Your Transit Department

N.E. Capital (4N -N.E. Capital) Detour Has Been Cancelled 

The work being done along N.E. Capital has been completed therefore our 4N – N.E. Capital bus is back on it's regular route effective immediately.  We appreciate your patience.

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Transit Service Changes Effective 9/25/2023

Due to continued CDL driver shortage, BCT has to make additional service cuts to their fixed route services. 

BCT continues to be impacted by a CDL driver shortage which results in additional service changes to our fixed route service schedule.  Starting Monday, September 25, fixed route services will run Monday through Friday from 5:15am to 3:45pm.  Service will continue to be unavailable between 11:15am and 12:15pm in order to provide drivers with a lunch break.  All hourly buses will service their last run leaving downtown at 2:15pm.  Half-hour buses will run their last run of the day leaving downtown at 3:15pm.   

BCT door-to-door services, Tele-Transit and BCGo, will continue to operate from 5:15am to 7:00pm, Monday through Friday.

Due to this continued shortage, we are having to look at new ways to better serve our community.  BCT is accepting applications for non-CDL positions.  Once these positions are filled and new employees are onboarded, we plan to increase the number of vehicles that are operating service throughout the course of the day with a focus on increasing the number of vehicles operating when fixed route is unavailable.

We understand the frustration these changes have caused for our riders and we are committed to addressing this issue and working towards a solution.  BCT staff will be at the transfer center this week, Thursday and Friday, to address any questions and concerns that riders have.

In the meantime, please spread the word that we are looking for drivers.  BCT has part-time or full-time positions available for CDL and non-CDL drivers.  CDL positions start at $20.61 per hour, with no experience necessary, and paid training.  Non-CDL positions start at $18.15 per hour.  All positions offer a competitive benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance, a retirement savings account with an employer match, and so much more!  Those interest can apply online at battlecreekmi.gov/jobs 

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DETOURS SET FOR CAPITAL SW BRIDGE REBUILD PROJECT

The city is releasing additional and updated detour information for the Capital Avenue SW bridge rebuild project, set to start on Friday, July 7. 

When Capital SW closes at the bridge over I-94 for the project, it will stay completely closed until the project is finished, planned for 75 days (late September). MDOT will release more information next week about the bridge project itself, and we will share that when we receive it. 

Here’s what you need to know now, for your planning purposes: 

Signs will be posted at Christy Road, Rebecca Road, Beckwith Drive, Langley Road, and Hamilton Lane for local traffic only/no through traffic. We hope to keep detour traffic on the detour routes, and only traffic on these local streets going to the homes there. 

A pedestrian detour will be in place using Beckley Road, Riverside Drive, East Minges Road, and Capital SW. Follow the sidewalks on those roads if you are traveling by non-motorized methods. The Capital SW Circulator bus (info below) also can help in this area.
 
Our water main installation project that includes the area of Helmer and Beckley roads will affect the detours for the Capital SW bridge project. There are closures on Helmer from I-94 to Beckley and on Beckley to Minges South, allowing local traffic only. This means you can only drive into these sections if you are going to a home or business in that area. 

Once the Capital SW bridge over 94 closes on July 7, these detours will be in place: 

• Capital SW southbound – Use Knapp Road, to Minges Road South, to Watkins Road, to Helmer Road, to I-94 east, to the Beckley Road exit. 
   We are working with MDOT to coordinate the Helmer/Watkins traffic signal with the temporary signals at the 94 interchange to help with traffic flow.
   
    
• Capital SW northbound – Use I-94 east to M-66, back to I-94 west, to the Capital Avenue exit.  

We also recommend using Riverside Drive and Columbia Avenue to get around the bridge closure. 

Battle Creek Transit must temporarily detour and change 4S – Capital SW bus route, which will look like this, starting July 7: 

• Outbound – The bus will travel on Capital SW, turn right on Mason Road, right on Dunham Drive, and right on Adams Road, back to Capital. The bus will cross Capital heading east on Beckwith Drive, turn right on Brookfield Drive, and right on Riverside Drive to Lakeview Square Mall.
   
    
• Second, “Capital Circulator” bus will accommodate bus stops along Beckley – The Capital Circulator will meet the 4S bus at the mall at 45 minutes after each hour. Passengers going toward downtown should transfer to the 4S bus, and passengers going to stops on Beckley or south of Mason on Capital should transfer to the Capital Circulator. 
  • The Capital Circulator outbound will turn left on Riverside Drive, right on Beckley, left on Capital SW, left on Glenn Cross Road, left on Minges Creek Place, right on Beckley toward Walmart and Meijer, then back to the mall. 
  • The Capital Circulator is a half-hour route and will leave the mall at 15 and 45 minutes after each hour.
      
• Temporary stops added:  
  • Brookfield Drive near Riverside Drive (outbound) 
  • Riverside Drive before Brookfield Drive (inbound)
      
• Fare-free bus stops: 
  • Capital SW near Hamilton Road (out/inbound) 
  • Capital SW near Christy Road (out/inbound) 
  • Capital SW near Panera Bread (outbound) 
  • Brookfield Drive near Riverside Drive (out/inbound) 
  • Beckley Road near the Travelodge Inn (inbound)
       
• NO service to these bus stops: 
  • Capital SW near Advia Credit Union (outbound) 
  • Beckley Road at Capital SW (inbound) 
  • Capital SW near Red Lobster (inbound) 

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UPCOMING HOLIDAYS

BCT Fare Change

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