It is our mission to provide high quality public transportation service to the residents of Bay County. This means operating a system which is economical and efficient; a system safe for both employees and the public. It also means providing transportation service which is reliable and predictable; service which is responsive to community needs and respectful of the property and rights of all individuals.
While it is our goal to serve all county residents, the needs of seniors and the disabled will be assigned a special priority.
APRIL 21, 2021 Board Meeting Agenda:
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS:
NOVEMBER 17 PRESS RELEASE:
November 17, 2020
Effective Monday, November 23, Bay Metro Transit is suspending fixed route service.
Fixed Route service is currently transporting about 25% of the riders that it had before the COVID pandemic. The DART service should be able to support many of those rides while cutting the workforce in half and resuming a 2-week rotation of employees.
For now, this is the best strategy for maintaining our workforce and not waiting until the level of service is determined by how many employees we have left that are healthy.
Bay Metro Transit will continue to operate DART demand-response service and will open the service up to the general public. Trips will be scheduled with priority on ADA trips for certified riders, medical-related trips; rides to work; and grocery runs.
There will continue to be no charge for this service.
Service hours for DART are 6:00 am until 7:00 pm Monday through Friday and 9:00 am until 6:00 pm on Saturday. Rides must be scheduled one day in advance, rides for Saturday and Monday need to be scheduled on Friday. Office hours to schedule rides
are 8:00 am until 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. New riders call (989) 894-2900, extension 3. Current DART riders call (989) 894-0631. We anticipate the volume of calls to be high with requests for information and reservations. Please be patient.
The Central Bus Station will be locked down. There will be no public access. Indian Trails customers should call Indian Trails with any questions, (989) 893-6589.
The phone number for general information is (989) 894-2900, extension 3.
Information will be continually updated on the Bay Metro website, www.baymetro.com, as well as Facebook and Twitter.
Eric Sprague, BMTA General Manager
NEW SCHEDULES FOR JULY 27, 2020
PRESS RELEASE:
Service Re-Engagement 07_27_20
FIXED ROUTES STARTING MONDAY JULY 27, 2020.
MASKS/FACE COVERINGS REQUIRED TO BOARD BAY METRO VEHICLES
NO FARES WILL BE COLLECTED
CREATE AS MUCH DISTANCE AS POSSIBLE FROM FELLOW PASSENGERS WHEN CHOOSING WHERE TO SIT ON BUSES.
The initial re-engagement will see several changes from the service provided in the past for the purpose of protecting our employees and passengers.
Route 1 and Route 4 will not be in operation.
Route 8 will service McLaren West Campus on Midland Rd.
Routes will have departures every 1 hour and 15 minutes instead of the 1 hour departures in the past. This will allow for the disinfecting of buses between each trip.
There will be no fixed routes on Saturday.
In the absence of fixed routes on Saturday, Saturday service will continue as currently operated. Rides will need to be scheduled through Bay Metro DART office. Priority scheduling will be for essential trips; Dialysis, Medical, Shopping, and Work. Other trips will be based on space available.
Monday through Friday, Bay Metro DART will be exclusively for seniors and individuals with disabilities. ADA-certified individuals will have priority regardless of trip purpose. The next level of priority for DART trips will be essential trips (Dialysis, Medical, Shopping, and Work). All other trips will be based on space available.
Capacity on the fixed route buses (10) and DART vans (2) will be limited. Passengers may be passed by if at capacity. We will get transportations out to those that are passed by as soon as possible.
Passenger cooperation with our efforts to get the service operational and keep the risk of exposure as low as possible will be extremely important. Interaction with the vehicle operators should be kept to a minimum through social distancing and wearing masks. Any positive test for COVID-19 amongst Bay Metro Transit employee associated with the provision of service will result in service interruptions, potentially for weeks at a time. Governor’s Directive Phase reduction will result in service suspension. Bay County Health Department guidance may result in service suspension.
Please, be considerate. Bay Metro Transit wants to progress toward full service implementation and it will not be accomplished with outbreaks and service interruptions.
Visit www.baymetro.com for the latest updates.
Watch for the schedules printed on blue paper; these are the modified schedules.
Schedules for the modified service are available on our website. Schedules will be at the Central Bus Station on the first day of service and are being distributed at various locations around Bay City.
MASKS/FACE COVERINGS REQUIRED TO ENTER THE CENTRAL BUS STATION BUILDING.
The Central Bus Station building will be open for the use of the restroom facilities. The Central Bus Station building will have a limited capacity of 10 people; restrooms, 2.
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NOTE ABOUT INCLEMENT WEATHER:
During inclement weather, be aware that buses may be running behind. Be prepared and take an earlier trip. Buses may not be held at the Central Bus Station, which could create a layover until the next trip.
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PASSENGER INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING CONSTRUCTION ZONES:
If your stop is in a construction zone that the buses cannot travel, go to the nearest main road away from the construction zone that you know the route you need travels.
Check the Bay Metro website or at the Central Bus Station for news regarding current construction zones and route deviations.
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Requesting a Reasonable Modification
If you are an individual with a disability and find that our service does not accommodate your needs particular to your disability, you may request BMTA to make a reasonable modification to our service.
Dispatch Center Supervisor 989-894-2900 ext. 3716 or email dsmith@baymetro.com
Dispatch 989-894-2900 ext. 2
Safety and Training 989-894-2900 ext. 3706 or 3719
Planning 989-894-2900 ext. 3702 or 3725
GET THE LATEST ROUTE DETOURS AND WEATHER -RELATED CLOSURES RIGHT ON YOUR CELL PHONE OR COMPUTER:
SIGN UP TODAY
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COMMUNITY RESOURCES
United Way 2-1-1
Connecting people in our community with the health and human service resources to build healthy, safe communities in Northeast Michigan.
For more information, go to:
MICHIGAN CEREBRAL PALSY RESOURCES
https://www.abclawcenters.com/michigan-cerebral-palsy-guide/
