In 2019 calhoun county finalized a transportation study that identified the need for a comprehensive county-wide transit system

This $1,875,000 federal Project Grant award, provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration under the Community Project Funding Congressionally Directed Spending program (CFDA 20.534), supports the Transportation Authority of Calhoun County (TACC) in establishing a new county-wide transit system in Michigan. Key activities to be performed under this award include purchasing technology and equipment for an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), communication systems, and computer hardware to operate and expand dispatch capabilities. The grant will also fund planning, design, and professional services to establish the new transit system, which aims to provide reliable, affordable, and accessible transportation to the Calhoun County community. This investment will enable the transition from existing localized transit assets to a comprehensive regional transportation network, addressing an identified unmet need of at least 26,000 trips per year. The award period runs from April 2025 to March 2029.

Activities

Purchase of technology to include intelligent transportation systems (its) including cost of additional licensing rebranding and rezoning from current its system and its hardware including costs of tablets antennas and associated equipment installed inside vehicles. Purchase of communication equipment to include the cost of procuring new radio hardware and service for county-wide connectivity. Purchase of computer equipment to include the cost of purchasing additional computers monitors and office equipment to operate/expand dispatch operations. Planning/design/professional services to include the cost of hiring a third party to do route design brochure development bus stop inventory and route realignment. Marketing/professional services including the cost of marketing ongoing branding and design services website management etc. Contracting / vehicle wraps to include the cost of rebranding from existing fleet to match the ride calhoun brand. Purchase up to 6 expansion vehicles to include minivans and full-size vans to include vehicle components including cameras radios decals and fareboxes.

Expected outcomes

This one-time investment allows the tacc to move forward with the provision of service more quickly and with less dependence on taxpayers.

Intended beneficiaries

The citizens of calhoun county will benefit overall by the transportation authority of calhoun county providing transportation services.