ZEELAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – The Zeeland City Council is saying “not so fast” to a proposed second MAX Transit fixed bus route through Zeeland.
Although Zeeland City Manager Tim Klunder recommended before last night’s biweekly business meeting approval of allocating 18 thousand dollars towards an additional route that would include stops at Spectrum-Zeeland Community Hospital, the Holland Hospital Urgent Care center off of 84th Avenue and other locations not currently on the MAX fixed system, council members decided instead to table the matter in order to consider it further. The reason for the pause was to consider the impact of the growing ride-sharing service industry, which some council members feel could make the new public transit route irrelevant.
According to the Macatawa Area Express Authority, the bulk of the 279 thousand-dollar price tag for the new line would be paid by federal funds, with Zeeland Township funding around 15 grand. The matter will be reconsidered in a future council work-study session before it is taken off of the table for any action. Klunder was hopeful of having the new route in place by August.
