Advancing Rural Mobility Program

Michigan

Benzie bus on a flat landscape by the water

Improving access to

public transit in

Michigan’s rural

communities

Map of the project area, highlighting the counties where the four pilot partner agencies reside.

Program Overview

In rural communities, public transit provides a critical lifeline, but knowing what services are available can be challenging. The Advancing Rural Mobility Program seeks to improve transit trip planning in rural areas and provide access to static and real-time transit information to passengers.

The program received a federal Stage 1 Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) grant. For the program’s pilot phase, MDOT’s Office of Passenger Transportation (OPT) partnered with four transit agencies: Benzie Transportation Authority (also known as Benzie Bus), Cadillac/Wexford Transit Authority (also known as WexExpress), Charlevoix County Transit, and Roscommon County Transportation Authority. MDOT is using state funding and pursuing additional federal funding to expand the project’s reach and impact.

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September 2024

MDOT Launches ‘Advancing Rural Mobility’ Trip Planner to Enhance Transportation Access in Rural Areas

Fast Facts:

  • The Advancing Rural Mobility pilot project has launched a new online trip planning tool for four rural public transit agencies and their riders.
  • The project is funded through a United States Department of Transportation SMART grant.
  • Participating public transit agencies include Benzie Bus, Cadillac/Wexford Transit Authority, Charlevoix County Transit, and Roscommon County Transportation Authority.

The Advancing Rural Mobility project’s trip planner tool aims to enhance transportation access and efficiencies in rural areas. To meet the unique needs of Michigan’s rural communities, the trip planner utilizes partner transit agencies’ service data to display possible trip-planning options. Transit riders will benefit from increased awareness of available transportation options, helping improve access to essential services, reduce isolation, and ultimately foster greater connectivity and quality of life.

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Data Literacy – December 16, 2025, 10 a.m.- 11 a.m.

How knowledgeable are transit agencies when it comes to data? The National Center for Applied Transit Technology (N-CATT) recently conducted a survey on data literacy that identified gaps and provides a foundation for training. Andrew Carpenter of N-CATT will share survey results and offer suggestions to improve your agency’s data literacy.

Fare Payment Systems – January 29, 2026, 1 p.m.- 2 p.m.

Are you thinking about a new fare payment system? Trevor Findley, principal and co-founder of Clevor Consulting Group, a boutique firm that deals exclusively with transit fare payment, will walk us through the basics of what you should consider. Keys items include terminology, pros and cons of different types of systems, what to include in an RFP and more. 

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SMART Summit 2024

USDOT Holds Second SMART Grantee Summit 

On July 10th and 11th, 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) held its second SMART Grantee Summit for the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants program. The Summit was held at the Volpe Center in Cambridge, MA with over 220 participants in attendance, including USDOT leadership and 83 SMART grant recipients from 39 states.

Continue Reading Summary
View 2024 SMART Summit Report

Mi Trip Planner

The Advancing Rural Mobility project’s trip planner tool aims to enhance transportation access and efficiencies in rural areas. To meet the unique needs of Michigan’s rural communities, the trip planner utilizes partner transit agencies service data to display possible trip planning options. Transit riders will benefit from increased awareness of available transportation options, helping improve access to essential services, reduce isolation, and ultimately foster greater connectivity and quality of life.

View Trip Planner
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