CATA’s Road Ahead

Phase I of CATA’s Road Ahead project focused on understanding how the current transit system is working. CATA gathered feedback from riders, community members and stakeholders and reviewed service performance across the region. This phase identified key strengths in the system, as well as challenges related to coverage, frequency and connections between destinations. The findings helped highlight where improvements and new ideas could better support riders across the tri-county area.

Pop Up Events held:

• Monday, Jan. 26, 2026 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the CATA Transportation Center 420 S. Grand Ave., Lansing
• Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the MSU-CATA Transportation Center (Ramp 1) 592 N. Shaw Lane, East Lansing

Phase I also included an online survey (paper copies and translated documents were available upon request).

More than 500 people participated in Phase I through public meetings, community outreach events and online engagement. 

Stakeholder meetings were held with local organizations and government entities to provide
information on CATA’s Road Ahead and to gather input on upcoming planning efforts and
projects, as well as to hear about mobility challenges in Greater Lansing.

To accommodate schedules, there were ten meeting times offered, with a combination of in-person and virtual meeting options. Meetings occurred on:

• Jan. 26, 2026 – 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m.
• Jan. 27, 2026 – 10 a.m., 1 p.m.
• Feb. 4, 2026 – 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m.
• Feb. 24, 2026 – 10 a.m.
• March 13, 2026 – 1:30 p.m.

Meetings provided representatives from stakeholder organizations with information about the
project and process and with materials to help promote the survey and pop-up events. A large
portion of the meeting was dedicated to open discussion, allowing stakeholders to offer input
and opportunities, and to share the challenges their constituents are facing. Attendees
included representatives from:

• EATRAN
• Clinton Transit
• TCRPC
• City of Lansing
• City of East Lansing
• Meridian Township
• Lansing EDC
• Lansing Community Development Office
• Capital Region International Airport
• Capital Area Michigan Works
• Refugee Development Center
• LEAP
• Peckham
• Disability Network
• Meridian Senior Center
• Michigan State University

The goal of outreach with CATA’s bus operators was to develop a clearer understanding of
existing issues, opportunities, and ideas for improvements to transit routes and services from
the people who operate them every day.

Engagement was structured around in-person pop-up events designed to encourage informal,
operator-led feedback in a familiar environment. Two pop-up events, specific to bus operators,
were held on Jan. 26, 2026, from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the CATA
Administration Offices operator’s break room to meet with operators before or after their
runs. 

At these events, project team staff met with operators to discuss their thoughts and
shared the survey, which was available online via link and QR code, and in paper copies that
could be completed at the events or submitted later. The pop-ups facilitated one-on-one and
small-group conversations that included an overview of the project and open discussion. To
support participation, an internal flyer was distributed via email to operators and posted
around operator facilities. The project team also interacted with bus operators who were
present at the public-facing pop-up events.

Topics discussed with operators included:

• Overcrowding on Michigan State University (MSU) routes.
• Turning difficulties at certain intersections.
• Schedule adherence on longer routes.
• Service gaps.
• Bus stop maintenance concerns (especially regarding snow).
• Shifting travel patterns away from declining malls (e.g., Lansing Mall and Meridian Mall) and shifting toward emerging destinations like Eastwood Towne Center.

The survey received a total of 39 responses. The analysis compares survey
results within service types, specifically fixed-route, demand-response, and other service
types.