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By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
AMBER TOWNSHIP — Ludington Mass Transit Authority bus fares will be reduced along the US 10 corridor effective Tuesday, April 1. Rates for service to businesses and residences on US 10 between the Pere Marquette Township line (Meyers Road) and the Scottville city limits (US 31 bypass) will be $4 for regular ridership and $2 for seniors, children ages 11 and under, and the disabled, cutting the pervious fares in half.
The reduction comes as a result of the Amber Township Board of Trustees voting this month to increase the township’s contribution to LMTA from $10,000 a year to $27,475 per year.
“This initiative will greatly benefit both businesses and riders along the corridor by significantly reducing transportation costs for commuting to work, as well as for accessing pharmacies, grocery stores, adult care facilities, and other trips for daily essentials,” said Paul Keson, executive director of LMTA. “This partnership exemplifies the strength of our community and highlights the hard work and dedication to keep costs affordable for everyone.”
Keson said the transportation service will stay the same as it has been which is eastbound on the US-10 corridor every hour and return westbound on the half hour. The last call for service is 6:15 pm Monday through Friday, 3:15 pm on Saturday, and 1:15 pm on Sunday.
Amber Township began contributing to the special service in April 2022. The contribution has allowed for people who live within the authority’s funded service areas to utilize the service to the US 10 areas that are not funded.
LMTA is mostly funded by 1.1975 mill paid by taxpayers in the cities of Ludington and Scottville along with federal and state reimbursements. The millage collects about $480,000 annually. It also contracts with Pere Marquette Township, which is billed per user through a township-funded rate of .2 mil ($170,000) along with some local agencies/entities such as West Shore Community College and West Michigan Community Mental Health and some senior care facilities.
A pilot program was offered to the Amber Township US 10 corridor from April 2022 until December 2024. The majority of businesses and property owners along the corridor failed to express interest in forming a special tax assessment district. As a result, LMTA needed to raise rates, according to Paul Keson, director of LMTA.
While Amber Township continued to pay a yearly contribution, the cost per rider along the corridor was considerably higher. Fares for riders traveling within the authority’s tax-funded zones (Ludington, Scottville and Pere Marquette Township) pay one-way fares of $2 for adults and $1 per child or senior.
“We are privileged to partner once again with Amber Township to provide efficient and affordable public transportation along the US-10 corridor,” Keson said.
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