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A word from our CEO

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

Categories: Blog

Dear Capital City Resident:

January 2022 marked the Capital Area Transportation Authority’s 50-year anniversary. We quietly celebrated our service to the region over the span of five decades. Needless to say, it has been an honor to deliver our much-needed transportation services to our community of riders.

Brad and other community leaders smile while going for a test ride on the Electric Nova busWe are grateful for our many partners — service agencies, contractors and colleagues. Without doubt, their trust in the Authority and its dedicated employees has contributed to our success story.

At the conclusion of 1972 — our first year in service — we recorded 732,609 trips on seven established routes, compared to 11.4 million trips at the end of fiscal 2019 and 33 routes. Additionally, our operating fleet has grown in number, today in excess of 200 buses and minivans.

Since March 2020, however, as our industry adapted to evolving safety protocols and mandates related to the pandemic, transit ridership declined — not only within the Capital City region, but globally. Still, our riders — especially those who rely on CATA to get to work and to access other essential services — remind us every day of the critical role we play in driving jobs, economy, community and, of course, you.

In this, our 50th year, our work is only now beginning.

CATA honors its past and looks forward to continuing to do what we’ve always done best: driving mobility solutions throughout Ingham County and, thanks to a shared vision with neighboring counties, in greater portions of Eaton and Clinton counties.

Our partnership with community leaders and organizations, along with updates in technology, will allow CATA to improve onboard safety and security, and fleet electrification to enhance rider experience.

We are pleased to present CATA’s 2022 Community Report in digital format. The stories inside the pages of this report reflect the Authority’s commitment to regional mobility, customer experience excellence, organizational strength, community partnership and a dynamic workplace.

As we begin our journey into the next 50 years, we remain committed to stewarding public trust and striving to provide exceptional public transportation services.

Sincerely,

Bradley T. Funkhouser

This content has been published in the 2022 Community Report.

 

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