BATA Next Wave is a Transit Master Plan (TMP) that will provide a roadmap to guide the agency’s priorities for the next five to ten years. This plan will help to identify how best to use the agency’s resources to maximize the benefits that transit can bring to the community.

 

BATA Next Wave will evaluate variables unique to the region, assess transit demand, identify potential opportunities, build off BATA's recent successes, and make recommendations based on guiding principles, stakeholder and community input, and technical analyses.

 

This effort will prepare BATA for future challenges while also improving transportation options, helping our community’s residents be better connected to jobs, services, and educational opportunities. We encourage you to return to this site to learn about this project and provide your comments and feedback to improve future service.

 

Why a transit master plan?

 

As Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties continue to grow and the region cements itself as a premier tourism destination in northern Michigan, (BATA) is preparing to meet the changing needs of the community. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 has led to a drastic shift in how people travel across the country and in the greater Traverse City region. Although transit ridership has started to return to about 50% of pre-pandemic levels, it is likely that we are dealing with a “new normal” for transit demand, and limited staffing resources for the foreseeable future, and now is an excellent time to evaluate these changes and develop a plan for BATA moving forward.

 

In the last five years, BATA has increased ridership, launched a high-frequent fare-free Bayline service, upgraded tourism-based services, developed a mobile-ticketing program, improved rural door-to-door service, piloted and retained the Link On-Demand service, and is close to starting construction on a new transit facility to support future growth of the agency. BATA Next Wave will build on these successes to develop guiding principles and implementable goals for the agency for the next 5 to 10 years.

 

​BATA Next Wave Executive Summary.pdf icon BATA Next Wave Executive Summary.pdf

 

​BATA Next Wave Final Report w Appendix (Draft).pdf icon BATA Next Wave Final Report w Appendix (Draft).pdf