Beyond the Bus

By Dustin Hagfors, Director of Planning & Development

A cleaner future with a zero-emission fleet by 2035 was approved by CATA’s Board of Directors on April 21, 2022. This initiative will significantly reduce harmful pollutants from being emitted into the environment and disturbing the climate.

“CATA is acutely aware that the transportation sector accounts for 32 percent of Michigan’s greenhouse gas emissions, the second largest-emitting sector of our economy, and that these emissions are driving the climate crisis,” said CATA Board Chair Nathan Triplett. “We recognize our responsibility to swiftly decarbonize our operations and replace CATA’s current fleet with clean, zero-emission vehicles. This moment demands bold action, and CATA is ready to do our part and help lead our region and Michigan into a cleaner, healthier, more sustainable transportation future.”

The zero-emission fleet plan includes large buses, small buses, minivans, support vehicles and related infrastructure.

“We are exploring next steps that will allow us to achieve a zero-emission fleet, starting with the addition of three electric buses and charging infrastructure this year. We will continue to assess environmental and cost benefits, craft a zero-emission transition plan and a procurement plan, and identify funding opportunities,” said CATA Chief Executive Officer Bradley T. Funkhouser.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was enacted by Congress in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in November 2021, providing new funding to rebuild our nation’s roads, bridges and rails, with a focus on climate-change mitigation, resilience, equity and safety for all users.

Timothy Minotas, Legislative & Political Coordinator at Sierra Club said, “We applaud CATA’s decision to fully transition its fleet by 2035. We encourage other transit agencies across the state to follow CATA’s lead and make similar commitments and investments to a cleaner transportation future.”

This content has been published in the 2022 Community Report.

By Andrew Brieschke, Deputy CEO

Ask any K-12 official about the secret to student success, and they’re sure to mention attendance at the top of the list. Throughout the ages, school attendance has relied on various modes of transportation, particularly walking, riding a bicycle, carpooling, driving or riding a school bus.

Two weeks prior to the start of the 2021–’22 academic year, Ben Shuldiner had only just started his career as Lansing School District’s superintendent. One of his first tasks was to address the global driver shortage — brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic — that would potentially leave students without bus transportation to and from school.

Shuldiner, who hailed from New York City, wondered whether public transportation was the answer.

“The moment we realized that we were going to have a bus shortage, we reached out to our partners, and we are so lucky that we were able to partner with CATA,” said Shuldiner. “It’s how everyone gets around in New York City.”

Little did Shuldiner know at the time that community partnership and regional mobility solutions were among CATA’s strategic goals and, therefore, at the heart of the Authority’s decision-making. To that end, when Shuldiner approached CATA with a request for transportation assistance, CATA was eager to lend a hand.

The partnership included the provision of 200 first-and second-semester bus passes — paid for and distributed by the school district at no cost to students or their families.

Recognizing that riding a city bus might intimidate students who had never ridden before, CATA extended its CATAguides program at Michigan State University to include Lansing School District. Volunteer guides — all administrative employees from various departments at CATA — converged on campuses to provide resources, rules and general information to help students self-sufficiently and confidently navigate the system. CATA’s Customer Experience Representatives were also available by phone to assist with trip planning throughout the school year. For non-English-speaking riders, translations were provided in predominantly used languages, including Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin, Korean and, to accommodate a large population of Afghani refugees who would resettle in the area, Farsi.

Additionally, CATA and school district personnel worked together to notate and distribute frequently asked questions and a customized system map with routing details and school locations. These tools allowed both students and parents to easily navigate CATA’s service.

For Shuldiner, not only is the partnership between CATA and Lansing School District a much-needed solution for Lansing students, but it also promises greater things to come for student riders.

“It’s more than just getting to and from school. What about getting to a job? What about getting to a place to do an internship? Or just going to a park to enjoy the city?” Shuldiner asked.

Providing public transportation services to students and families allow them the freedom to explore everything Lansing has to offer. It encourages participation in athletic programming and after-school activities, and connects them to jobs, local venues and destinations that they might otherwise not have the opportunity to experience.

CATA looks forward to serving new generations of riders during the 2022– ’23 academic year and beyond, thanks to its ongoing partnership with the Lansing School District.

For details about high school service, visit cata.org/lansingschooldistrict. Volunteer to be an AmBUSsador to help guide Lansing School District students on riding the bus to and from school at cata.org/ambussador.

This content has been published in the 2022 Community Report.

By Andrew Brieschke, Deputy CEO

Imagine a world where everywhere you need or want to get to is only one seat away. In the tri-county region, that world is about to become a reality.

In recent weeks, CATA has been working on preliminary coordination plans with both EATRAN and Clinton Area Transit System. The three agencies have collaborated to provide cross-boundary trips under interlocal agreements. All three systems are now preparing to better meet the needs of their respective riders.

The goal is to break down barriers that historically made cross-county public transportation time-consuming and inconvenient for riders.

"The concept of a ‘one-seat ride’ will dramatically improve service efficiencies for us and convenience for our riders," said CATA Chief Executive Officer Bradley T. Funkhouser.

At its core, regional mobility is defined as the provision of seamless transit options for residents, regardless of economic or geographic boundaries. By using a multitude of services and resources, riders have more access to desired destinations, shorter trips and wait times, and fewer transfers to connecting buses or service types. For many who rely on public transit, these options can cut trip times in half and provide cost savings.

But the benefits of a regional mobility plan for the tri-county area don’t end with public transportation. Now, CATA and its partners are a driving force for people to choose where they want to live, work and play.

A full regional mobility plan takes riders to workplaces, medical care and appointments, school, shopping, recreational and community activities. This means employers can fill open positions, family members can receive lifesaving health care and friends can visit one another.

Still, while progress toward regional mobility has been made in recent decades, much work remains. Extended routes, additional service options and expanded schedules require investment. Local and state officials recognize that Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties are actively working with CATA to fill funding gaps to bring regional mobility to fruition.

Current and future businesses and residential developments are cropping up across the tri-county area, including General Motors’ battery plant and industrial parks in Delta Township.

"I’m proud of what CATA has been able to do to expand services across our region so far, and I’ve seen firsthand just how devastating it can be to our riders to not have access to transportation to get to work or medical appointments. Regional mobility supports everyone — riders, employers, businesses and families. I look forward to seeing where we can take our community with the support of our leaders and partners," Funkhouser added.

This content has been published in the 2022 Community Report.

Press Release: Tri-County public transit agencies launch unprecedented partnership to enhance regional mobility