MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Regular access to public transportation in the Upper Peninsula could be at stake, as the lowest proposed state funding ever to be provided to the Local Bus Operation (LBO) at $226 million, makes its way into the fiscal year budget.
The Michigan Public Transit Association (MPTA) says since the turn of the century, its funding hasn’t even shifted enough to cover inflation, or matched with regular road repairs.
“Over the past 25 years or so, the transit funding from the State of Michigan has grown at les than half the rate of inflation, and just one-third the rate of growth in road funding,” said John Dulmes, Director of the Michigan Public Transit Association.
The coming year may see less availability in staffing, such as drivers or mechanics.
“I’m already in a situation where it’s extremely hard for me to hire a mechanic or driver right now, and this just really compounds the problem,” said John Stapleton, executive director of Delta Area Transit Authority (DATA).
“Parts have gone up, prices of buses have almost doubled, this industry is hurting right now,” said Bill Geller, executive director of the Marquette County Transit Authority (Marqtran).
Across the state, an estimated 75% of transit providers reported an increase in ridership since 2020, including some counties experiencing a 45% ridership increase. Just last year throughout the Upper Peninsula, over 550,000 rides were made, well over the general population of the region. These cuts could create serious limits to access of jobs and education, and along with a high population of seniors living in the Upper Peninsula, regular healthcare could become a more difficult journey.
“We see a lot of elderly people who can’t drive anymore, and family members that can’t pick them up for their appointments, so we take up that spot for those people,” said Geller.
“It’s going to limit operations on weekends and holidays,” said Erich Fix, executive director of Alger County Transit (Altran). “Regional routes may be cut, which act as a lifeline for patients maybe coming from Alger County to Marquette for Dialysis treatment.”
The ongoing budgeting issues can also create more of a blur in what will happen in the long run.
“It’s very difficult to do a multi-year planning when we have annual appropriations in state funding,” said Stapleton. “It’s extremely difficult this year because the budget is later than it normally would be.”
With just over a week left to pass, transit authorities are working alongside state legislators for more funding, hoping to continue to provide Yoopers with attainable transportation.
