The study will explore how to increase MAX ridership while continuing to meeting the needs of existing riders, with a focus on suggestions that can be implemented in the shorter-term using the drivers and vehicles that MAX already has.

During the fall of 2023, MAX conducted community surveys - in paper and online - and talked with riders at the Depot to better understand rider and non-rider needs and the transfers that riders make.

Two of the three highest priority needs - increased service hours and weekend service - will require more drivers and vehicles. While MAX is working on adding new resources, this study focused on what MAX can do with current resources, including providing more frequent buses.

The current system includes 8 routes that run once every 60 minutes and all begin and end at the depot. Reserve-A-MAX is available for ADA-eligible customers as well as certain general public trips.

The proposed system includes 6 routes, 4 of which will run every 30 minutes, and 2 of which will run every 60 minutes. Reserve-A-MAX will continue to serve ADA-eligible customers and will serve more limited general public trips. There are no proposed changes to ADA-eligible services or dialysis services. Microtransit zones will be explored to improve access to employment and hard-to-serve residential areas. MAX riders will have access to real-time information about their buses through a new rider app.

Riders will be able to connect between routes at many different places, with varying levels of wait between connections. MAX is asking the community to prioritize routes for 30 minute frequency and to share ideas about the connection points - which ones should be prioritized for improved timing and bus shelters?

On the current system, the rider would spend 97 total minutes on the bus or transferring between buses. Depending on the timing of when the rider wants to make the trip and how long they stay at the Meijer, they may wait up to an hour for the bus, because both buses only run once an hour.

Under the proposed system, the rider would spend 62 total minutes on the bus or transferring between buses. If both buses come every 30 minutes, the longest the rider would have to wait to take the initial or return trip would be 30 minutes. In the exercise below, MAX is asking the public to prioritize which routes should be 30 minutes.

On the current system, the rider would spend 83 total minutes on the bus or transferring between buses. Depending on the timing of when the rider wants to make the trip and how long they stay at the Walmart, they may wait up to an hour for the bus, because both buses only run once an hour.

Under the proposed system, the rider would spend 61 total minutes on the bus or transferring between buses. If both buses come every 30 minutes, the longest the rider would have to wait to take the initial or return trip would be 30 minutes. In the exercise below, MAX is asking the public to prioritize which routes should be 30 minutes.

Microtransit is a flexible service that can be set up to operate in many different ways. MAX will work with residents and businesses in the proposed microtransit zones to understand how best to provide service and better understand transit need in those areas.

The boundaries and specific services within the proposed microtransit zones are still to be determined. MAX is interested in hearing about unmet transit needs from those who live and work in and around the proposed zones.

The boundaries and specific services within the proposed microtransit zones are still to be determined. MAX is interested in hearing about unmet transit needs from those who live and work in and around the proposed zones.

The boundaries and specific services within the proposed microtransit zones are still to be determined. MAX is interested in hearing about unmet transit needs from those who live and work in and around the proposed zones.

After hearing from the community about these proposed changes, MAX will revise the proposal for the final plan and share it with the community in April for further feedback. The MAX board is expected to review and adopt the final plan in May.

This transit study is the first step in the process to improve MAX services. In addition to many more steps needed to put the plan into action, MAX will continue to explore how to further improve services in the short-term and long-term, including as new resources become available.