Kalamazoo Metro Transit (commonly known as KMetro) is a public transport service in the Kalamazoo, Michigan area. Service is primarily by bus, although a special door to door Metro County Connect service is also available for riders. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 1,819,500, or about 6,400 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2024.
| Metro | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Overview | |
| Area served | Kalamazoo County, Michigan |
| Transit type | |
| Number of lines | 20 fixed routes (January 2019) |
| Daily ridership | 6,400 (weekdays, Q3 2024)[1] |
| Annual ridership | 1,819,500 (2023)[2] |
| Chief executive | Sean McBride |
| Website | kmetro |
| Operation | |
| Began operation | 1967 |
| Number of vehicles | 25 diesel fixed route busses, 11 hybrid electric diesel fixed route busses, 10 community service vans, 45 county connect coaches |
Metro Transit is primarily funded by a combination of federal, state, and local contributions; in 2003, rider fares made up 19.25% of the operating budget.
History
editKalamazoo Metro Transit was formed in 1967, when residents of Kalamazoo voted to acquire the failing private transit company Kalamazoo City Lines. In 1980, with the purchase of a new bus fleet, Metro Transit operated the first fully wheelchair-accessible fleet in Michigan.
In 2003, Kalamazoo Metro Transit carried riders on more than three million trips. About one-third of the passengers had no driver's license, automobile, or other means of motorized transport.[3]
In 2006, voters approved a millage to permit Metro Transit to retain night and Saturday service and add two routes in Portage.[4] Declining financial support from the state, a flagging local economy, and rising fuel prices, led Metro Transit to increase fares to the current rate (as of January 2010) of $1.50 per adult.
In August 2015 voters approved a millage of up to 0.75 mills to extend service to 10 p.m. on 3 routes, 11:15 p.m. for 3 routes and to 12:15 p.m. on 12 routes and also added daytime Sunday service from 8:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. on 17 routes starting in September 2016 and running through 2020.
In January 2018 Metro extended 11 routes on Sunday to 6:15pm.
In January 2019 Metro added an additional route #20 East Comstock in response to the whole township of Comstock starting to pay for service in the 2015 millage and only the Western edge had currently been receiving fixed route service.
In April 2020, Metro temporarily suspended operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. although single passenger trips were permitted on a first come first serve basis. Fare-free fixed route services resumed mid-May 2020[5] for essential services only. In April 2021,transit services were scaled back due to Covid-19 case surges and driver shortages.[6]
Fares
editThrough a partnership with Western Michigan University WMU students and faculty are allowed to utilize any route in the system free of charge when showing their Bronco ID.[7]
In Fall 2019, Metro reached an agreement with Kalamazoo Public Schools to allow students to utilize any route for free similar to their long running contract with Western Michigan University. This program was initially extremely popular, however, behavioral and capacity issues on city buses led to the program being restricted to an opt-in system.
Governance
editMetro is governed by a seven-member Transit Authority Board of Directors appointed by the Mayor of Kalamazoo with consent of the Kalamazoo city commission and an executive director appointed by the city commission. The current executive director is Sean McBride.[8]
The Transit Authority Board Board of Directors includes[9]
- Garylee McCormick, Chair
- Jason Meddaugh, Secretary and Treasurer
- Andy Havice
- Zachary Lassiter
- Lynn North
- Jack Urban, City Commissioner
Routes
editThe Kalamazoo Transportation Center serves as the primary transfer hub for Kalamazoo Metro Transit bus routes.
| No. | Name | Service points[10] |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Westnedge | Downtown, Meijer on Westnedge, Crossroads Mall |
| 2 | Portage | Downtown, Bronson Methodist Hospital, Milwood Elementary, Milwood, Washington Elementary, Maple Ridge Apartments |
| 3 | West Michigan | Western Michigan University's main campus, The Arboretum, Cedar Trail Apartments, Village Apartments, Westland Meadows, Maple Hill Pavilion, West Main Mall |
| 4 | Oakland | Downtown, Michikal Street, Bureau of Services for Blind Persons West Michigan Regional Office/Training Center, Oakland Drive Oakwood, Parkview Avenue |
| 5 | East Main | Downtown, East Main Street, Eastwood Plaza |
| 6 | Parchment | Downtown, City of Parchment, Goodwill Industries, Parchment High School |
| 7 | Alamo | Downtown, Metro Transit offices, Alamo Avenue, Hillside Middle School |
| 8 | Egleston | Downtown, Wings Stadium, Milwood, Milwood Junior High, Covington Road |
| 9 | Gull | Downtown, Borgess Medical Center, Nazareth Center Complex, East Towne Mall, Meijer and Walmart on Gull Road |
| 10 | Comstock | Downtown, Mayor's Riverfront Park, Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds, Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Department, Kalamazoo County Jail, Comstock, Meijer on Gull Road. |
| 11 | Stadium/KVCC | Downtown, Western Michigan University, Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo Valley Community College – Oshtemo Township Campus |
| 12 | Duke | Downtown, YWCA, South Middle School, St. Monica's School, Hackett High School, Meijer on Westnedge, Milham Park, Loy Norrix High School, Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport |
| 13 | South Burdick | Downtown Bronson Methodist Hospital, Family Independence Agency, MRC on Bank Street, Goodwill Industries, Milham Park, Loy Norrix High School, Meijer on Westnedge, |
| 14 | West Main | Downtown, Kalamazoo Central High School, Maple Hill Pavilion, Meijer on West Main |
| 15 | Paterson | Downtown, Metro Transit offices, Douglas Community Center, Interfaith Homes, Lincoln School, North Christian School, Northside Prep School |
| 16 | Lovell | Downtown, Kalamazoo City Hall, Oak and Lovell, Concord Place Apartments, 58 West, Western Michigan University's main campus |
| 21 | Solon-Kendall – Lafayette | Western Michigan University, Kendall Manor, Whitehall Apartments, and the Landing Apartments, Fraternity Village, Greenwood, and Knollwood Apartments |
| 26 | West Centre | Roeswood Complex, Anna's Vineyard, Milham Meadows, Oakwood, Crossroads Mall, Borgess at Woodbridge. |
| 27 | East Romence | Crossroads Mall, Portage Central High School, Industrial Park, Portage City Hall, Walmart, and Meijer on Shaver. |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2024" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
- ^ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 4, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ Chourey, Sarita (March 30, 2008). "Public transit gears up to go countrywide". Kalamazoo Gazette. p. B1.
- ^ Cedric Ricks (November 8, 2006). "Bus tax approved by narrow margin". Kalamazoo Gazette.
- ^ Marshall, Dana (May 12, 2020). "What You Need To Know As Kalamazoo Metro Resumes Limited Service". 103.3 WKFR. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
- ^ Miller, Matt; Minegar, Andrew (2021-04-14). "Metro Transit to scale back bus services in Kalamazoo". WWMT. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
- ^ "Busing | Western Michigan University".
- ^ "Meet Our Staff". Archived from the original on 2013-07-18.
- ^ "Kalamazoo Transit Authority Board". Archived from the original on 2008-03-12.
- ^ "Metro Transit Bus Routes". Archived from the original on 2008-12-26. Retrieved 2009-05-04.