Kalamazoo Metro Transit

Kalamazoo-area voters will head to the polls Aug. 4 to decide whether to continue to support fixed-route public transportation with a .75 mill property tax request that would expand current services offered by Kalamazoo Metro Transit. In addition to maintaining existing fixed-route services, the millage would also support daytime Sunday service for 16 routes and expanded nighttime service for 15 routes, including the Westnedge Avenue route to Crossroads Mall and Meijer in Portage. (Daytona Niles/Kalamazoo Gazette)

(MLive file)

OSHTEMO TOWNSHIP, MI -- A bus route to Meijer and other stores on 9th Street that was expected to be cut with Metro Transit route changes this month will continue.

The Central County Transportation Authority has approved an agreement with Oshtemo Township to continue bus service along West Main Street from U.S. 131 to 9th Street.

The route will include stops at Meijer at 9th Street and West Main. The route was scheduled to end Sept. 6 because the area is outside of the CCTA's boundaries approved in 2014. that year, the Oshtemo Township board opted out precincts 3 and 9 from the CCTA boundary. The route then was not included as part of an Aug. 4, 2015, millage, which funds regional bus service.

The route now will continue, but other routes planned for the area that were scheduled to start Sept. 6 will not happen. Service will not be added to Sage Streete, Stonebrook Avenue or Harding's Market on West Main Street.

As of Sept. 6, the new route will be along West Main Street from Maple Hill Drive to 9th Street. A new stop will be added on West Main at the northeast corner of 9th before the bus turns north and into the Meijer parking lot.

Following a stop at Meijer, the bus will exit onto 9th Street, will turn left on West Main and will proceed east on West Main, adding a stop at Walgreens.

Metro Transit also will be starting late night and Sunday bus service, with many routes operating until 12:15 a.m. weekdays and hourly bus service from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The additional service was added based on feedback from riders and others in the community. It's funded by the CCTA millage.

The Metro County Connect service will start operating Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 12:15 a.m., Saturday 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. through 5 p.m.