Need a ride? Try the MTA bus system

Having personal transportation shouldn’t be the thing that stops you from finding and keeping a job. Thanks to the public bus system in the area known as the Mass Transportation Authority or MTA, individuals who need to get to work have public transportation as a viable option.

“It’s a very convenient and great way to get around,” says Paul Mattern, Chief Development Officer for MTA. “We are currently making strides to make it more convenient for the community.”

One of those changes is a new mobile app which aims to launch in early March 2024. The app, which is named MTA Go, will allow individuals to use a cashless option to ride the bus. Currently, riding the bus costs $1.75 which can only be accepted via cash. Later this year, the MTA will move to implement a bus pass system for those who want to prepay for bus rides.

The bus system has 14 city routes throughout the area that run on half-hour schedules from 6:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. After 6 p.m. the bus routes run hourly until 11 p.m. For those who need to rely on the bus to get to and from work, the mobile app Moovit can help.

“Moovit is pretty intuitive, you put in your destination and the app tells you where to go to get to your bus stop,” says Mattern. “There are get off alerts, too, and your phone will vibrate if you get off in two stops. It will also show you how to walk to your destination.”

Riders can even plan their trip in advance. With Moovit, users can set the time they need to arrive at their destination and the app will give instructions on when to leave and where to go to arrive on time.

For those who live outside of the bus route, MTA has an option to help people get to work. Your Ride is a personalized public transit service for people who are unable to use fixed-route bus service. There are 11 Your Ride service centers throughout Genesee County including Burton, Clio, Davison/Ortonville, Fenton, Flint East, Flint West, Flushing, Grand Blanc, Mt. Morris, and Swartz Creek. Your Ride costs $3.50 for the public. Those who need to schedule a trip can do so by calling (810) 767-5541.

The public transportation system is a safe and easy way to get to and from a job when you don’t have personal transportation.

“Many people who use the bus are going to work like everyone else,” says Mattern. “If anyone has any trouble on the bus or feels uncomfortable riding for the first time, they can sit near the bus driver who is always paying attention.”

Mattern added that there are very few incidents on the bus and that drivers try to keep it orderly.

For more information on MTA, visit MTAFlint.org.