MAX picks up ridership

MAX picks up ridership

Macatawa Area Express’ operations facility in Holland Township stores the public transit agency’s bus fleet. Courtesy MAX

Macatawa Area Express had a year of milestones.

MAX officials laid out the agency's key results over the past year in an annual report on fiscal year 2013, which ended in September.

The public bus system serves the Holland and Zeeland area.

Ridership

MAX system ridership increased by 4.3 percent this past year.

The total number of trips was 470,781.

Some of the growth came from 5,600 rides that were provided on MAX’s new Twilight route.

MAX was able to provide 35 percent more demand-response rides in the evening, when the need for transportation is high, by operating two buses in the evening.

Operations facility

MAX completed its $4.7 million, 33,500-square-foot Greenway Drive operations facility.

MAX said the new operations center and bus storage facility will position the agency to meet the long-term transportation needs of the greater Holland area.

The centrally located facility also has ample acreage and building space surrounding it for future growth.

Fleet

MAX was able to add six cutaway buses, replacing outdated buses and reducing the average age of the vehicles in its fleet to 4.17 years old.

The modernized buses provide easily accessible boarding ramps for passengers.

On time

MAX transit also achieved an overall on-time performance of 96.5 percent and customer satisfaction levels of 98 percent.

The agency called the results “outstanding” and said it is grateful to its team of drivers, dispatchers and support staff for their work.