Published: June 25, 2009 07:00 am      

New bus route could link TC, Frankfort

TRAVERSE CITY -- Plans are revving up for a new bus route between Traverse City and Frankfort.

Bay Area Transportation Authority and Benzie Transportation Authority will jointly investigate the possibility of establishing a fixed route from Frankfort to Traverse City, through Interlochen. It could be a popular route to serve communities in both Grand Traverse and Benzie counties, officials said.

"We want to find as many opportunities to work together and link people in," said Tom Menzel, BATA's executive director.

Menzel discussed the new venture during a BATA board meeting on Wednesday.

A comprehensive transportation study and cost analysis will be completed to create such a fixed route. Services already exist between the two locations, but not on a set-time schedule, said Susan Miller, executive director of Benzie Bus.

"We're really in the infant stages of it. We have to do a study to see where passenger stops would be and set a time schedule," she said.

Rob Bacigalupi, chairman of BATA's board, said a collaboration between the two public transit agencies would be "great."

"We have folks who want to come into Traverse City for whatever reason, shopping or if they work here," he said. "Any time we can get somebody out of a single occupancy vehicle, it's a good thing."

Menzel said he hopes to have a fixed route established by Oct. 1, while Miller said she hopes the job will be done by year's end.

Additionally, BATA board member Tina Allen announced her resignation, effective June 30. Allen will resign because of a new employment opportunity, she said.

Allen first joined the BATA board in 1995 and served since then, save for a break between 2006 and 2007. She is the longest-serving member of BATA's board.

Applications for her replacement must come from residents in rural Grand Traverse County townships, including all but Acme, East Bay, Garfield and Peninsula townships. The Grand Traverse Board of Commissioners will choose the new BATA board member.

Call (231) 922-4797 for more information, or visit www.co.grand-traverse.mi.us to find an online application after choosing the Board of Commissioners link, followed by the link for Boards and Committees.