BATA Project Celebrates Milestone

Public transit service announces service improvements beginning after Labor Day

Traverse City, Mich. – The Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA) employees are moving into the new operations center and headquarters as work nears completion on the 87,000-square-foot facility near the intersection of LaFranier and Hammond Road. 

The community is invited to celebrate this milestone at an open house and block party on October 5, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Guests can tour the new facility, learn about BATA’s services, and enjoy free food. 

The successful completion of phase one addresses key transportation challenges in the community while the second phase, now in progress, will focus on housing. Working in collaboration with the Traverse City Housing Commission, phase two will see the development of more than 200 housing units in the Flats at Carriage Commons along with fifteen single-family homes, constructed in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. The transit-oriented housing development is expected to make it easier for individuals to live and work in Traverse City. 

“This project takes a big-picture view of the challenges facing our community by connecting the dots between transit, housing, and jobs,” said Kelly Dunham, Executive Director of BATA. “Working in partnership with the Traverse City Housing Commission, we’re making much-needed progress in addressing the critical issues of affordable housing, transportation, and workforce development. These projects will benefit local families, employers, and our economy for years to come.”  

The recently completed LaFranier Park-n-Ride transfer area will improve connectivity for many BATA routes, including those serving the adjacent housing developments along LaFranier as well as Village Loop connections to outlying areas including Kingsley. The transit center also includes improved indoor storage for up to 100 buses, and an upgraded maintenance center, allowing more repairs to be done in-house. Both phases include the development of new trails and the permanent preservation of 20 acres of wooded wetland protecting the headwaters of Mitchell Creek.

Funding for the transit phase of the project came from a variety of sources including $13 million in Federal Funds from the Department of Transportation, $10 million in transportation funds from the State of Michigan, $5.4 million in capital funds allocated from BATA, and $2 million from the sale of the Cass Road Facility, which permanently closed to the public on August 26.  Additional funding was received by TCHC for phase two residential project. 

“Our community has seen a rapid pace of change in recent years,” said Karl Fulmer, Executive Director, TCHC. “The partnerships and efforts that brought this project to fruition, are going to help ensure that our region can continue to thrive while maintaining the quality of life that attracts people here in the first place.” 

 

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About BATA

The Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA) provides nearly 400,000 rides per year, connecting the residents and guests of Grand Traverse and Leelanau Counties to work, school, shopping, recreational activities, and to each other. Services include dedicated routes and fixed stops within Traverse City (City Loop), regular service along the Bays (Bayline), regular connections to outlying communities (Village Loop), and on-demand transportation (Link.) For more information or help planning your trip, visit bata.net or call 231.941.2324. 

Eric Lingaur

Communications and Development Director

Phone: 231.933.5534 

E-mail: lingaure@bata.net

Web: www.bata.net |Facebook: www.facebook.com/batatransit