Beyond the Bus

It’s official, folks.

On Sunday, March 6, the new McLaren Greater Lansing hospital will open its doors for service. The 46,000-square-foot facility will host the health care services provided by the decommissioned Pennsylvania and Greenlawn hospitals.

Follow the steps below to access the hospital via CATA.

Plan your trip

Use the trip-planning tools available at cata.org plan your trip. Find out which routes will get you to McLaren and what time your bus will depart from your stop. To help you understand how to use our trip-planning tools, view our tutorial here.

You can also contact a Customer Experience Representative for trip-planning assistance.

Arrive early

Arrive at your bus stop at least 5 minutes before CATA’s scheduled departure – depending on the circumstances, you may even want to arrive 15 to 20 minutes earlier. Unforeseen circumstances, such as traffic congestion, accidents, weather and construction can cause unavoidable detours and delays.

Keep print schedules

Once you know the routes you need to get to your destination, keep a print schedule of each on hand. You never know when you might run into a dead zone and don’t have Internet access. If you have service but no Internet access on your phone, you can use our CATAnow texting service. Just text your bus stop number to 76123 and, after about a minute, you’ll receive the next real-time or scheduled departure time.

Transit app and live tracking

The Transit app is a handy mobile tool for checking departures, planning trips, and staying up to date on service changes or rider alerts. The app can also track your bus via GPS technology. Simply select your desired route and direction of travel, and you’ll see a live feed of your bus location.

If you have any questions about how to plan your trip or use our service, please feel free to contact us via our online feedback form, or by reaching out to a Customer Experience Representative. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates about CATA service changes, giveaways, Lansing events and more.

It’s go time! The new Route 18 is officially in business. 

Looking for an excuse to get out of the house and enjoy the rest of your summer? How about a day out on the town with a chance to win some awesome prizes along the way?

Well, that’s exactly what we’ve got - head out along the Route 18 - September 1-14, 2021 in search of hidden caches that contain color-coded “CATAcache.” These tickets may be traded in for gift cards to some of your favorite Lansing and East Lansing local restaurants.  

Ready? Let’s Go!

Stop 1: Fleetwood Diner (Stop #2868)

Begin your day by boarding the eastbound Route 18 in South Lansing. Take this to Cedar where you’ll walk 5 minutes south to the Fleetwood Diner. Enjoy the old charm of a classic American diner with some of the best Hippie Hash you’ll ever eat! 

Stop 2: Fenner Nature Center (Stop #3363)

Once you’ve fueled up for the day, it’s time for your adventure to really begin! Get back on board the eastbound Route 18, and at the corner of Mount Hope and Aurelius are 134 acres of pure Michigan at its finest, ready to explore. At the Fenner Nature Center you can brave all four miles of walking trails to take in the sights, or maybe go into the visitor center for a more contained view of nature. Either way, you’re experiencing the best of what Fenner has to offer. 

Now that you’ve burned a few hours, it's time to think about lunch! Hop on the next Route 18 and continue east to enjoy the views of the MSU golf course and south campus as you head into the heart of MSU.

Stop 3: Campbell’s Market Basket / MSU Campus (Stop  #1657)

With baked breads and sweets, farm fresh local and organic vegetables, and lovingly crafted deli sandwiches, Campbell’s Market Basket allows you to assemble the perfect meal to take al fresco. Located along Grand River on the north side of campus, they sell everything you need for the outdoor picnic.  But where to go with it? The benches at the base of Beaumont Tower make for the perfect location to enjoy the scenery, watch the students scurry to class, and relax in the shade. 

Stop 4: Broad Museum 

Rested and revitalized, we’re ready to start again - and MSU Campus is ready to be explored. Stroll through the charming and stately northern side of campus to see lecture halls that date back 100 years as you head over to Benefactors Plaza to take in the fresh air and beautiful landscaping, but don’t stop there! Just across Circle Drive is the MSU Broad Museum - don’t worry, you’ll know it when you see it since there’s no other building like it on campus. Head inside to see what exhibits are on display to enjoy. Admission is always free. 

Stop 5: Lansing River Trail (Stop #6098)

Head across Grand River to catch the westbound Route 18 this time. Next Stop? The Lansing River Trail.

The route takes you back on Mount Hope but you’re not going to Fenner this time, get off at Lindburgh. Backtracking a short way along Mount Hope across Sycamore Creek, you find yourself at the Lansing River Trail. Stretching most of the city, you could find yourself walking for hours if you followed it along its entire route. Walk along Sycamore Creek until you reach Scott Woods Park, or if you’re feeling tired from the day maybe just walk for a little while and turn back. Whatever the case it’s another great scenic spot in Lansing to watch the sun set and reminisce on your day’s adventure.
 

We hope you have a blast exploring our beautiful city along Route 18! Remember to look for a hidden cache at each stop; tickets found have no cash value but may be redeemed at the service window at the CTC for gift card prizes.

Happy Hunting!

One of the best ways to fight the winter blues? Explore local activities with family and friends! Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy Greater Lansing in the colder months:

1. Get up close to the biggest Christmas tree and ornaments in Lansing

People come from all over the state to see the 58-foot tree displayed in front of the Michigan Capitol building. It’s become a clear icon to the city, standing tall and proud. And for the first year ever, the state Christmas tree comes right from Lansing, thanks to two generous donors.

The red holiday ornaments are another crowd favorite. These giant picturesque sculptures are in the roundabout at Michigan Avenue and Washington Square, within walking distance from the Capitol. 

Save on parking and take the bus to these gorgeous decorations! Check out our trip planner to find the best route for you.

2. Experience the Wonderland of Lights at Potter Park Zoo.

Holiday lights, music, animal encounters and goodie bags make this event a real treat. Catch the Wonderland of Lights from Thursday through Sunday until Dec. 27.

Click here for details.

3. Support local artists at the REO Town Marketplace Holiday Bazaar.

Still have a few people on your holiday shopping list? The REO Town Marketplace presents a chance to shop for Michigan artisan-made goods. This fun new way to shop local is open now until December 24.

Click here to learn more.

4. Hit the snow-covered slopes at Hawk Island.

As Hawk Island is less than a mile from CATA headquarters, this is one of our favorite wintertime activities. Bring your family, grab a few friends or go it alone on one of Hawk Island’s tube runs, ranging from 500-600 feet long. Then warm up at the snack bar with a cup of hot chocolate and s’mores.

Click here for snow tubing hours and pricing.

5. Challenge your inner learner at Impression 5 Science Center.

Impression 5 is an awesome place for kids of all ages to explore, learn and have fun! It was one of the first hands-on science museums in the country when it opened in 1972. Forty-eight years later, it remains a spot for the entire family to enjoy.

For hours and pricing, please visit impression5.org.

6. Shop small at the East Lansing Small Business Crawl.

Support local small businesses and earn points to win prizes during this year’s football-themed East Lansing Small Business Crawl! Players receive points by saving their receipts and submitting them on the Lansing Regional Chamber website. The more points earned, the more chances to win the grand prize of $1,000. The event is running from December 7-12. 

Learn more about the event here.

7. Treat yourself every Tuesday in Old Town Lansing.

Treat Tuesdays in Old Town are the perfect way to add some fun to your week. Each Tuesday, a different Old Town business will feature a “treat” which could be a sale, a giveaway, or other perks that make shopping local even greater. Treat Tuesdays will be going into 2021, so there are plenty of chances to explore local businesses in Old Town. 

See the full schedule for Treat Tuesdays here.