Escanaba, Michigan – September 24, 2015 – Delta Area Transportation Authority (DATA) will be requesting a .6 mill property tax renewal for 5 years on the November 3rd ballot in the City of Escanaba and City of Gladstone. DATA’s Executive Director, John Stapleton said this millage allows DATA to provide a very significant transportation service to the residents of Escanaba and Gladstone.
If renewed, the two millage’s will allow DATA to continue to operate their 3 shuttles services which include, the Escanaba shuttle, Bay College shuttle and the Gladstone shuttle that run on a fixed schedule with route deviations. It also provides for demand response service which picks up at your door and drops you off at your desired location. This service is available for residents of both cities from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, Stapleton said.
DATA’s revenues come from state and federal allocations, contracts with local agencies, fares from riders and millage’s in the cities of Escanaba, Gladstone and Escanaba Township. Stapleton said DATA’s state and federal funding is tied to local funding, with every $1 in expenses leading to a 52-cent match in government funding. Without a millage DATA would not be a viable transportation option for most people in the community. We would not be able to provide even half of the rides we currently provide without a millage.
If renewed, the millage would lead to approximately $166,948, from the City Escanaba and $77,489, from the City of Gladstone. While this greatly benefits service and reduce costs for riders, the impact on property owners would be very minimal. Residents who own property with a $50,000 taxable value — or with a real value of $100,000 — would pay only $30 a year, or just $2.50 a month.
He said most riders use DATA for trips to medical appointments, employment, shopping, Bay College or social activities. He said without millage support, residents must either find other more-costly options or stay home. “The quality of life and care for those with challenges is improved greatly, and I can’t emphasize this enough, with very little cost to property owners,” Stapleton said.
He said transportation services mean elderly residents are able to live in their homes, often for several more years, because they use the DATA bus when they’re no longer able or willing to drive. He said it also provides an option for residents who do not want to drive in bad weather. “It allows residents to remain independent and postpone moving into an apartment, nursing home, being dependent on relatives or having to own and operate a car,” Stapleton added. Although Americans are healthier and living longer than ever before, seniors are outliving their ability to drive safely by an average of 7 to 10 years.
For parents who need to get their children to and from school, after-school events, home from school or to sporting activities, DATA is a vital service. “Our service is also popular for college students who need transportation,” Stapleton added. We provided almost 8,000 rides last year for students attending Bay. All DATA buses have cameras and all the drivers have background checks.
DATA is trying to best use its resources in order to minimize costs. A reduction in state and federal funding has forced us to schedule our buses and staff as efficient as we can. “While the amount of reimbursement from state and federal funding continues to go down, ridership demand is strong and our costs have gone up for the past 26 years. Utilities, maintenance, buses, tires, benefits and wages have all risen,” Stapleton said.
DATA has been serving the county since 1989. Since that time DATA has grown to provide over 490 rides per day, 9,000 rides per month and 112,000 rides a year in Delta County. DATA buses drove 366,117 miles in 2014 and averaged 1 rider every .31 miles driven or 5.22 passengers for every hour a bus was on the road. “Those numbers speak for themselves and are nowhere near empty buses” Stapleton said. DATA’s fleet is made up of 17 buses and it has 27 employees, most being part-time. That number includes six office staff, with four of those being part-time.
Click To Submit Press Releases, News, Calendar Items, and Community Events to mediaBrew radio stations WFXD, WKQS, WRUP, GTO, Fox Sport Marquette, and 106.1 The Sound
Marquette, Michigan Calendar; Ishpeming Calendar; Negaunee Calendar; Gwinn Calendar; Negaunee Calendar and Events; Upper Peninsula Calendar of Events; Escanaba Events and Calendar