Beyond the Bus

“CATA has helped me throughout many stages in my life, from school to now using the buses to get to and from work,” said Ashley Yates, 10-year CATA rider. Ashley uses CATA for all of her daily needs such as going to work, doctors’ appointments and visiting friends. Within ten minutes, Ashley can be picked up before and after her shift to ensure she gets to where she needs to be efficiently and on time. For some CATA riders, taking public transportation is their only option for getting to and from work. 

What kind of jobs are in the area?

There are hundreds of positions opening for job seekers to apply. According to the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP), the top employers in, and around, Lansing include the State of Michigan, McLaren Health, Michigan State University, General Motors, Sparrow Health Systems and others. An article from Jobs2Careers states that there are over 300 hundred job openings in the region ranging from little to no experience companies like Meijer allowing flexible schedules that work around employee’s life and educational pursuits. For assistance on how to prepare yourself for your next position, Capital Area Michigan Works website can help job seekers of all kinds.

How do I get there?

With 32 fixed-routes, CATA provides transportation to work for many people across the Capital City region. Route 18 is the most recent addition to CATA’s list of fixed-route service. This route was designed to take employees from South Lansing to McLaren and MSU, providing a direct route for many employees living on the city’s south side. A full list of CATA’s available routes, as well as a trip-planning tool on CATA's Routes & Schedules webpage.

Do I really save money riding CATA to work?

According to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), households spend 16% of their income on transportation, with 93% of that going toward buying, maintaining and operating cars. By using public transportation and living with one less car, households can save around $10,000. When finding a reliable ride to locations such as work, residents want to ensure they are getting there on time and without the financial obstacles of owning a car or utilizing rideshare services. According to Ashley, “Uber is too expensive for me to get anywhere I need to go. CATA is one of the most affordable modes of transportation available to me.” 

Looking to the future:

CATA is always looking to improve their services for riders. In coming years, big changes such as microtransit and electric buses may provide riders with additional opportunity to utlize services and taking steps towards regional mobility with seamless connections between jurisdictions. 

Do you have suggestions for how CATA can better get you to work? Submit your thoughts at cata.org/feedback.

“I love playing basketball. I use CATA to get to the YMCA or one of the local parks to play with my cousins pretty often,” says Tirean Johnson, a recent high school graduate from J.W. Sexton High School. "There isn’t really a place that I want to go to that CATA can’t take me.” Despite being out of school, Tirean still values and utilizes his student bus pass quite often. 

As the summer quickly winds down, there are still a lot of exciting events and places to go to in the Capital City region before students head back to school. Want to get out and enjoy some of the awesome things Lansing has to offer? Jump on CATA’s Route 1 which runs from downtown Lansing to the Meridian Mall in Okemos. Here are 5 fun things to do along the route during the final days of summer:  

1. Take flight during the new Mission Impossible movie at Studio C  

2. Test your skee ball skills at Pinball Pete’s in Downtown East Lansing   

Downtown East Lansing has a variety of activities to do including summer events such as the East Lansing Art Festival, hanging out at the arcade at Pinball Pete’s, experiencing the abundance of shops and restaurants in the area or renting a private karaoke room with some friends at Nimbus.  

3. Take a bite out of Spartan rivalries at the MSU Dairy Store  

There are so many things to do just on Michigan State’s campus alone. You can see a show at the Abrams Planetarium or the Wharton Center, get some ice cream at the MSU Dairy Store, organize a pick-up basketball or soccer game, play some tennis with some friends, bike the trails and explore the Beal botanical gardens. The possibilities are endless.  

4. Roll into Summer at Frandor Shopping Center   

Frandor Shopping Center in Lansing offers over 60 stores and restaurants as well as a skate park for area residents. Chances are anything you can think of can be found here. You could even try a new international snack or treat at World Market and other local eateries and shops. 

5. Find a reason to get dressed up Downtown Lansing  

In downtown Lansing alone, students can attend one of the many events the city has to offer including Capital City Comic-Con, Common Ground Music Festival, etc. You can also head to Jackson Field and catch a Lansing Lugnuts game throughout the summer. Students can also visit Impression 5, an interactive science museum off of Michigan Ave.  

And like other high school students, Tirean utilizes CATA's services to take him places he wants to go. Not only does ride CATA gives students the opportunity to explore local destinations, but it promotes promotes responsibility and general real world experience. 

For additional information, visit cata.org/lansingschooldistrict.