The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Transit to get closer examination
City officials to look at offer by Peopleís Express bus company
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 17, 2007
The city is interested in but cautious about an area transportation company's offer to take over bus service currently provided by the fated Milan Public Transit.
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Milan Transit is slated to shut down soon after the end of the school year in light of the city's decision to slash the agency's $95,000 subsidy. The department's looming closure has caused many of its senior citizen riders to fret about how they will get to doctors' appointments and grocery stores without it.
Doug Anderson of People's Express, a transportation company in Whitmore Lake, offered Milan Transit riders a glimmer of hope May 7 when he told Milan City Council that his company was willing to take over a limited range of the city's bus services at a cost to the city of $10,000.
People's Express recently assumed Milan Transit's county grant to provide transportation for handicapped and disabled residents in Saline and Milan.
With many details remaining unclear, Anderson roughly proposed leasing Milan Transit's nine buses and offering rides to senior citizens to doctors' appointments and general rides within the city limits. Routes would not extend to Milan schools, he said.
"It's not going to be as good a service as you've got," Anderson said. "It can't be for $10,000. This is the barebones of what we can do."
Anderson attended the council meeting at the invitation of Mayor Owen Diaz after the mayor received Anderson's e-mailed proposal to City Council members the afternoon of May 7.
"I think this is a very good thing to talk about," Diaz said. "If (Anderson) is really sincere, let's explore it."
The city would retain ownership of the buses and lease them to People's Express, which would receive matching grants from state and federal sources, Anderson said.
Anderson said he was prompted to act by calls from concerned area residents.
Diaz asked Anderson to return with a written proposal for the council's review at its May 21 meeting.
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