KCTA History
The Kalamazoo County Public Transportation Authority (KCTA) was created in January 2006 as part of an agreement between Kalamazoo County and the City of Kalamazoo to consolidate public transportation services throughout the county.
In March of 2005, the city took over the administration and day-to-day operation of Care-A-Van, the county’s demand-response transit system. Kalamazoo County had operated the primarily rural system with state and federal grants; however, those funding sources had become inadequate due to diminished state resources and changes in the urban/rural boundaries.
For the first time, Kalamazoo County government was required to support the Care-A-Van system through direct, general fund allocation. While the county contributed funds to the system, it was still not enough to cover the rising costs of Care-A-Van service. The City of Kalamazoo agreed to assume the Care-A-Van operation with the county’s contribution and a drawdown of its own reserves if the county agreed to form a countywide transportation authority. Thus, the KCTA was incorporated under State of Michigan Public Act 196.
The Kalamazoo County Transportation Authority is a nine-member public body, appointed by the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners. Meetings are open to the public.
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