The transportation providers are Charlevoix County Transit, Friendship Centers of Emmet County, and the Regional Ride, plus private taxis and intercity bus carriers. Ionia - The employment centers serving this county include the city of Ionia, Belding, Lake Odessa, and Saranac. The city of Grand Rapids, located in adjoining Kent County, also provides employment opportunities. This project will develop a route to a Grand Rapids industrial park and expand service from Ionia to Saranac to link welfare recipients and low income individuals to available jobs in these two areas. It will also include additional service hours between Ionia and Belding.
Lake County needs to expand service throughout the county.
Mason County needs to expand service outside the cities of Ludington and Scottville, and in Oceana County there are not adequate services available to fulfill the transportation need. This project will coordinate and consolidate transportation services in these three counties using a regional approach to provide expanded service for welfare recipients and low income individuals. Service hours will provide for three-shift coverage. Taxi and intercity bus service is also available. In the first year, the project will expand an additional hour of service in the morning and the evening and will add service on Saturday to accommodate the transportation needs of welfare recipients and low income individuals working first and second shifts.