Information Center – Advancing Rural Mobility

Benzie bus on a flat landscape by the water

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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.

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News & Announcements

New Innovations for Rural Public Transit Agencies Highlighted in Video News Release

July 3, 2024

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.

Types of Transit Services and Supporting Data Specifications

Rural agencies in Michigan provide an array of demand-response transit services for their communities. The pilot agencies in this project, Benzie Transportation Authority (Benzie Bus), Cadillac/Wexford Transit Authority (WexExpress), Charlevoix County Transit, and Roscommon County Transportation Authority, all provide curb-to-curb demand-response transportation services within their respective areas.

Gov. Whitmer Announces Michigan Wins Over $7 Million in Federal Grants to Improve Transportation Efficiency and Safety

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Infrastructure Office is proud to announce that the state of Michigan has been awarded over $7 million in the first round of Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) grants from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Michigan had the second-highest number of projects funded, receiving the third most total funding in the nation, surpassed only by California and New York.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Advancing Rural Mobility Program (ARMP)?

What is SMART?

What is the current phase of this program?

Stage 1 of the pilot program is currently active in four Michigan counties: Benzie, Charlevoix, Roscommon, and Wexford. The project team is collaborating with partner agencies and documenting lessons learned from current trip planning processes. A report detailing Stage 1 outcomes will serve as a roadmap for the Stage 2 statewide implementation, outlining necessary steps to integrate transit service information into MDOT’s developing statewide MaaS platform, an outgrowth of MDOT’s Statewide Plan for Rural Public Transit Agencies.

What are the benefits and goals of this program?