Metro Transit

What Metro Transit does

Metro Transit, operating under the legal name Central County Transportation Authority (CCTA), is a public transit authority serving Kalamazoo County, Michigan. The system delivers multi-modal public transportation through four service lines: a fixed-route bus network branded as Metro (20+ routes running on 15-, 30-, and 60-minute headways with 36 buses, 11 of which are hybrid-electric), an ADA/paratransit service called Metro Connect (45 ADA-compliant coaches delivering 148,286 rides in 2025), an agency van program called Metro Share (11 vans, 30,439 riders served in the prior year), and a microtransit pilot called Metro Link launched April 15, 2024 in partnership with Via across three service zones. Supporting technology includes the Track My Bus real-time AVL system, the myStop Mobile app, and a publicly published GTFS data feed consumed by Google Maps, Apple Maps, Bing, Moovit, and TransitApp. Governance is split between CCTA, which manages fixed-route services in the Kalamazoo urbanized area, and the Kalamazoo County Transportation Authority (KCTA), which oversees countywide paratransit services. Sean McBride serves as Executive Director.

The business model is hybrid public funding. Metro operates on a $27.5 million total operating budget, of which approximately 39% is funded by a voter-approved local property tax millage (currently 0.3124 mills, with a proposed increase to 0.36 mills on the August 2026 ballot expected to raise an additional $4.6 million in 2027). The remainder is composed of state transit grants via MDOT, federal transit grants, and usage-based rider fares — Metro Connect general rides are priced at $12 per trip, with reduced fares available to seniors and individuals with disabilities. Riders are a horizontal mix of general public commuters, students at Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College, seniors and ADA-certified riders, and government/non-profit agency clients using Metro Share. Customers are acquired through community engagement, board meetings, the kmetro.com website, mobile apps, social media, and a central hub at the Kalamazoo Transportation Center at 530 N. Rose Street, Kalamazoo. Service differentiation rests on regulatory protection, network coverage, GTFS data integration, and the emerging Metro Link microtransit layer rather than proprietary technology.

Name

Metro Transit

Legal name

Central County Transportation Authority

Website

https://kmetro.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1900

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Metro Transit (legally the Central County Transportation Authority) is a public transit authority operating fixed-route buses, ADA paratransit, agency vans, and a microtransit pilot for Kalamazoo County, Michigan residents, students, and seniors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Transportation Services

NAICS

Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Special Needs Transportation (485991)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100), Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Transit Agencies (Bus, Rail, Metro, Paratransit) (BPAIALAB)

Keywords

• Public bus transit
• ADA paratransit services
• Fixed-route bus service
• Microtransit on-demand
• County transportation authority

Headquarters

HQ city

Kalamazoo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Transportation Operating Budget: Total budget of $27.5 million funded through rider fares, local millage (approximately 39% of budget), state transit grants, and federal transit grants. Local millage leverages state and federal public transit funding to Kalamazoo County.
2. Rider Fares: Revenue generated from passengers using fixed-route bus services, Metro Connect paratransit, and Metro Link microtransit
3. Millage/Tax Revenue: Voter-approved property tax millage funding for Metro Connect and Metro Share services. Currently 0.3124 mills, proposed to increase to 0.36 mills in August 2026. Estimated to raise $4.6 million in first year (2027) if approved.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Metro Transit operates a public bus network of 20+ fixed routes across Kalamazoo County, supported by ADA-compliant paratransit (Metro Connect), agency-provided van services (Metro Share), and an app-based microtransit pilot (Metro Link). Revenue comes from rider fares, a voter-approved local millage, and federal/state transit grants, with a combined annual budget of $27.5 million.

Product overview

Metro Transit operates a multi-modal public transit system for Kalamazoo County consisting of a fixed-route bus network (Metro, 20 routes), an ADA/paratransit service (Metro Connect), an agency van program (Metro Share), and a newer microtransit/on-demand service (Metro Link, launched 2024). Supporting tools include Track My Bus for real-time tracking and a publicly available GTFS feed powering third-party trip-planning apps. The system is governed by two authorities — the Central County Transportation Authority (CCTA) and the Kalamazoo County Transportation Authority (KCTA) — and operates out of the Kalamazoo Transportation Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Metro Fixed-Route Bus Service Metro's core bus network consisting of 20 regularly scheduled routes (Routes 1–19, 25–27) operating across Kalamazoo County with 15-, 30-, and 60-minute frequencies. Operates with a fleet of 36 buses (including 11 hybrid electric), all wheelchair accessible, with bike racks for two bicycles. Available to all residents of Kalamazoo County for commuting, school, shopping, and medical trips.
• Metro Connect Curb-to-curb, shared-ride ADA paratransit service covering all of Kalamazoo County and reaching into surrounding counties including the VA Medical Center in Battle Creek. Open to all citizens with priority for people with disabilities and seniors. Uses 45 ADA-compliant coaches for door-to-door Access service and provided 148,286 rides in 2025. Scheduled by phone up to seven days in advance.
• Metro Share Van service providing nine no-cost vehicles to certified government and non-profit agencies that supply their own drivers to transport seniors and individuals with disabilities. Vehicles are reserved seven days a week by approved agencies and served 30,439 riders in the prior year.
• Metro Link App-based microtransit and on-demand service that operates like Uber or Lyft but uses transit-specific vehicles to connect riders in lower-density areas to the fixed-route bus network. A pilot program launched April 15, 2024, serving three designated zones within Kalamazoo County via a Via-powered booking platform.
• Kalamazoo Transportation Center Centralized multimodal transportation hub at 530 N. Rose Street, Kalamazoo, serving as the operational and customer-service center for Metro fixed-route buses, Metro Connect paratransit, and connecting transit services.
• GTFS Data Feed Publicly published General Transit Feed Specification data feed providing Metro's schedule and route information to third-party transit applications including Google Maps, Apple Maps, Bing, Moovit, and TransitApp, enabling trip planning and integration with national mapping platforms.

Quantifiable outcome

• Metro Connect provided 148,286 rides in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Via (RideWithVia)coreTechnology or Integration · 15 April 2024Technology platform provider for Metro Link on-demand microtransit service operating in designated zones within Kalamazoo County
• City of PortagecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Jurisdictional partner within the Kalamazoo urbanized service area; fixed-route Metro buses travel throughout the city
• Kalamazoo County Board of CommissionerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Appoints members to KCTA Board; passed original 0.45 millage to fund countywide transit services
• City of KalamazoocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal operator and current partner in the public transit system; system was transferred from City of Kalamazoo to CCTA on October 1, 2016
• Western Michigan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity campus served by Metro routes including Stadium/KVCC route; Metro Link provides first/last mile connections
• Kalamazoo Valley Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity college served by Metro routes as part of the fixed-route network
• Comstock Township, Oshtemo Township, Kalamazoo Township, Texas TownshipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partners within the Kalamazoo urbanized service area where fixed-route bus service operates
• Google Maps, Bing, Apple Maps, Moovit, TransitAppcoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party mapping applications that integrate Metro's GTFS schedule data to provide trip planning information to riders

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Rapid (Interurban Transit Partnership): Operates fixed-route bus, paratransit (GO!Bus), and on-demand services in the Grand Rapids metro area. Closest direct peer — another mid-size Michigan public transit authority with comparable multi-modal structure and similar budget scale.
• Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide): Provides fixed-route bus, paratransit (A-Ride), and on-demand services (ARide Flex) across the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti urbanized area. Highly comparable in service mix, governance structure, and integration with university ridership.
• Capital Area Transportation Authority (CATA): Public transit authority serving Lansing, East Lansing, and surrounding areas with fixed-route buses, paratransit (Spec-Tran), and on-demand services (Redi-Ride). Comparable Michigan mid-size operator with similar millage-funded governance model.
• Lane Transit District (LTD): Public transit district serving the Eugene-Springfield metro area with fixed-route bus, paratransit, and point-deviation services. Comparable mid-size Oregon operator with similar governance and service-line breadth.
• Spokane Transit Authority (STA): Public transit authority serving Spokane with fixed-route buses, paratransit, and on-demand microtransit zones. Comparable mid-size operator with multi-modal service structure and voter-approved funding base.
• Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA): Provides fixed-route bus, paratransit (TARTA Call-A-Ride), and on-demand microtransit services in the Toledo metro area. Mid-size peer with similar service portfolio, ADA paratransit emphasis, and millage-based funding structure.

Broad incumbents

• Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation (IndyGo): Larger Midwestern urban bus transit operator offering fixed-route, paratransit (Open Door), and microtransit services. Operates at greater scale than Metro but covers a comparable service mix and faces similar millage/funding dynamics.
• Uber: Largest TNC operating in Kalamazoo County. Competes with Metro's fixed-route and Metro Link services for discretionary urban trips; relevant peer for understanding substitution risk and competitive dynamics in the local mobility market.
• Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (RTA): Mid-size Ohio transit authority offering fixed-route bus, paratransit, and connecting services across the Dayton region. Comparable in service mix and reliance on local tax funding for operations.

Emerging players

• Via Transportation: Technology platform provider powering Metro Link's on-demand microtransit pilot. Not a direct operating peer but a critical ecosystem partner whose platform enables Metro's microtransit ambitions and is comparable to other transit-tech partners serving mid-size agencies.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@metrokalamazoomichigan3091/featured
• Xx.com/metrokzoo
• Facebookfacebook.com/metrotransit
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kalamazoo-metro-transit

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Metro Transit