LOCAL

Saugatuck's busing authority is asking for a funding renewal in August. Here's why.

Carolyn Muyskens
The Holland Sentinel
The Interurban Transit Authority runs a free parking shuttle during busy summer weekends from the Saugatuck High School parking lot to downtown Saugatuck.

SAUGATUCK — The Interurban Transit Authority is seeking a millage renewal this August for the 0.5-mill property tax that provides about one-third of the bus system's revenue.

The authority has taxed the communities of Saugatuck, Saugatuck Township and Douglas at the rate of 0.5 mills since 1998 and is seeking a renewal of the same millage at 0.5 mills for another five years. Prior to 1998, the bus authority levied a 0.75-mill millage and a 1-mill millage for several years.

The bus system primarily provides door-to-door demand response services, with six to seven buses on the road at a time during peak summer months.

Fares are $1 per trip for adults and $0.50 for children, seniors and adults with disabilities.

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"We use the millage funds to keep fares affordable for passengers," said Interurban Executive Director Phyllis Yff. "Without the millage we would have to increase our fares and lower our ridership and leave many passengers without transportation."

The millage provides $380,000, or about 32 percent of Interurban's revenue. State and federal transportation grants provide about 63 percent of the authority's revenue and passenger fares make up 4 percent.

The Saugatuck Interurban provides bus service from Saugatuck to Holland in two round trips on Tuesdays, a service dubbed "Two Way Tuesdays."

"Our highest ridership year was 2019 with 70,000 passengers that year, which is wonderful for a community of our size," Yff said. "The pandemic decreased our ridership about half the first year. Ridership numbers are climbing and we expect to finish this year at about 80 percent of what our ridership has been prior to the pandemic."

The primary election is Tuesday, Aug. 2.

Interurban's services:

  •  Door-to-door demand-response service, seven days a week: "Give us a call and tell us where you want to go."
  • "Two-way Tuesdays:" two round trips between Holland and Saugatuck on Tuesdays with connection with Holland's Macatawa Area Express buses.
  • Free shuttle from parking lot at Saugatuck High School to downtown Saugatuck Saturdays and Sundays in the summer

— Contact reporter Carolyn Muyskens at cmuyskens@hollandsentinel.com and follow her on Twitter at @cjmuyskens.