News

The Capital Area Transportation Authority was awarded a $1.687 million Mobility Challenge grant today, through the Michigan Department of Transportation’s $15M Equitable Mobility Challenge Solving Mobility Gaps program. Funds will be used to provide microtransit service for third-shift workers in the Greater Lansing region.

In January 2024, CATA was awarded $1.664 million through MDOT’s Service Initiatives funds to launch an on-demand microtransit service in Delta Township, downtown Lansing and an MSU-to-airport zone. That service — CATA Rydz — will launch Nov. 12, and will introduce a new ride-scheduling app and six new Chrysler Pacifica vehicles.

“The necessity of this service emerges from the geographic dispersion of manufacturing and warehousing facilities,” said CATA CEO Bradley T. Funkhouser. “Manufacturing jobs have been the backbone of the Greater Lansing regional economy, but these facilities have increasingly moved to rural areas outside of the urban core on parcels of undeveloped land, which do not have sufficient access to CATA’s existing fixed-route system. As a result, minority and low-income communities have long been excluded from opportunity and economic mobility within the region.”

City of Lansing Mayor Andy Schor added, “Overnight microtransit in the Greater Lansing region will ensure that third-shift, transit-dependent workers in the manufacturing and warehouse sectors have transportation to get home from work, improving equitable access to job opportunities in our region. Indeed, nearly 40% of residents living in the Greater Lansing region reside in single-car or no-car households, which inhibits their ability to commute to and from work. Opportunities for those without access to a vehicle — primarily marginalized populations — to apply for good-paying jobs, obtain gainful employment and achieve upward mobility are far less prevalent. Microtransit will bring prosperity to underserved communities and aid CATA’s mission to enhance transportation options for an often-overlooked demographic.”

Delta Township Acting Supervisor Mary Clark said, “We are excited about overnight microtransit becoming a reality. We recognize the need for investment and equitable public transit solutions where we are seeing tremendous growth in manufacturing and warehouse facilities. We now need to recruit for and fill jobs, and allow emerging companies to operationalize their facilities. The demand for transit access, especially for third-shift workers, is limited. For too long, county borders have served as a barrier to new job opportunities. CATA is working with transit agencies in Eaton and Clinton counties to improve access, and allow residents to travel seamlessly and with greater ease throughout the region.”

Using Service Initiatives funds, CATA contracted with Via Transportation Inc. for its microtransit partner. The Solving Mobility Gaps program will rely on five of the six Pacificas dedicated to CATA Rydz. The service will operate overnight to provide a new on-demand microtransit service for third-shift workers.