Metro Transit (Kalamazoo)

Metro
Overview
Owner	Kalamazoo, MI
Locale	Kalamazoo, MI, Portage, MI, Kalamazoo County, MI, Oshtemo Township, MI, Kalamazoo Township, MI, Comstock Township, MI, Texas Township, MI, Pavilion Township, MI, Parchment, MI
Transit type	bus service, para transit
Number of lines	20 fixed routes (January 2019)
Number of stations	Kalamazoo Transportation Center, Western Michigan University Campus Loading Zone, Crossroads Mall
Daily ridership	5,900 (weekdays, Q2 2024)[1]
Annual ridership	1,819,500 (2023)[2]
Chief executive	Sean McBride
Headquarters	530 N. Rose Street Kalamazoo MI
Website	http://kmetro.org
Operation
Began operation	1967
Number of vehicles	25 diesel fixed route busses, 11 hybrid electric diesel fixed route busses, 10 community service vans, 45 county connect coaches

Kalamazoo Metro Transit (commonly known as KMetro) is a public transport service that operates 20 routes in the Kalamazoo, Michigan, metropolitan area. Most routes serve the city proper, but some extend into the neighboring communities of Portage, Parchment, Comstock Township, Kalamazoo Township, and Oshtemo Township. Service is primarily by bus, although a special door to door Metro County Connect service is also available for riders. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 1,819,500, or about 5,900 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.

Metro Transit is primarily funded by a combination of federal, state, and local contributions; in 2003, rider fares made up 19.25% of the operating budget.

Kalamazoo Metro Transit was formed in 1967, when residents of Kalamazoo voted to acquire the failing private transit company Kalamazoo City Lines. In 1980, with the purchase of a new bus fleet, Metro Transit operated the first fully wheelchair-accessible fleet in Michigan.

In 2003, Kalamazoo Metro Transit carried riders on more than three million trips. About one-third of the passengers had no driver's license, automobile, or other means of motorized transport.^[3]

In 2006, voters approved a millage to permit Metro Transit to retain night and Saturday service and add two routes in Portage.^[4] Declining financial support from the state, a flagging local economy, and rising fuel prices, led Metro Transit to increase fares to the current rate (as of January 2010) of $1.50 per adult.

In August 2015 voters approved a millage of up to 0.75 mills to extend service to 10 p.m. on 3 routes, 11:15 p.m. for 3 routes and to 12:15 p.m. on 12 routes and also added daytime Sunday service from 8:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. on 17 routes starting in September 2016 and running through 2020.

In January 2018 Metro extended 11 routes on Sunday to 6:15pm.

In January 2019 Metro added an additional route #20 East Comstock in response to the whole township of Comstock starting to pay for service in the 2015 millage and only the Western edge had currently been receiving fixed route service.

Through a partnership with Western Michigan University WMU students and faculty are allowed to utilize any route in the system free of charge when showing their Bronco ID.^[5]

In Fall 2019, Metro reached an agreement with Kalamazoo Public Schools to allow students to utilize any route for free similar to their long running contract with Western Michigan University. This program was initially extremely popular, however, behavioral and capacity issues on city buses led to the program being restricted to an opt-in system.

In April 2020, Metro temporarily suspended operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. although single passenger trips were permitted on a first come first serve basis. Fare-free fixed route services resumed mid-May 2020^[6] for essential services only. In April 2021,transit services were scaled back due to Covid-19 case surges and driver shortages.^[7]