Battle Creek Transit has updated the service changes set to start Monday, Sept. 25, adding a consolidated bus route that will help neighbors get to final destinations in the afternoon.
To better serve our community, and add some connections at the end of the day, Transit has created a new, temporary bus route that will leave the downtown Transfer Center at 3:15 p.m., Monday through Friday. This route will serve as a connection for riders with a final destination on one of Transit’s hourly routes – Columbia/Territorial, SW Capital, and Fort Custer/VA.
The bus will be parked in the VA slot at the Transfer Center, and the destination will be “Special.”
This temporary, consolidated route will ONLY drop off riders at these stops. Once it leaves downtown, it will serve some of the major stops on the 5W Fort Custer/VA route, then continue to major stops on the 2W-Columbia/Territorial route, and end with stops on the 4S-SW Capital route.
Any riders who get on a half-hour or hourly bus route during the 2 p.m. hour will have this additional opportunity to get home by using the select bus stops on this consolidated route.
This temporary bus route will drop off at these stops:
- Dickman Road at Forest Street
- Dickman Road at Hill Brady Road
- Silver Star Apartments – Clark Road
- Kellogg Community College Regional Manufacturing Technology Center – Hill Brady Road
- Brookside Apartments – Dickman Road
- Meijer – Columbia Avenue
- Columbia Avenue at LaVista Boulevard
- Columbia Avenue at Capital Avenue SW – Pizza Hut
- Beckley Road near Travelodge
- Capital Avenue SW across from Omni Credit Union
- Glenn Cross Road near Teal Run Apartments
- Walmart – Beckley Road/B Drive North
- Meijer – Beckley Road/B Drive North
Transit staff know this route will not meet the needs of all riders, and is committed to working through the current driver shortage and focusing efforts on restoring bus service hours.
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Previous news --
Battle Creek Transit will make additional adjustments to its fixed-route (bus) service, in response to the continued shortage of drivers with a Commercial Driver’s License, beginning next Monday, Sept. 25.
Despite ongoing efforts to hire new CDL drivers, BCT is continuing to face the most significant shortage of drivers that the agency has experienced in its history – drivers must have a CDL to operate our large buses. It is important to note that this isn’t a problem unique to BCT, as transit agencies nationwide face similar challenges and service cuts amid the CDL driver shortage.
In order to maintain service throughout our fixed-route service area, the following additional adjustments to BCT’s fixed-route service schedule will be in place as of Monday, Sept. 25:
- BCT fixed-route (bus) service will operate Monday-Friday, 5:15 a.m.-3:45 p.m. There will still be no service from 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. to provide lunch breaks for bus drivers.
- All hourly bus routes will continue to operate every hour (except for the VA Express, which will continue to only run at 5:45 a.m.) and will service their last route of the day leaving downtown at 2:15 p.m.
- All half-hour bus routes will service their last route of the day leaving downtown at 3:15 p.m.
- BCT door-to-door services, Tele-Transit and BCGo, will continue to operate Monday-Friday, 5:15 a.m.-7 p.m.
BCT staff will be at the downtown Transfer Center, located next to the U.S. Post Office on McCamly Street, Thursday, Sept. 21, and Friday, Sept. 22, to help to address any questions or concerns that riders may have. BCT encourages riders affected by these changes to stop by and learn about Transit’s door-to-door services that can help to fill the gaps left by these fixed-route service adjustments.
The complete listing of BCT’s fixed-route/bus service schedule, by route, as of Monday Sept. 25:
- 1W – West Michigan: 15 minutes after each hour, with the last route leaving downtown at 3:15 p.m.
- 2E – Emmett/East Avenue: 5:15 a.m., 7:15 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 1:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m.
- 2W – Columbia/Territorial: 15 minutes after each hour, with the last route leaving downtown at 2:15 p.m.
- 3E – Main/Post: 15 minutes after each hour, with the last route leaving downtown at 3:15 p.m.
- 3W – Kendall/Goodale: 45 minutes after each hour, with the last route leaving downtown at 3:15 p.m.
- 4N – NE Capital: 45 minutes after each hour, with the last route leaving downtown at 3:15 p.m.
- 4S – SW Capital: 15 minutes after each hour, with the last route leaving downtown at 2:15 p.m.
- 4S – Circulator (operational during Capital Avenue SW bridge closure): 15 and 45 minutes after each hour leaving Lakeview Square Mall, with the last route leaving the mall at 2:45 p.m.
- 5W – Fort Custer/VA Hospital: 15 minutes after each hour, with the last route leaving downtown at 2:15 p.m.; VA Express only at 5:45 a.m.
BCT staff know this is frustrating for riders, and are prepared to help neighbors navigate these additional service adjustments, as we work towards a solution. Neighbors who need help planning their trip can call BCT at 269-966-3474, and our Mobility Manager or dispatch team will be happy to help, as well.
For neighbors who face significant challenges with this new service schedule, BCT encourages them to consider our door-to-door transit options, such as Tele-Transit or BCGo. Both services run Monday-Friday and rides can be booked up to 14 days in advance. More information regarding BCT services can be found on our website at, battlecreekmi.gov/transit.
BCT is looking for part-time or full-time drivers. CDL positions start at $20.61 per hour, with no experience necessary, and paid training.
As the CDL driver shortage continues, BCT is looking to new ways to better serve our community. BCT is also currently accepting applications for non-CDL positions, starting at $18.15 per hour. Once these positions are filled, and new employees are onboarded, BCT plans to increase the number of vehicles that are operating service throughout the day. The focus will be on increasing the number of vehicles operating when fixed-route service is unavailable.
Both CDL and non-CDL positions offer a competitive benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance, a retirement savings account with an employer match, and much more! Those interested can apply online at, battlecreekmi.gov/jobs.
For continued updates regarding changes to BCT routes, neighbors can sign up for Transit text/email alerts at, battlecreekmi.gov/notifyme, in the Alert Center category. You can also follow the BCT Facebook page at, facebook.com/BattleCreekTransit.
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