Jacob Jackson, marketing and public relations representative for the Macassa-Osceola Transit Authority (MODA), told the Big Rapids City Commission the authority has partnered with Ann Arbor-based consulting firm HDR to conduct a feasibility study on operations, facilities and a possible merger with Dial‑A‑Ride. Jackson said the study began in September 2025 and is expected to wrap up in late summer or early fall 2026.

Jackson and Chris Richmond, MODA operations supervisor, described three study phases: assessing existing service and demand, evaluating a potential merger with Dial‑A‑Ride, and reviewing facility and operational needs. Jackson said the study will inform recommendations to the state and emphasized that public and stakeholder responses are essential to produce representative findings.

"We need as many people to provide feedback," Jackson said, describing a public survey that MODA has distributed through its vehicles and community partners. He asked commissioners and community members to promote the survey and the authority’s upcoming stakeholder visioning meetings on Jan. 15 at the Everett Depot (Osceola County) and Jan. 22 at ModaBase (16 Mile Road).

Jackson outlined a current service constraint: MODA can transport passengers from outside the city into Big Rapids and from inside the city to outside destinations, but it cannot provide trips exclusively within Big Rapids city limits for all trip types. The presenters said one option the study will examine is whether a merged entity could simplify intra-city routing and expand on-demand and non-emergency medical transport services.

The presenters also reviewed facility options: expanding MODA’s existing roughly seven-acre site on 16 Mile Road, finding a more central facility between the two counties, or building a new facility. Jackson noted the authority is currently without online booking or a payment app and described a plan to modernize dispatch, booking and payment systems.

Commissioners and audience members asked operational and funding questions. MODA confirmed HDR was hired following industry recommendations and that the survey has been open several months; Jackson said the plan was to keep the survey open about six months and to reassess the closing date after the second stakeholder visioning meeting. Officials discussed the link between the study and eligibility for state and federal funding and how millage differences between jurisdictions could affect residents’ contributions.

Jackson invited commissioners to the stakeholder meetings and offered to provide electronic versions of the survey for distribution. The presentation concluded with MODA asking for continued outreach support from the city to improve survey participation and stakeholder engagement.