In 1976, the Country Express began providing transportation to the residents of Mecosta, Osceola, Lake, and Newaygo counties, and was the first transportation system of its kind in the nation.  This bold experiment did not succeed as planned, closing in 1977, but the Country Express clearly demonstrated the need for public transportation in rural areas.  Recognizing this need, Mecosta Rural Transit began operations in 1978 as an outgrowth of the failed Country Express.  Mecosta Rural Transit initially served the elderly and disabled residents of Mecosta County, but subsequently expanded to meet the needs of all residents throughout the county.  Mecosta Rural Transit eventually changed its name to Mecosta County Area Transit.  In 1983, with the inclusion of Osceola County, the name was changed to Mecosta Osceola County Area Transit. In July 2005, Mecosta Osceola County Area Transit became a Transportation Authority and the name was changed to Mecosta Osceola Transit Authority.

Throughout the history of the two-county system, there has never been local funding, whether by millage or by county subsidy.  Operations have been supported by State and Federal funding, contract fares and fare box revenue.  As State and Federal funding continued to decrease it became necessary to seek other funding sources.  Neither Mecosta County nor Osceola County was able to provide local funding for the service, so in August 2005 Mecosta Osceola Transit Authority placed a millage request on the November 2005 ballot.  A millage of 0.50 in the two counties (which included the Big Rapids Dial-a-Ride, which was receiving funding from the City of Big Rapids) was proposed.  The millage was defeated in Mecosta County by 239 votes and in Osceola County by 424 votes.  The public consensus was that three months between August and November provided little time to plan, prepare, present, and promote the request.  It was stated that the plan was weak, would not provide five-day service demand-response in all of the two counties and that a study should have been done to determine public transportation needs.

The Authority’s Articles of Incorporation stated that if the millage did not pass, Mecosta Osceola Transit Authority would be required to cease operations no later than January 1, 2006, dissolving the Authority.  The Mecosta Osceola Transit Authority Board of Directors asked the Boards of Commissioners of both counties for authorization to continue operations.  In order to gain this approval, Mecosta Osceola Transit Authority had to prove that the service could run in the black with no county funding.  The employees and administration stepped up to the challenge; two employees accepted layoffs, the remaining employees accepted a $2.00 per hour wage cut, and the Director accepted an $8,000 per year pay cut, demonstrating their belief in the service and in public transportation.  The Boards of Commissioners of both counties voted to continue operations until December 2007.

After the millage request was defeated, a study was done; this study was completed in August 2006.  The study indicated that residents of the two counties need public transportation, would use public transportation, and would support public transportation.  With the study done, a transportation plan for the two-county service area was proposed that would provide five days of demand-response service Monday thru Friday.  In August 2006, on completion of this plan, Mecosta Osceola Transit Authority placed a revised millage request on the November 2006 ballot.  Again, the three months between August and November provided little time to prepare, present, and promote the request.  This request did not include the Big Rapids Dial-a-Ride, as the city of Big Rapids believed it was in their best interest not to be included within Mecosta Osceola Transit Authority.  This revised millage request was defeated in both counties by a larger percentage of votes than the first request.  The Mecosta Osceola Transit Authority Board of Directors elected to postpone placing another millage request on the ballot.

Mecosta Osceola Transit Authority has operated in the black since its inception, and succeeded in removing the liabilities that both counties had before the 2005 restructuring as an Authority.  Because of this, the Boards of Commissioners of both counties voted to continue the service indefinitely, removing the sunset provision on ceasing operations.  As of 2009, two part-time drivers, one part-time mechanic, one part-time mechanic’s helper and one part-time operations supervisor were hired.  Mecosta Osceola Transit Authority began dial-a-ride service along the US-10 Corridor, including Reed City and Evart, operating Monday thru Friday, 9:00AM to 2:00PM.  Mecosta Osceola Transit Authority also began dial-a-ride service along the M-66 Corridor, including Barryton, Remus, Mecosta, operating every Wednesday.  Morning and afternoon service is available in all parts of both counties.

In 2010, the M-66 Corridor run was discontinued for lack of ridership.  The US-10 Corridor run continues to show slow and steady ridership growth.  Also, Mecosta Osceola Transit Authority entered into an agreement with the Mecosta Osceola Intermediate School District’s Transportation Department.  As a result, both agencies share the services of a mechanic, and both agencies are housed in Mecosta Osceola Transit Authority’s facility.

Mecosta Osceola Transit Authority has ten revenue vehicles; peak time usage is nine, which leaves one back up vehicle.  These vehicles include three 2001heavy-duty buses, two 2002 heavy-duty buses, one 2005 medium-duty bus, three 2006 medium-duty buses, and one 2011 small bus; the mileage on the heavy-duty and medium-duty buses ranges from 144,790 to 328,242.  In fiscal year ending September 2010, MOTA provided 59,946 rides, traveled 341,173 miles, and logged 13,552 service hours.

Future of Mecosta Osceola Transit Authority

Moving forward, Mecosta Osceola Transit Authority is planning to provide dial-a-ride service to the township areas around the city of Big Rapids.  Additional goals include the eventual expansion of the US-10 Corridor dial-a-ride service, as well as better connection options to neighboring transit services.