Capital Area Transportation Authority
Encyclopedia
The Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA) provides mass transit bus service and paratransit
within the metro Lansing, Michigan
area (the Michigan capital) including Michigan State University
(MSU).
CATA has approximately 300 employees. It does not operate on these seven major holidays:
In 2009, 52% of CATA's operating revenue came from local sources, another 26% from state sources, and 22% came from fares and additional sources.
Referred to as "fixed route service", CATA's standard bus service operates on over 30 routes with both rigid 40 ft (12.2 m) and articulated
60 ft (18.3 m) buses. Most of these are low floor buses manufactured by New Flyer, however a few older high floor GM
Rapid Transit Series
remain in the fleet. The bus service hub is at the CATA Transportation Center (CTC) in downtown Lansing, with a satellite hub on the MSU campus (see below). In August 2006, CATA added the first three hybrid electric
buses to its fleet (New Flyer DE40LFR); making CATA the first company in Michigan to operate hybrid buses. Since then it has continued to purchase more, including articulated hybrid models.
Fixed route buses use a GPS-based system manufactured by Luminator USA that periodically plays a voice-recording of the bus's location over the loudspeakers. This is particularly useful to the visually impaired and users who are unfamiliar with the area. All buses are also equipped with fold-out ramps for users in wheelchairs.
CATA operates a satellite hub, called the MSU/CATA Transportation Center, on the Michigan State University
campus. This center serves as a hub for CATA's MSU-based routes; it also consists of a large public parking ramp. Many of the MSU-area routes are called "Spartan Service". This means that the route only operates during the MSU fall and spring semesters. This includes all routes numbered 30–36, Lot Link and Night Owl. Other routes (routes 1, 25 and 26) are partially Spartan Service, that is, they run more frequently and/or longer into the night during the semesters.
CATA significantly altered its intra-campus (routes 30–39) Spartan Service bus routes serving Michigan State University beginning Fall 2009. Changes include Routes 30-32 having extended weeknight hours, Routes 34-36 having service only on the Weekends, and the creation of Route 39, linking University Village and Spartan Village to the main campus. As a result, both Routes 31 & 32 saw route changes as well.
CATA operates several paratransit services using small buses and mini vans. One service, Spec-Tran, is offered to persons with disabilities who are unable to use fixed route service. The "Night Owl", offers rides across the MSU campus every night from 2 am to 7 am (9 am on weekends) in order to give students a safer way to traverse campus at these hours.
. Improvements being evaluated include enhancing the existing bus system, adding bike lanes, improving intersections, or upgrading the existing route from a bus line to a bus rapid transit
line, light rail
, or a modern streetcar line. The CATA Board of Directors formally adopted bus rapid transit
as the locally preferred alternative for the corridor on February 16, 2011. This authorized the transit to submit an application to be part of the Federal Transit Administration
Small Starts program, which would provide substantial funding for the capital costs of construction this line.
CATACash cards are issued through the farebox as change during cash transactions.
Various bus passes are available that may be used on any numbered route (except commuter lot pass). They may be purchased at various retail outlets in the area or online at CATA's website. There are also passes for paratransit services such as CATA Rural Service and Spec-Tran.
racks are installed on the front of all CATA buses, except the trolley-style busses. Each bus can accommodate up to two bicycles. Non-safety bicycle
s, such as recumbents
and tandems
, are not allowed.
CATA also rents out bike lockers located in downtown Lansing and East Lansing.
:
's America's Best Transit System award for 1991 in the medium-size category, and again for 2007 in the 4–30 million annual passenger trips category. This award is given to systems with great efficiency and cost-effectiveness, a high safety rating, and a stable operations base, among other criteria.
In 2003, Sandy Draggoo, CATA's executive director, received the APTA Outstanding Public Transportation Manager in North America award.
In 2008, CATA was recognized by Metro Magazine
as one of the Ten Best Places to Work in Transit. The article chronicled CATA's family-like culture, recognition of hard work, extreme efficiency, the Open-door policy of the executive office, and the pride CATA's workers mentioned in their employee surveys.
Paratransit
Paratransit is an alternative mode of flexible passenger transportation that does not follow fixed routes or schedules. Typically mini-buses are used to provide paratransit service, but also share taxis and jitneys are important providers....
within the metro Lansing, Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
area (the Michigan capital) including Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
(MSU).
CATA system
CATA operates both bus transit and paratransit service across a 559 square miles (1,447.8 km²) area throughout metro Lansing including Michigan State University. CATA logged 11,346,693 riders in fiscal year 2010, down 0.2% from the previous year, following several years of unprecedented growth. This gives CATA the second highest ridership of Michigan's transit systems.CATA has approximately 300 employees. It does not operate on these seven major holidays:
- New Year's Day
- Easter
- Memorial Day
- Fourth of July
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
In 2009, 52% of CATA's operating revenue came from local sources, another 26% from state sources, and 22% came from fares and additional sources.
Bus service
Articulated bus
An articulated bus is an articulated vehicle used in public transportation. It is usually a single-deck design, and comprises two rigid sections linked by a pivoting joint...
60 ft (18.3 m) buses. Most of these are low floor buses manufactured by New Flyer, however a few older high floor GM
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
Rapid Transit Series
Rapid Transit Series
The Rapid Transit Series bus is a long-running series of transit buses originally manufactured by General Motors and is currently produced by Millennium Transit Services as the RTS Legend. Millennium had produced the buses from 2006 until it shut down production in 2009, only to be bought back...
remain in the fleet. The bus service hub is at the CATA Transportation Center (CTC) in downtown Lansing, with a satellite hub on the MSU campus (see below). In August 2006, CATA added the first three hybrid electric
Hybrid electric bus
A hybrid electric bus combines a conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system. These type of buses normally use a diesel-electric powertrain and are also known as hybrid diesel-electric buses....
buses to its fleet (New Flyer DE40LFR); making CATA the first company in Michigan to operate hybrid buses. Since then it has continued to purchase more, including articulated hybrid models.
Fixed route buses use a GPS-based system manufactured by Luminator USA that periodically plays a voice-recording of the bus's location over the loudspeakers. This is particularly useful to the visually impaired and users who are unfamiliar with the area. All buses are also equipped with fold-out ramps for users in wheelchairs.
CATA operates a satellite hub, called the MSU/CATA Transportation Center, on the Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
campus. This center serves as a hub for CATA's MSU-based routes; it also consists of a large public parking ramp. Many of the MSU-area routes are called "Spartan Service". This means that the route only operates during the MSU fall and spring semesters. This includes all routes numbered 30–36, Lot Link and Night Owl. Other routes (routes 1, 25 and 26) are partially Spartan Service, that is, they run more frequently and/or longer into the night during the semesters.
CATA significantly altered its intra-campus (routes 30–39) Spartan Service bus routes serving Michigan State University beginning Fall 2009. Changes include Routes 30-32 having extended weeknight hours, Routes 34-36 having service only on the Weekends, and the creation of Route 39, linking University Village and Spartan Village to the main campus. As a result, both Routes 31 & 32 saw route changes as well.
Paratransit
Michigan/Grand River Avenue Transporation Study
CATA partnered with metropolitan municipalities beginning in the summer of 2009 to study and evaluate transit improvements to Route 1, which runs from downtown Lansing to the Meridian MallMeridian Mall
Meridian Mall is a super-regional shopping mall located in Meridian Township, a suburb of Lansing, Michigan, United States. The mall is near Michigan State University. It opened in 1969, the same year that its main competitor, Lansing Mall, opened on the other end of the Lansing metropolitan area....
. Improvements being evaluated include enhancing the existing bus system, adding bike lanes, improving intersections, or upgrading the existing route from a bus line to a bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
line, light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
, or a modern streetcar line. The CATA Board of Directors formally adopted bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
as the locally preferred alternative for the corridor on February 16, 2011. This authorized the transit to submit an application to be part of the Federal Transit Administration
Federal Transit Administration
The Federal Transit Administration is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT...
Small Starts program, which would provide substantial funding for the capital costs of construction this line.
Fixed routes
Route categories:- Routes 1–19 are Lansing-area routes
- Routes 20–26 are east-area routes (East LansingEast Lansing, MichiganEast Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
, Okemos, Haslett) - Routes 30–36, & 39 are MSU-area routes and all are entirely Spartan Service (i.e. they only run during MSU fall and spring semesters and are marked "Entire route" under the "Spartan Service" column)
- Routes 46 & 48 are limited stop commuter routes
- "(Limited)" indicates that the route only stops at certain points
- "(Trolley)" indicates that the route is run using trolley-style buses. Bicycles cannot be brought on this route.
- All CATA bus routes are wheelchair accessible .
| Route Name | Starting Point | Terminus | Operates | Spartan Service | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Downtown Lansing – Meridian Mall |
CATA Transportation Center | Meridian Mall | Daily | Extended weekend night hours | Bi-Directional |
| #1 Limited Downtown Lansing – Meridian Mall |
CATA Transportation Center | Meridian Mall | Daily (3 Trips In Morning & Evening) | No | Bi-Directional |
| #2 South Washington – Pleasant Grove |
CATA Transportation Center | Sheffield & Bayview | Daily | No | Bi-Directional |
| #3 Willow – Lansing Mall |
CATA Transportation Center | Lansing Mall | Daily | No | Bi-Directional |
| #4 Entertainment Express (Limited) (Trolley) |
Washington & Washtenaw | Albert & MAC | Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights | No | Bi-Directional |
| #5 South Cedar – Edgewood |
CATA Transportation Center | South Pennsylvania | Daily | No | Bi-Directional |
| #6 Cedar – Jolly Connection |
CATA Administrative Offices | Jolly Cedar Plaza (Social Security Administration on request) | Weekdays | No | Bi-Directional |
| #7 Aurelius |
CATA Transportation Center | Beau Jardin & Dunckel | Weekdays | No | Bi-Directional |
| #8 Pennsylvania–Holt |
CATA Transportation Center | Davlind & Aurelius | Daily | No | Bi-Directional |
| #9 South Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. – Miller |
CATA Transportation Center | South Pennsylvania | Daily | No | Bi-Directional |
| #10 North Lansing – Turner |
CATA Transportation Center | Thomas & Hall | Daily | No | Bi-Directional |
| #11 Waverly – Colonial Village |
CATA Transportation Center | Deerfield & Holmes | Weekdays | No | Bi-Directional |
| #12 West Michigan – Waverly |
CATA Transportation Center | Value City Plaza | Daily | No | Bi-Directional |
| #13 Groesbeck Area |
CATA Transportation Center | Lake Lansing | Weekdays | No | Bi-Directional |
| #14 North Grand River – Airport |
CATA Transportation Center | Grand River & Waverly | Daily | No | Bi-Directional |
| #15 Kalamazoo–Frandor |
CATA Transportation Center | Lake Lansing | Weekdays | No | Bi-Directional |
| #16 W. Lake Lansing Road – Eastwood Towne Center |
CATA Transportation Center | Lake Lansing | Daily | No | Bi-Directional |
| #19 Delhi Loop |
Holt High School | Willoughby & Cedar | Weekday Rush Hours | No | AM: Clockwise Loop PM: Counterclockwise Loop |
| #20 South Harrison – Jolly-Dunckel |
Shaw & Farm Boarding Area | Beau Jardin & Dunckel | Daily | No | Bi-Directional |
| #22 MSU – Haslett – Meridian Mall |
Shaw & Farm Boarding Area | Meridian Mall | Monday thru Saturday | No | Bi-Directional |
| #23 MSU – Okemos – Meridian Mall |
Shaw & Farm Boarding Area | Meridian Mall | Monday thru Saturday | No | Bi-Directional |
| #24 East Lansing – Lake Lansing Road |
Wharton Center (Bogue Street) | Lake Lansing | Daily | No | Bi-Directional |
| #25 North Harrison |
Wharton Center (Bogue Street) | Lake Lansing | Daily | Weekdays: Runs more frequently Weekends: No |
Bi-Directional |
| #26 Abbott–Chandler |
MSU-CTC/Ramp 1 | Crossing Place | Daily | Weekdays: Runs more frequently & extended night hours Saturday: Extended night hours Sunday: No |
Bi-Directional |
| #26 Late Night Abbott – Chandler Late Night |
Crossing Place | Albert & MAC | Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Nights | Entire route | Bi-Directional |
| #30 Wilson–Akers |
Matilda Wilson Hall | Forrest Akers Hall | Weekdays & Weeknights | Entire route | Bi-Directional |
| #31 Brody–Hubbard |
Brody Dormitory | Bela Hubbard Bela Hubbard Bela Hubbard was a 19th century naturalist, geologist, writer, surveyor, explorer and civic leader of early Detroit, Michigan. Hubbard is noted as one of the pioneer geologists of Michigan starting with expeditions undertaken, while in his twenties, with Michigan's geologist Douglass Houghton... Hall |
Weekdays & Weeknights | Entire route | Bi-Directional |
| #32 Commuter Lot 89 |
MSU-CTC/Ramp 1 | Commuter Lot 89 | Daily | Entire route | Bi-Directional |
| #33 Campus Cruiser |
Lynne Holden Hall | MSU Union | Weekdays | Entire route | Counterclockwise Loop |
| #34 Brody – University Village |
MSU-CTC/Ramp 1 | Brody Dormitory | Weekends | Entire route | Counterclockwise Loop |
| #35 Spartan Village – Commuter Lot 89 |
MSU-CTC/Ramp 1 | Commuter Lot 89 | Weekends | Entire route | Bi-Directional |
| #36 Akers–Hubbard |
MSU-CTC/Ramp 1 | Bela Hubbard Bela Hubbard Bela Hubbard was a 19th century naturalist, geologist, writer, surveyor, explorer and civic leader of early Detroit, Michigan. Hubbard is noted as one of the pioneer geologists of Michigan starting with expeditions undertaken, while in his twenties, with Michigan's geologist Douglass Houghton... Hall |
Weekends | Entire route | Counterclockwise Loop |
| #39 University Village – Spartan Village |
Shaw & Farm Boarding Area | Spartan Village | Weekdays & Weeknights | Entire route | Bi-Directional |
| #46 Mason (Limited) |
CATA Transportation Center | Cedar & Kerns | Weekday Rush Hours | No | Peak Direction |
| #48 Williamston–Webberville (Limited) |
CATA Transportation Center | M-52 & I-96 | Weekday Rush Hours | No | Peak Direction |
Cash and CATACash
Riders paying by cash use the following fare structure for each one-way trip. All transfers from one route to another are free and valid up to two hours. Transfer may not be used to make a return trip.- Seniors, disabled, all Medicare card holders, and students: $0.60
- Children under 42 inches (106.7 cm) tall: Free
- All others: $1.25, except in Zone 2 of Rte. #3, which is $2.50 for those boarding in areas between Saginaw Rd. & Waverly Rd. and the Lansing Mall.
CATACash cards are issued through the farebox as change during cash transactions.
Tokens and passes
Riders may use one CATA token for a one-way trip; again, transfers to another route are free. Tokens may be purchased for $1.25 each or in sets of 10 for $10.00 at various retail outlets around the area. They cannot be purchased on board buses.Various bus passes are available that may be used on any numbered route (except commuter lot pass). They may be purchased at various retail outlets in the area or online at CATA's website. There are also passes for paratransit services such as CATA Rural Service and Spec-Tran.
- 10-Ride Pass: $10.00 ($6.00 for seniors, disabled, Medicare card holders, and students)
- 31-Day Pass (unlimited rides for 31 days): $35.00 ($18.00 for seniors, disabled, Medicare card holders, and students)
- Student Semester Pass (unlimited rides for one semester, for students only): $50.00
- MSU Commuter Lot Pass (unlimited rides on Route 32 only): $20.00 for one semester, $33.00 for two semesters
Bicycles on CATA
BicycleBicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
racks are installed on the front of all CATA buses, except the trolley-style busses. Each bus can accommodate up to two bicycles. Non-safety bicycle
Safety bicycle
A safety bicycle is a type of bicycle that became very popular beginning in the late 1880s as an alternative to the penny-farthing or ordinary and is now the most common type of bicycle. Early bicycles of this style were known as safety bicycles because they were noted for, and marketed as, being...
s, such as recumbents
Recumbent bicycle
A recumbent bicycle is a bicycle that places the rider in a laid-back reclining position. Most recumbent riders choose this type of design for ergonomic reasons; the rider's weight is distributed comfortably over a larger area, supported by back and buttocks...
and tandems
Tandem bicycle
The tandem bicycle or twin is a form of bicycle designed to be ridden by more than one person. The term tandem refers to the seating arrangement , not the number of riders. A bike with two riders side-by-side is called a sociable.-History:Patents related to tandem bicycles date from the late 19th...
, are not allowed.
CATA also rents out bike lockers located in downtown Lansing and East Lansing.
Governance
CATA is governed by a board of directorsBoard of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
:
- Four members representing the City of Lansing:
- Pete Kuhnmuench (Vice-chair)
- R. John Strolle
- Robert W. Swanson
- Anne Wilson
- Two members representing the City of East Lansing:
- Ralph Monsma
- Nathan Triplett
- Two members representing Meridian TownshipMeridian Charter Township, MichiganMeridian Charter Township is a charter township of Ingham County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census the township had a population of 39,688. Meridian Township is the local government unit that includes the unincorporated communities and census-designated places of Okemos and...
:- Patricia Munshaw (Board chair)
- Pat Cannon
- One member representing Lansing TownshipLansing Charter Township, Michigan-Township description:The cities of Lansing and East Lansing have incorporated much of the land that formerly constituted the township reducing the township from its original to its current ....
:- Joseph Sambaer (Secretary-Treasurer)
- One member representing Delhi TownshipDelhi Charter Township, MichiganDelhi Charter Township is a charter township of Ingham County in the U.S. state of Michigan, located directly south of the state's capital city, Lansing. The population was 25,877 at the 2010 census an increase from 22,569 in 2000...
:- Walter Dell
- One non-voting member representing Ingham County:
- Mark GrebnerMark GrebnerMark Grebner is an American politician, political consultant, and psephologist from the state of Michigan.-Career:Grebner is a resident of East Lansing, Michigan. He was a student at Michigan State University in 1970, and became involved in politics at the time of the 18-year-old vote in 1971...
- Mark Grebner
- One non-voting member representing Michigan State University:
- Michael A. Rice
Awards
CATA won APTAAmerican Public Transportation Association
The American Public Transportation Association is a non-profit organization which serves as an advocate for the advancement of public transportation programs and initiatives in the United States. Since its founding in 1882, APTA has educated the public about the benefits of public transportation...
's America's Best Transit System award for 1991 in the medium-size category, and again for 2007 in the 4–30 million annual passenger trips category. This award is given to systems with great efficiency and cost-effectiveness, a high safety rating, and a stable operations base, among other criteria.
In 2003, Sandy Draggoo, CATA's executive director, received the APTA Outstanding Public Transportation Manager in North America award.
In 2008, CATA was recognized by Metro Magazine
Metro Magazine
Metro Magazine is a trade magazine for bus and rail transit and motorcoach operators, published in the United States since 1904, taking its current name in 1975...
as one of the Ten Best Places to Work in Transit. The article chronicled CATA's family-like culture, recognition of hard work, extreme efficiency, the Open-door policy of the executive office, and the pride CATA's workers mentioned in their employee surveys.
Current Bus fleet
| Series | Model | Delivery | Length | Width | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300–343 | GM General Motors General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010... Rapid Transit Series Rapid Transit Series The Rapid Transit Series bus is a long-running series of transit buses originally manufactured by General Motors and is currently produced by Millennium Transit Services as the RTS Legend. Millennium had produced the buses from 2006 until it shut down production in 2009, only to be bought back... |
? | 40' | 102" | 44* |
| 500–571 | New Flyer D40LF | ? | 40' | 102" | 72 |
| 572–585 | New Flyer DE40LFR | 2006-2010 | 40' | 102" | 14 |
| 6000–6003 | New Flyer DE60LF | 2003 | 60' | 102" | 4 |
| 6004–6006 | New Flyer D60LF | 2005-2006 | 60' | 102" | 3 |
| 6007–6011 | New Flyer DE60LFR | 2007-2009 | 60' | 102" | 5 |
- - some retired
External links
- Capital Area Transportation Authority - official Web site