KCTA History

The Kalamazoo County Public Transportation Authority (KCTA) was created by the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners in January 2005 with the objective of consolidating public transportation services throughout the county.  Following is a chronological history of the KCTA.  

2003
Kalamazoo County and City of Kalamazoo dispute over allocation of Federal funds used to fund Metro Van and Care-A-Van
2004
Portion of Section 5307 Federal Funds withheld by the Kalamazoo Area Transportation Study(KATS) to City of Kalamazoo and Kalamazoo County until an agreement between both parties reached on the operation of public transit in Kalamazoo County.
KATS Transit Subcommittee developed short and long-term recommendations for public transportation funding and operations.
Short-term

  • County transfer the Care-A-Van program to the City to operate under contract

Long-Term

  • Create new and separate countywide transit authority under which line haul and demand/response transportation services would be operated in a coordinated and efficient manner

2005
City and County Approve Joint Resolution and Contract to transfer County’s Care-A-Van program to City’s Metro Transit system and to support the creation of a separate transit authority that would operate all public transportation services in Kalamazoo County
Kalamazoo County creates Kalamazoo County Transportation Authority under State of Michigan Act 196 of the Public Acts of 1986
2006

  • Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners appoints first members of the KCTA Board
  • KCTA begins operation
  • .45 countywide transit millage approved by voters

2007

  • First Service Agreement entered between City, KCTA and Kalamazoo Transit Authority Board which funds:
    • Care-A-Van
    • Existing fixed-routes outside city (replacing jurisdictional contracts)
    • New fixed routes serving Portage

2008
City and KCTA work towards system consolidation by transferring assets and operations from City to KCTA

  •  Designated Recipient status granted to KCTA by Governor Granholm for KCTA to receive Federal transit funds
  • Significant negotiations on Comprehensive Transition Agreement
  • Countywide millage to fund all public transit is not approved by voters
  • Transfer of system from City to KCTA is put on hold in light of election results

2009

  • 4 year .4 countywide millage approved
  • 3-year .6 city millage approved

2010
Transportation Roadmap jointly created by KCTA, City and County with stated objectives:

  • Create an integrated, countywide transit system
  • Optimize the transit system’s operational efficiency
  • Ensure the sustainability of the system

Identifies 3-year Action Plan

2011
KCTA focuses on implementing action steps identified in the Roadmap

  • Creating financial and governance policies
  • Board development
  • Begin search for Executive Director

PA 196 Amended

  • To allow for greater flexibility on the boundaries of an authority which enables:
  • Current countywide millage to be focused on demand/response services
  • 2nd Transit Authority to focus on funding line haul service in urban areas
  • Allows two transit authorities in Kalamazoo County, which can governed by one Board