Michigan Public Transit Association

The Michigan Public Transit Association UP transit tour continued yesterday and today! We met with transit leaders from the City of Houghton and City Of Hancock, who are serving their unique sister communities with rides to work, school, medical appointments, shopping, and more. We then journeyed all the way to Ironwood, Michigan's western-most city, to visit with Gogebic County Transit director Jim Oliver. This morning brought a beautiful sunrise over the famous black rocks of the City of Marquette, MI, and a fantastic visit by Rep. Jennifer Hill to Marquette County Transit Authority. Thanks to the Representative for taking the time to tour and learn more about opportunities for local public transit, and to Bill Geller for hosting!

The Michigan Public Transit Association is on the road this week to the beautiful Upper Peninsula to visit with local transit agencies, legislators, Michigan Department of Transportation staff, and others! Thanks to John Stapleton of Delta Area Transit Authority for hosting Rep. Dave Prestin for a tour and conversation yesterday, and to Erich Fix at Alger Public Transit for starting the day off with an update on Altran's work in the home of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. More updates to come!

It was a great day to visit with some fantastic Michigan Public Transit Association members across southwest Michigan, including Van Buren Public Transit, Niles Dial-a-Ride (featuring special guest Rep. Brad Paquette), and Allegan County Transportation. These agencies are leaders in providing essential rides for workers, students, seniors, and individuals with mobility challenges. We had great conversations about opportunities to ensure state funding and facilitate best practices. Thanks to Stacy Todd, Whitney Ehresman, and Dan Wedge for hosting me in Allegan County!

Who can ride Harbor Transit? Everyone can! People of all ages, from all walks of life, going to hundreds of different destinations… you are welcome on board. Call us at 616-842-3200 to schedule a ride or download the Lakeshore Go app. www.harbortransit.org

Michael Brown, executive director of the JATA - 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. Join the Michigan Department of Transportation on an upcoming Tech Talk on Tuesday, September 17th at 1:00pm to hear more! https://lnkd.in/gmiFeQrH

American bus manufacturing has been a huge challenge, with delivery delays and cost increases hitting Michigan transit agencies hard. This recent podcast episode is worth your listen to better understand the issue!

The Detroit People Mover is pausing operations for 11 weeks to complete a proactive track reconstruction project of nearly $5 million. During that time, riders, Detroiters, and visitors can join in special events like a Detroit Lions tailgate at the Broadway Station this weekend! Detroit Transportation Corporation https://lnkd.in/gWi8tQ3c

We had a great annual conference connecting, conversing, and celebrating with our all public transit friends last week up at beautiful Crystal Mountain! From informative keynote speakers, to thought-provoking breakout sessions, to a fantastic vendor show, to plenty of games, prizes, and fun social times, it was a blast. Thanks again to our sponsors: Hoekstra Transportation Inc., Michigan CLASS, BraunAbility, Genfare, GILLIG, Midwest Bus Corporation, Thermo King Michigan, Transdev North America, Transit RE, Optimal EV, Clever Devices, Transportation Equipment Sales Corp. (TESCO), Transign, Gerflor USA, Pareto Aluminum Systems, and Hogan Mfg., Inc. Please look for all the conference materials that have been shared with attendees, and save the date for next year's Michigan Public Transportation Annual Conference: August 18-20, 2025!

Thank you to Transdev North America for their support of our 2024 Annual Conference! Transdev is the largest private operator and integrator of multiple modes of public transportation in the United States, including bus, paratransit, rail, NEMT, microtransit, shuttle, and autonomous vehicles.?They also provide fleet maintenance and vehicle services to keep their clients moving safely and reliably throughout their communities. We encourage you to connect Stephanie Thompson, Maury Gibboney, or W.C. Pihl next week or beyond for more information!

Thank you to GILLIG for their support of our 2024 Annual Conference as a Ruby Sponsor and exhibitor! GILLIG is a family-owned American business since 1890 and a leading manufacturer of heavy-duty transit buses in the U.S. Their mission is to design, build, and support the safest and most reliable transit buses in the United States. Their products help reduce congestion, contribute to a cleaner environment, and provide mobility to all. Visit them at our vendor show to learn more! https://www.gillig.com/