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.
MDOT’s Office of Passenger Transportation (OPT) is partnering with four transit agencies for the pilot phase of the Advancing Rural Mobility Program: Benzie Transportation Authority (also known as Benzie Bus), Cadillac/Wexford Transit Authority (also known as WexExpress), Charlevoix County Transit, and Roscommon County Transportation Authority.
New Innovations for Rural Public Transit Agencies Highlighted in Video News Release
LANSING, Mich. – Officials from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Charlevoix County Transit (CCT) recently announced a significant leap forward in improving rural mobility through the Advancing Rural Mobility pilot project. This innovative project provides new online tools for both rural public transit agencies and their riders to help plan their trips, find transit services more easily and provide for a better overall travel experience. MDOT’s video news release highlights the project benefits, which were presented at a media event held in Boyne City late last week.
Fast Facts:
The Advancing Rural Mobility pilot project provides new online tools for both 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.
Michael Brown, executive director of the Jackson Area Transportation Authority (JATA), describes it as the worst day of his life. Late last year, a hacker unleashed a vicious cyberattack on JATA, accessing virtually every computer and IT system at the agency, wiping out or corrupting all their files and data. Michael will share the valuable lessons his agency has learned so that you can avoid a similar nightmare.
MDOT Tech Talk- October 16, 2024, 1-2 p.m.
New situations can be anxiety-inducing, particularly for people with disabilities. Learn how the Capital Area Transportation Authority teamed up with Able Eyes to create virtual video tours of their vehicles and facilities to help people know what to expect when they use transit.
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.
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.
