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Transportation began in our community in March of 1974, when the
first red and white Dodge conversion vans first rolled onto the
streets of Mt. Pleasant. The city Dial-A-Ride program was only the
third small city system in Michigan, preceded by only one month by
the cities of Holland and Ann Arbor. The old service station (now a
city parking lot) at the corner of University and Illinois was the
system' s first home. These services were implemented under new
programs made available through the Michigan Legislature and the
Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). Funded by a one-half
(1/2) cent excise tax on fuel, the operation called for
state-provided vehicles and radios. Expenses for the first year were
100% refundable to the local unit of government. Then-governor
William Milliken was deeply involved in the startup of these new,
Dial·A·Ride, small city systems; and invited local officials to
Lansing for contract signing ceremonies. Barton LaBelle represented
Mt. Pleasant as Mayor at the time Dial-A-Ride began, and has since
served as the Chair of the Michigan Transportation Commission.
In July of 1974, the Isabella County Board of
Commissioners, through its Commission on Aging (COA), created the
first purely rural public transportation program in Michigan. Matt
Engler, Governor John Engler's father, was instrumental in
establishing the COA and its transportation system, VAN-TRAN. Mr.
Engler later became a regular user of the public transit service he
helped pioneer. VAN-TRAN was also funded as a new start small bus
system in Michigan, with MDOT administering operating funds and
providing vehicles and radios.
The new start programs were meant to run for
three years; the percentage of state-guaranteed funding to decline
as fares or other methods of local support gained force.
In 1975, the city conducted a non-binding
advisory vote to determine whether or not the community should
remain in the bus business after the demonstration funding expired.
The vote was two-to-one in favor of continuing the program.
In 1976, after the advisory and millage
elections, the city and county determined that it was best to form a
new entity. Public transportation functions were brought under one
agency, eliminating duplication of efforts and separation of
resources, and bringing about growth which was not possible with two
separate systems.
The Isabella County Transportation Commission
was born in 1977, under Act Seven (VII) of the Urban Cooperation Act
of 1967. This interlocal agreement between the city of Mt. Pleasant
and Isabella County became the first of its kind and served as an
example other communities to follow.
In 1979, the ICTC moved its physical plant to
Packard Road behind Krapohl Ford. This building provided additional garage
space, but did not have enough office space, so administrative
offices were acquired in the former Hall Brothers building at the
corner of Franklin and Broadway.
The initial start of Dial-A-Ride and VanTran
with its five buses, had now grown to a fleet of 12 to 14 vehicles.
Staffing had grown from eight employees to approximately 20.
The years of 1979 and 1980 were large growth
years for the ICTC. New buses meant a new color scheme and the
familiar red and white conversion vans were replaced with yellow
with red and blue stripes.
In 1981 the ICTC moved to the former Bob
Perrigo Lincoln/Mercury dealership location on East Pickard, which
is now Tradition Oldsmobile.
After 20 years of service ICTC finally got its first, new
facility built specifically for its needs. In March of 2001 the ICTC
moved to its current facility located at 2100 E. Transportation
Drive.
The ICTC currently employs 60 people. The fleet
has grown to 35 vehicles ranging in size from
ten (10) passengers to forty-two (42) passengers. Only two buses
in the current ICTC fleet do not have wheelchair lifts.
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