Lansing-area bus riders have a few more chances to weigh in on the region's transit future before consultants wrap up a year-long review of Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) service.
CATA will host a free virtual open house Wednesday, Sept. 2, from noon to 1 p.m. as part of Phase III of its Road Ahead study, a Comprehensive Operational Analysis examining the agency's fixed-route and demand-response services across the tri-county area. Project consultants will present proposed recommendations under several funding scenarios, take questions and collect feedback, according to a CATA press release.
The session will be held on Microsoft Teams. Access details are posted at cata.org/RoadAhead.
CATA stressed that the recommendations are not approved service changes or implementation plans. The funding scenarios are meant to show how the agency could meet riders' needs at different budget levels.
What happens after Wednesday
Residents who miss the live session can still participate. CATA said it will post a closed-captioned recording, presentation materials and an online feedback form on the project webpage afterward. Paper copies are available by calling CATA Customer Experience at 517-394-1000.
Feedback can also be submitted by emailing [email protected] or calling 517-394-1000 weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
An in-person opportunity follows Sept. 9, when project consultants will ride select CATA buses and set up at the CATA Transportation Center. Route and schedule details for that day will be posted on the project webpage beforehand.
Road Ahead timeline
The Road Ahead is CATA's first systemwide service review since 2007. More than 500 people participated in Phase I through public meetings, outreach events and online engagement, according to CATA's Phase II announcement.
A Phase II survey on two draft service concepts closed June 12.
Public feedback from Phase III could shape refinements before consultants present their proposed recommendations and funding scenarios to the CATA Board of Directors at its Sept. 16 meeting. A final report is expected in October.
After that, CATA will review the recommendations internally to decide which, if any, move forward based on available funding, resources and community needs. Any proposals selected for implementation would go through CATA's standard public input process before service changes take effect.
Separate from recent service cuts
The Road Ahead study is separate from the service changes CATA implemented Aug. 24 as part of its fiscal 2027 budget.
CATA CEO Bradley Funkhouser said in an Aug. 11 announcement about those changes that the agency is "navigating rising costs and a challenging funding environment." The Road Ahead study examines those same long-term pressures through a broader planning lens.
Residents who need assistance or accommodations to participate in the open house can call CATA Customer Experience at 517-394-1000.
