“The county has been operating it for 50 years their intent is to get out.”
Muskegon Area Transit System director Jim Koens says the county wants to transfer control of the public transit system to a regional authority.
“And help with an orderly transition.”
Muskegon deputy city manager LeighAnn Mikesell says the cities of Muskegon, Muskegon Heights, Norton Shores and Roosevelt Park will create the regional authority.
“It is essentially to operate and maintain a public transit system.”
And unlike the current transit system which relies on grants, payments from cities served and bus fares to cover costs, the regional authority can collect a property tax millage to potentially improve the service, if voters approve.
“That would be a way we would handle the funding.”
Even without a millage the buses would still run under the regional transit authority.
“Yes, certainly at the beginning it will operate the way it currently does.”
With the potential to use tax money fill in what Muskegon City Commissioner Katrina Kochin calls gaps in the service.
“We would like to see more connectivity absolutely.”
