Introducing Metro Link!
There is a new service in greater Kalamazoo designed to help people get where they want to go, and it aims to do so quickly, easily, and affordably.
Metro Link, a service of Metro, is an app-driven, on-demand rideshare service that combines the best aspects of public transportation with the flexibility of the private on-demand transportation services that have gained popularity in recent years. The pilot service is set to launch April 15 and run through the end of 2025.
“The goal of Metro Link is to use technology to expand access to equitable, flexible public transportation in the Kalamazoo area through extending the reach of Metro’s bus network,” said Metro Executive Director Sean McBride.
Metro Link will provide rides in three distinct zones within the Central County Transportation Authority (CCTA) boundaries. By creating zones that overlap significantly with existing bus routes, Metro Link will complement the existing system, providing a more robust public transportation system in the area. Riders will easily be able to extend a trip to the downtown transportation hub or beyond.
The Metro Link app is now available in the Apple App and Google Play Stores. A rider will be able to book a ride through the app or by calling (269) 388-6373. He or she will be matched with others headed in the same direction in a distinctive Metro Link branded vehicle for a quick, efficient shared trip.
Depending on their trip, riders will be able to easily transfer to the bus system or take Link directly to their destination.
CCTA Board Chair Greg Rosine has been a champion of this service since it became a topic of conversation more than a year ago. “Bus transportation is not economically viable in less-dense areas, but suburban residents need good transportation to employment, medical services, shopping, and recreation, too,” he said.
“A strength of this service is that it features professionally-maintained Metro Link vehicles driven by professionally-trained drivers,” Rosine said, pointing to Metro’s partnership with Via, a global leader in microtransit services. “For example, Via’s drivers must adhere to the same drug testing standards as our bus drivers.”
Metro Link is a cashless service. Payment will be made by debit or credit card through the app when booking the trip. The base fare will be $1.50 per ride, and reduced fares for seniors and individuals with disabilities are available. Qualified riders can arrange for reduced fares by calling Metro at (269) 337-8222. Link riders transferring to the bus system will receive a free transfer good for one hour.
“This is a pilot program,” McBride said, “and we expect that it will evolve as we learn how riders are using the service.”
Metro Link is the latest service in the emerging global transportation trend of “microtransit,” a segment of the public transit industry marked by the use of small vehicles available on demand through the use of dynamic routing technology. Though microtransit isn’t new, it has experienced rapid growth during recent years.
Metro has partnered with Via, a global leader in microtransit. Via provides similar services in 700 markets in 40 countries with a strong presence here in Michigan. Cities such as Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Muskegon each use the firm to expand access to public transportation in those markets.
Metro serves Kalamazoo, Portage, Parchment, Comstock Township, Kalamazoo Township, Oshtemo Township, and Texas Township with 20 bus routes, 961 bus stops, and a fleet of 46 buses. It also provides the Metro Connect service, a curb-to-curb, ADA-compliant paratransit service, and Metro Share, a van lending program for approved agencies that provide service to senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. Metro Connect and Metro Share are available to the 250,000 residents of Kalamazoo County’s 562 square-mile service area. Metro was founded in 1967.
