Newaygo County to launch transportation study; transit rides surge as driver vacancies fill

Newaygo County will start a contracted transportation study in June that county staff said will run through December; staff also reported a marked uptick in demand-response transit ridership after restoring bus service and filling all driver positions.

Brad Hinkham, Commission on Aging director, told the board the study contract will be routed to the board chair for signature and that the consultant will deliver an initial draft management engagement plan in June followed by a community survey, online review sessions and a fourth-week kickoff with in-person scoping sessions and stakeholder interviews. Hinkham said the study’s busiest work will occur in June and July and the consultant will produce a final plan later in the year.

Hinkham reported transit operations set a one-day record with 66 rides scheduled and 12 vehicles on the road, and said typical daily completed rides have been about 30–40. He said managers temporarily had tried using vans instead of buses, but began putting buses back into service to meet demand and to reduce turned-away rides. “This is the first time since I’ve been here that all of our driver positions are have been filled,” Hinkham said.

Hinkham also said the county canceled subscription-style runs (for example, a daily lunch shuttle) because they were inefficient, retaining only subscription service for dialysis patients whose schedules are consistent and for whom ride timing is critical.

Why it matters: the transportation study will guide how the county allocates service resources and designs public engagement; the immediate operational changes affect ride availability for seniors and riders who rely on county transit for medical and other essential trips.

Next steps: staff said the chair will sign the contract, the consultant will begin project work in June, and county staff will continue adjusting vehicle deployment and staffing as demand evolves.