12/15/2006

Record-Eagle/Douglas Tesner
Sara Piersma, who has Down Sydrome and works for Shop-N-Save, feels the new Benzie County bus service will make her life a lot easier in getting around the county.

Buses to roll in Benzie

By PATRICK SULLIVAN

psullivan@record-eagle.com

BEULAH — The move from adult foster care to her own home should be smoother for Sara Piersma, thanks to the launch of Benzie County's first fixed-route and dial-a-ride bus service.

Piersma, 34, who has Down syndrome, cannot drive and will appreciate the opportunity to get around the county or get to Traverse City or Manistee.

"When I was living in Grand Rapids I used to take the bus all the time and when I moved up here I started to notice the difference of not having a bus system,” Piersma said. "I'll be able to go to Traverse City and meet up with friends. I'll be able to go out there and go to the mall anytime I want to.”

Benzie Transportation Authority became a reality when voters approved a millage in August to fund the bus system. The service is expected to begin Jan. 1 and will replace limited bus service provided by the Commission on Aging.

"It's been in the works for the better part of a decade,” said Ingemar Johansson, vice chair of the authority's board.

Johansson said a push for public transportation came about amid a realization that some people, especially those who receive state services, need a way to get around.

"Most people take it for granted, but people who don't have access to transportation, it means everything to them,” Johansson said.

A three-year grant that ended a few years ago brought Traverse City-based Bay Area Transportation Authority service to Benzie County and proved how useful the service could be, he said.

"At the end of the grant period a full-sized bus actually went full almost every day,” Johansson said.

Jon Maue, 29, of Beulah, is a graphic designer who supported the initiative and plans to take the bus as much as possible.

"Me and my wife and our young son are going to use it to take trips to Traverse on the weekends and we have family that lives near Interlochen, so were going to use it for that,” Maue said.

Maue said he believes the millage overcame a recent reluctance by voters to approve spending in Benzie County because supporters were able to show a real need.

"Unfortunately there's so many people who live here and don't have cars, so hopefully that will open up some employment avenues for them as well,” Maue said. "I think we made the case to the whole county that this would be a win for everybody.”