MANISTIQUE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Schoolcraft County voters will decide the future of their public transportation service at the polls in November.
The Schoolcraft County Transit Authority has been serving the community since 1980.
“We have a fleet of eight vehicles and 15 employees,” said Transit Authority Director John Stapleton. “We provide what’s called dial-a-ride service or demand response, so we pick people up at their door. We have a regional route that goes between Manistique and Escanaba Monday through Friday that does up to three trips a day. We do non-emergency medical transportation locally and out of town. We provide about 35,000 rides a year.”
The Schoolcraft County Transit Authority has long operated on a millage.
“The normal way that transit systems operate in the state of Michigan is to have a local millage,” Stapleton said. “Most of our transit systems that surround us have a millage as well.”
According to Stapleton, that millage has been set at its current rate for the last decade. The Transit Authority is asking voters to keep that support going on the November 5 ballot.
“We are looking at renewing this millage for another four years,” said Stapleton. “It’s a .5841 mill, so it’s a reduced rate, but it’s the same amount. It’s not going to raise anybody’s taxes; it’s going to keep it at the same rate it’s been for the past ten years.”
If the millage isn’t renewed, Stapleton says it would have a major impact on both the Transit Authority and the people who rely on its services.
“We wouldn’t have the local match to bring in the state and federal funds,” he explained. “We would be doing fundraising campaigns probably weekly and monthly to make up the difference and having to reduce service greatly. It would also raise the rates that riders have to pay, and for some people that would be unaffordable to them.”
Stapleton hopes voters understand the value of the Schoolcraft County Transit Authority and how necessary its services are for many in the community.
“We’re encouraging everybody to get out and vote in the November election,” he said. “It’s extremely important for their voices to be heard.”
For more information on the Schoolcraft County Transit Authority and its services, call (906) 341-2111 or visit sctransit.org.
