By Melissa Wentarmini
Associate Editor
Erich Fix has spent a decade at the Alger Transit Authority, beginning as a bus driver before moving through dispatch and operations and eventually becoming executive director.
From behind the wheel and inside the Altran office, he has watched the transit authority become part of the daily operations of Alger County, carrying residents to places they cannot get to on their own.
Fix said many people don’t see how vital the service is to the community until they or someone close to them needs it.
“I don’t think people realize how much they use the service,” he said. “The ones that are supporting and keeping Altran going and keeping it strong are my local people.”
Alger County voters will decide on Aug. 4 whether to increase Altran’s millage from 0.75 mill up to 1 mill for five years, 2027 through 2031. If approved and fully levied in 2027, the millage is expected to generate about $557,984 in its first year. The additional 0.25 mill would bring in about $140,000 annually.
For property with a taxable value of $100,000, Altran estimates the annual cost would rise from about $74 to $98. Fix said the increase is needed because the cost of nearly every aspect of public transportation has risen, including fuel, utilities, vehicle parts, maintenance and facility expenses.
Altran is also preparing for a reduction in state transportation funding. The agency’s millage information sheet says Michigan’s statewide public transportation budget was reduced by about 33%. The exact funding effect on Altran will depend on the state’s final allocation among transit agencies.
Fix said Altran has tried to avoid shifting more of those expenses to riders, many of whom already qualify for reduced fares.
“I don’t want to have to raise the rates,” Fix said. “I’ve already done an increase in fares, and I put that one off for five years.”
During its most recent reporting period, Altran provided 61,360 passenger trips. Of those, 19,873 were rides for older adults and people with disabilities, while 8,287 were work-related. Its vehicles traveled 422,683 miles, used 41,927 gallons of fuel and supported 26 employees.
Altran also operates vehicles equipped to accommodate wheelchairs, walkers and passengers with other mobility needs.
“We kill it when it comes to handicap accessibility and getting these people out of their homes,” Fix said. “I have seen my drivers go above and beyond.”
He said the service allows residents to make their own choices instead of waiting for transportation to fit someone else’s schedule.
“These people realize that they can get out of their home if they want to go to the grocery store or get their own prescription instead of waiting for somebody whose convenience is Tuesday or Wednesday,” he said.
That independence is central to Altran’s role, Fix said.
“For some, asking for help can feel uncomfortable or burdensome,” he said. “Altran provides a dependable option that allows residents to travel with dignity, maintain their independence and complete everyday tasks without feeling as though they must beg others for transportation.”
Altran also serves residents without dependable vehicles. During the summer, it transports seasonal employees serving the county’s tourism industry, while local businesses benefit year-round when workers have a reliable way to get to work.
Fix said people who have never used Altran may assume it is intended only for older adults, people with disabilities or residents experiencing financial hardship.
“Once they use the service, they’re like, ‘Holy cow, you literally picked me up at my door,’” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re an adult or a child. We take people to and from their destination, and we get them there safely.”
If the proposal fails, Altran would have to evaluate fares, routes, staffing, operating hours and service availability based on the funding that remains.
The Munising-to-Marquette route could be among the services affected. It currently runs three times per day, five days a week, but could be reduced or potentially discontinued.
For Fix, the August vote is about whether Alger County will continue supporting an essential community service.
“A community without adequate transportation can leave people isolated and unable to access health care, employment, food and other basic services,” he said. “Altran is part of the essential infrastructure that keeps Alger County connected, accessible and moving.”