Introduction

In 1998, the Northeast Michigan Council of Governments applied for and received a grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation.  The grant application was submitted with the encouragement and support of numerous agencies, local municipalities and counties.  The grant funded the following multi-county transportation study. 

Study Area Information 

The study area cover four counties, Cheboygan, Emmet, Otsego and Presque Isle, all  located in the northern lower peninsula of Michigan.  Figure 1.1, depicts the geographic features of the study area.  The major population centers are Cheboygan, Gaylord, Petoskey and Rogers City; all of which are county seats.  The cities of Harbor Springs and Onaway are located in the study area, along with the villages of Alanson, Mackinaw City, Millersburg, Pellston, Posen, Vanderbilt and Wolverine.  There 58 townships in the four county study area.  

According to the 1997 population projections developed by U.S. Census Bureau and Office of Management, the estimated population of the four county area is approximately 88,000 year round residents.  With the high number of seasonal residents, the summer population is expected to be will above 100,000 persons.  Approximately, 60 percent of the population is located within the cities of Cheboygan, Gaylord, Petoskey and Rogers City and adjacent Townships.  

Public transportation tends to be used by four primary groups: persons with low income, persons living in households with no or limited access to automobiles, seniors, and persons with mobility limitations and disabilities.  The four major population centers tend to have the highest concentrations of transit dependent populations. 

Three communities in the study area, Cheboygan, Petoskey and Gaylord, tend to be regional draws for employment, medical, shopping,  education and cultural activities.  Information gathered in this study clearly shows there large number of people living outside these communities that need to access the employment, medical, shopping, education and cultural opportunities and services. 

There are a number of transportation service providers within the four county project area.  Otsego County has a county-wide dial-a-ride public transit system. The other three counties operate bus systems through the Commission on Aging.  While buses are open to general public usage, the primary focus of these systems is to service the elderly and handicapped population of each county.  A number of agencies provide client based transportation services. 

Study Process 

A grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation provided the funding to complete this multi-county study.  MDOT has also funded individual county-wide transportation studies.  The Cheboygan County transportation coordination study was completed in 1995 and the Presque Isle County transportation coordination study was completed the summer of 1999.  Both of these studies documented existing conditions, public transportation needs and proposed

alternative systems to improve overall public transportation in each county.  In addition, each study identified the need to transport people outside of the county to access needed services in other communities. The intent of this multi-county study is to complement these past studies.

To provide input and guidance throughout the planning process, the Northern Michigan Regional Transit Planning Committee was formed.  The committee had members from Michigan Department of Transportation, Otsego County Transit system, Family Independence Agencies, Commissions on Aging, County Commissions, Crossroads Industries, Community Mental Health, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Northeast Michigan Consortium,  municipalities, COP Educational Service District, Northern Michigan Hospital and Cheboygan Community Hospital, and the Northeast Michigan Council of Governments.  Several committee meetings were held during the development of the study.   

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