitiesActcomplementtofixedrouteservicesalongwithcurb‐to‐curbtransportationservicesona County‐widebasis thatexceededtherequirementsoftheADA

UnderthisproposaltheGoBusprogramwillberealignedtoserviceonlytherequiredAmericanswith Disabilities Act(ADA)complementaryparatransitservice functionService willbeavailabletopersonswith disabilitiesthataredetermined functionally unabletoutilizetheMATSroutesystemin accordance withtheexisting AmericanswithDisabilities Act(ADA)certificationprocessEneral parameters oftheGoBusprogramwillbe

Tripsavailableonlytopersonswith certified disabilities thatresultinafunctionalinabilityto usetheMATSroutesystem

Service availableonlyfortripsbeginning and endingwithinfrac34 miles oftheMATSroutesystem Service availableonlyduringthedaysand timesthattheMATS routesystemis inoperation Tripsmustbereserved onanext‐daybasisor earlierSamedaytripsmaynotbeavailable Itisintendedthatalleligible triprequestsbycertifiedindividualswillbeaccommodated Serviceparameters willalignwiththeAmericans withDisabilitiesAct(ADA)complementary paratransit serviceguidelines

The aforementioned changes are proposed for implementation beginning August 31 2020 If on that date COVID‐19 related service reductions are still deemed necessary then these changes to baseline services and program design will become effective but additional information will be provided regarding any emergency adjustment actions needed for MATSrsquo COVID‐19 response at that time

DETAIL OF PROPOSED ROUTE ALIGNMENTS MAPS AND TURNS

Route 1 ndash AlignmentRoute1isanorthsouthroutethatstartsoutboundfromtheHerman IvoryTerminalindowntownMuskegonandendsattheHenryStreetWalmartTheinboundroutereturnstodowntownalongthesameroutetraveledoutbound

Route 1 ndash OutboundFromtheHermanIvoryTerminal exit leftontoMorrisandthenlarr Turnleft onto 3rd Stuarr Straight at thetrafficcircleto stayon3rdSt rarr Right Turnright ontoMuskegonAve larr Left Turnleft onto 7thSt rarr Right Turnright ontoParkSt rarr Right Turnright ontoSouthern Ave larr Left Turnleft onto BarclaySt rarr Right Turnright ontoW HackleyAve uarr Straight to continue onto Glenside Blvd larr Left Turnleft onto Sherman Blvd rarr Right Turnright ontoHenry St larr Left Turnleft onto Norton Avelarr Left Turnleft intoMeijerdrivewaybetweenMcDonaldsandtheMeijerGasStationlarr Left Turnleft after McDonalds to busshelter larr Left Turnleft after shelter to Norton rarr Right Turnright ontoNorton rarr Right Turnrightinto Park RowMallat PNCbank

Route 1 ndash Inbound From Park RowMallStop rarr Right Turnrightbefore Walmart Pharmacy uarr Straight to HenryStexit betweenPNCandATampTStore rarr Right Turnright ontoHenry St larr Left Turnleft onto Norton Avelarr Left Turnleft intoMeijerdrivewaybetweenMcDonaldsandtheMeijerGasStationlarr Left Turnleft after McDonalds to busshelter rarr Right Turnright ontoHenry St larr Left Turnleft onto Sherman Blvd rarr Right Turnright ontoGlensideBlvd uarr Straight to continue onto Hackley Ave larr Left Turnleft onto BarclaySt rarr Right Turnright ontoSouthern Ave larr Left Turnleft onto Park St larr Left Turnleft onto 7thSt rarr Right Turnright ontoMuskegonAve larr Left Turnleft onto 3rdSt uarr Straight at thetrafficcirclecontinuestraight tostayon 3rd St rarr Right Turnright ontoMorrisAve rarr Right Turnright onto1stSt rarr Right Turnright intoHermanIvoryTerminal

Route 2 ndash AlignmentRoute2isanorthsouthroutethatstartsoutboundfromtheHerman IvoryTerminalindowntownMuskegonandendsattheHenryStreetMeijerTheinboundroutereturnstodowntownalongthesameroutetraveledoutbound

Route 2 ndash Outbound From Herman IvoryTerminalexitright onto Morris Ave andthenrarr Right Turnright ontoTerraceSt uarr Straight to continueontoSanfordSt larr Left Turnleft onto Apple Ave rarr Right Turnright ontoGetty St rarr Right Turnright ontoHackleyAve larr Left Turnleft onto JarmanSt rarr Right Turnright ontoShermanBlvd larr Left Turnleft onto Baker St rarr Right Turnright ontoSummit Ave larr Left Turnleft onto 5thSt uarr Straight to continue onto Seminole Rd rarr Right Turnright ontoHenry St larr Left Turnleft onto Norton Averarr Right Turnright intoParkRowMallatPNC rarr Right Turnright beforeWalmart Pharmacy uarr Straight to HenrybetweenPNCBank and ATampT store rarr Right TurnRight on Henry larr Left Turnleft onto Norton Avelarr Left Turnleft intoMeijerdrivewaybetweenMcDonaldsandtheMeijerGasStationlarr Left Turnleft after McDonalds to Meijer stop

Route 2 ndash Inbound From Meijerstoplarr Left Turnleft after MeijerBusStop to Norton rarr Right Turnright ontoNorton rarr Right Turnrightinto Park RowMallat PNCbank rarr Right Turnright beforeWalmart Pharmacy uarr Straight to HenrySt exitbetweenPNC Bank and ATampT store rarr Right TurnRight on Henry larr Left Turnleft onto Seminole Rduarr Straight Continueonto5thSt rarr Right Turnright ontoSummit Ave larr Left Turnleft onto Baker St rarr Right Turnright ontoShermanBlvd larr Left Turnleft onto JarmanSt rarr Right Turnright ontoHackleyAve larr Left Turnleft onto Getty St larr Left Turnleft onto Apple Ave rarr Right Turnright ontoTerraceSt larr Left Turnleft onto MorrisAve larr Left Turnleft onto 1stSt rarr Right Turnright intoHermanIvoryTerminal

Route 11 ndash AlignmentRoute11is aneastwestroutethatstartsoutboundfromtheHermanIvoryTerminalindowntownMuskegontravelsalongAppleand Marquette AvenuesservicesMuskegonCommunityandBakerCollegesandendsatOrchardView AdultEducationItsinbound tripreturnsto downtown viathesame routetraveledoutbound

Route 11 ndash Outbound FromtheHermanIvoryTerminal exit leftontoMorrisAveand thenlarr Left Turnleft onto 3rdSt uarr Straight at the traffic circleto stay on 3rdSt larr Left Turnleft onto MuskegonAve rarr Right Turnright ontoAppleAve larr Left Turnleft onto Wood St rarr Right Turnright ontoMarquette Ave larr Left TurnleftintoMCCCampus Drrarr Right Turnright on MCCparking drivetowardHealthCenter rarr Right Turnright ontoQuarterlineRd larr Left Turnleft onto Marquette Ave rarr Right Turnright ontoSheridan Rd larr Left Turnleft onto AppleAvelarr Left Turn left on WalkerRd rarr Right Turnright on OakSt at TrafficCircle rarr Right Turnright to Orchard ViewAdultEdBus Shelter

Route 11 ndash Inbound From Orchard ViewAdultEdcontinue straightand then rarr Right Turnright ontoAppleAve rarr Right Turnright ontoSheridan Rd larr Left Turnleft onto Marquette Ave rarr Right Turnright ontoQuarterlineRd larr Left Turnleftinto MCCCampus Drtoshelterlarr Left Turnleft toexitMCC atMarquetteAve rarr Right Turnright ontoMarquette Ave larr Left Turnleft onto Wood St rarr Right Turnright ontoAppleAve larr Left Turnleft onto Muskegon St rarr Right Turnright onto3rd St uarr Straight at the traffic circleto stay on 3rdSt rarr Right Turnright ontoMorris SttoHerman Ivory Terminal

Route 12 ndash AlignmentRoute12is aneastwestroutethatstartsoutboundfromtheHermanIvoryTerminalindowntownMuskegontravelsMarquetteand AppleAvenuesandendsatOrchardViewAdultEducationItsinboundtripreturns todowntownvia thesameroutetraveledoutbound

Route 12 ndash Outbound From Herman IvoryTerminal rarr Right ExitrightontoMorrisAve larr Left Turnleft onto 1stSt rarr Right Turnright ontoShorelineDr uarr Straight onShorelineDrto MarquetteAve rarr Right Turnright ontoMarquette Ave rarr Right Turnright ontoGetty St larr Left Turnleft onto Apple Ave larr Left Turnleft onto Shonat St whichbecomes Harvey St rarr Right Turnright ontoOak Ave larr Left Turnleft onto Carriage Rd rarr Right Turnright ontoQuarterlineRd larr Left Turnleft onto Apple Ave larr Left Turnleft onto Walker rarr Right Turnright on OakSt at TrafficCircle rarr Right Turnright to Orchard ViewAdultEdBus Shelter

Route 12 ndash Inbound From Orchard View continue straight and thenrarr Right Turnright ontoAppleAve rarr Right Turnright ontoQuarterlineRd larr Left Turnleft onto Carriage Rd rarr Right Turnright ontoOak Ave larr Left Turnleft onto Harvey Stwhichbecomes ShonatSt rarr Right Turnright ontoAppleAve rarr Right Turnright ontoGetty St larr Left Turnleft onto Marquette Ave larr Left Turnleft onto Shoreline Dr larr Left Turnleft at3rdSt larr Left Turnleft onto MorrisSt rarr Right Turnright ontoFirst St rarr Right Turnright intoHermanIvoryTerminal

Route 21 ndash Alignment Route21is a northwestsoutheastroutethat startsoutboundfromtheHermanIvoryTerminalindowntown Muskegontravelssoutheasterlyto serviceMercyHospitalandends atWalmartonShermanBoulevardItsinbound tripreturns todowntownalongthesame routetraveledoutbound

Route 21 ndash Outbound From Herman IvoryTerminalexitrightontoMorrisAveandthenrarr Right Turnright ontoTerraceSt larr Left Turnleft onto MuskegonAve rarr Right Turnright ontoSpringSt rarr Right Turnright ontoMyrtleAve larr Left Turnleft onto Pine Strarr Right Turnright ontoHartford Ave larr Left Turnleft onto Terrace St larr Left Turnleft onto Larch rarr Right Turnright ontoWood St larr Left Turnleft onto HackleyAve rarr Right Turnright ontoGetty St larr Left Turnleft onto Barney Averarr Right Turnright ontoRoberts St larr Left Turnleft onto Sherman Blvd larr Left Turnleft atUtahStinto Mercy larr Left Turnleft onto MercyDr larr Left Turnleft onto RobertsSt larr Left Turnleft onto Sherman Blvd rarr Right Turnright at trafficlight at West Shore Plaza onto VandenbergRd rarr Right Turnright ontoaccess drivenearSamrsquos ClubGas Station larr Left Turnleftin thirdparkingrow larr Left Turnleft atStaples

ServiceArmedForcesRecruiting Centerbusstop

Route 21 ndash InboundFrom Armed Forces RecruitingCenterturnleft atVandenberg Rdandthen larr Left Turnleft onto Sherman Blvd rarr Right Turnright at Utah Stinto Mercy larr Left Turnleft onto MercyDr rarr Right Turnright ontoRoberts St larr Left Turnleft onto Barney Averarr Right Turnright ontoGetty St larr Left Turnleft onto HackleyAve rarr Right Turnright ontoWood St larr Left Turnleft onto LarchAve rarr Right Turnright ontoTerraceSt rarr Right Turnright ontoHartford Ave larr Left Turnleft onto Pine Strarr Right Turnright ontoMyrtleAve larr Left Turnleft onto Spring St larr Left Turnleft onto MuskegonAve rarr Right Turnright ontoTerraceSt larr Left Turnleft onto MorrisAve larr Left Turnleft onto 1stSt rarr Right Turnright intoHermanIvoryTerminal

Route 22 ndash AlignmentRoute22is aneastwestroutethatstartsoutboundfromtheHermanIvoryTerminalindowntownMuskegonandtravelstotheWalmartandMercyHospitalonShermanBoulevardItsinboundtripreturns todowntownviathesameroutetraveledoutbound

Route 22 ndash OutboundFromtheHermanIvoryTerminalexit leftontoMorrisAveandthenlarr Left Turnleft onto 3rdSt rarr Right at thetraffic circle to Western Ave rarr Right Turnright onto7th St larr Left Turnleft onto Shoreline Dr rarr Right Turnright ontoWesternAve larr Left Turnleft onto DivisionSt larr Left Turnleft onto LaketonAve rarr Right Turnright ontoPortCity Blvd

PortCity Blvd becomes LatimerDr LatimerDrbecomes BlackCreekRd

rarr Right Turnright ontoShermanBlvd larr Left Turnleft at trafficlight at West Shore Plaza onto Vandenberg Rdrarr Right Turnright ontoaccess drivenearSamrsquosClubGas Station larr Left Turnleftin thirdparkingrow larr Left Turnleft atStaples to Armed ForcesRecruitingCenter busstop larr Left Turnleft onto VandenbergRdtoward ShermanBlvd larr Left Turnleft onto Sherman Blvd rarr Right Turnright at Utah StintoMercyHealthCampus

Route 22 ndash Inbound From Mercy Health campus turnleftonto MercyDriveandthen larr Left Turnleft onto RobertsSt larr Left Turnleft onto Sherman Blvd rarr Right Turnright at trafficlight at West Shore Plaza onto VandenbergRd rarr Right Turnright ontoaccess drivenearSamrsquos ClubGas Station larr Left Turnleftin thirdparkingrow larr Left Turnleft atStaples to Armed ForcesRecruitingCenter busstop larr Left Turnleft onto VandenbergRdtoward ShermanBlvd rarr Right Turnright ontoShermanBlvd larr Left Turnleft onto BlackCreek Rd

BlackCreek Rdbecomes LatimerDr LatimerDrbecomes PortCityBlvd

larr Left Turnleft onto LaketonAve rarr Right Turnright ontoDivisionSt rarr Right Turnright ontoWesternAve larr Left Turnleft onto Shoreline Dr rarr Right Turnright onto7th St larr Left Turnleft onto WesternAve larr Left at the traffic circle onto 3rd St toward Morris rarr Right Turnright ontoMorrisAve tothe Herman IvoryTerminal

Route 31 ndash AlignmentRoute31isanorthsouthroutethatstartsoutboundfromtheHermanIvoryTerminalindowntownMuskegonthentravelssouthintoMuskegonHeightsandontotheHarveyStreetcorridorItsinboundtripreturns todowntownvia thesameroutetraveledoutbound Duetoitslength thisrouteisintendedtobeservicedbytwobuseswithonebusleavingfromtheHermanIvoryTerminaleachservicehour

Route 31 ndash OutboundFromtheHermanIvoryTerminal exit leftontoMorrisAveandthenlarr Turnleft onto 3rdSt uarr Straight at thetrafficcircleto stayon3rdStlarr Left Turnleft onto HoustonAve toward Sanford rarr Right Turnright ontoSanford St larr Left TurnleftontoManahanAve rarr Right Turnright ontoBaker St larr Left Turnleft onto Summit Ave rarr Right Turnright ontoGetty St larr Left Turnleft onto Airline Rd rarr Right Turnright ontoAirportRd larr Left Turnleft onto Grand Haven Rd larr Left Turnleft onto Hile Rdrarr Right Turnright ontoHarveyStrarr Right Turnright ontoEllisRd larr Left ServicedrivebetweenTarget ampHamptonInnlarr Left Turn left onto Independence Dr (betweenYounkers FurnitureampTJMaxx)uarr Straight on IndependenceDracrossHarveyStrarr Right Turnright on access road afterTexas Roadhouse larr Left Turnleft at gas station toMcDonalds stop rarr Right Turnright ondriveexiting toSternberg Rduarr Straight onMeijerdrivewayacrossSternbergRd rarr Right Turnright ontoBlueberryLn(Lakes Mallringrd)rarr Right Turnright afterBrannrsquostowardHarveySt larr Left Turnleft onto Harvey St rarr Right Turnright ontoFarrRd larr Left Turnleft onto Prairie St rarr Right Turnright afterpondintoMercyHealthclinic larr Left Turnleft atMercyHealth cliniccurbside larr Left Turnleft onto Hackley Health Blvd to Harvey rarr Right Turnright ontoHarveySt rarr Right Turnright ontoPontalunaRd rarr Right Turnright ontoGrand HavenRd rarr Right Turnright ontoGatewayBlvd larr Left Turnleft onto Norton Center Dr larr Left Turnleft onto NorthGatewayBlvd

Route 31 ndash Inbound From NorthGatewayBlvd larr Left Turn left onto Grand HavenRdlarr Left Turnleft onto Pontaluna Rd larr Left Turnleft onto Harvey St larr Left Turnleft onto Hackley Health Blvdrarr Right Turnright at MercyHealth clinicrarr Right Turnright toward Prairie St larr Left Turnleft onto Prairie St rarr Right Turnright ontoFarrRd larr Left Turnleft onto Harvey St rarr Right Turnright at Arbyrsquosinto LakesMallentrance larr Left Turnleft after Arbyrsquos onto BlueberryLane (Lakes Mallring rd)larr Left Turnleft after Bob Evans toward Sternberg Rd

uarr Straight acrossSternbergRd toward Meijer larr Left Turn left on drive servicing McDonalds stop rarr Right Turnright on access road atgas station larr Left Turnleft onto Independence Drto cross Harvey uarr Straight at stopsignbetweenYounkersFurnitureandTJMaxx rarr Right Turnrighton service drive behindTarget to HamptonInn rarr Right Turnright ontoEllisRd larr Left Turnleft onto Harvey St larr Left Turnleft onto Hile Rdrarr Right Turnright ontoGrand HavenRd rarr Right Turnright ontoAirportRd larr Left Turnleft onto Airline Rd rarr Right Turnright ontoGetty St larr Left Turnleft onto Summit Ave rarr Right Turnright ontoBaker St larr Left TurnleftontoManahanAve rarr Right Turnright ontoSanford St larr Left Turnleft onto HoustonAve toward 3rd St rarr Right Turnright onto3rd St uarr Straight at the traffic circleto stay on 3rdSt rarr Right Turnright ontoMorrisAve rarr Right Turnright onto1stSt rarr Right Turnright intoHermanIvoryTerminal



Background

A Inrecentfiscalyearsthecostofprovidingpublictransportation serviceshascontinuedtoriseandhas exceeded the revenues available to MATS Ridership and fare revenues collected frompassengers decreased significantly between 2011 and 2019 as economic conditions improvedThe combination of rising costs and falling fare revenues contributed to an annual operating budget deficit for which sufficient fund reserves and local community resources could not be located

B In order toaddressthe structuralbudget deficit and to lay groundwork to streamline the design ofthe MATS system the County of Muskegon undertook a Route Study and Comprehensive Operational Analysis project in 2019 The results of this study were released in January 2020 and areavailableforreviewatwwwmatsbuscom

C The service changes contained in this proposal were informed in part by the findings of the recentRoute Study and Comprehensive OperationalAnalysis but also recognize the reality of thecurrentCOVID‐19 pandemic As such the changes in this proposal will serve to establish a new baselinelevel of services for MATSrsquo directly operated fixed route and demand response services to beimplemented August 31 2020 or thereafter upon the lifting of the COVID‐19 service restrictionsImplementing these service changes will reduce the amount of directly operated MATS services and the cost of delivering the MATS program while also realigning the system to provide a more streamlined and functional route network and a more effective demand‐response transportation servicefor eligiblepersonswithdisabilities inthegeographicareaserved

D The Route Study and Comprehensive Operational Analysis also provided recommendations for a new microtransit demand response service model to be deployed in the community As the impact of COVID‐19 is more fully understood and after the changes outlined in this proposal are approved for implementation MATS will further evaluate its financial position staffing and fleetresources and consider its ability to offer this new service or other sustainable transportationservices that extend above and beyond the new baseline level of service contained in this proposal Further implementation of Route Study findings or the possible introduction of newserviceswillbeconsideredat a latertimeandarenot includedorcommittedinthisproposal

Proposed Actions














































Proposed Actions



















































































































































































































































Documents

MUSKEGONAREA TRANSIT SYSTEM PROPOSALFOR ......2020/08/31 · August 31, 2020. Changes will include revisions to the areas, times of day, and days of week to be served Changes will