KALAMAZOO (WKZO)– Voters in Kalamazoo, Portage and their surrounding townships have approved a millage to expand bus services, but that’s just part of what was approved Tuesday.
By approving the funding, voters also gave the green light for the creation of new authorities to run the bus lines, which have always been owned and operated by the City of Kalamazoo and contracted out to the other units.
After final paperwork and a transfer of assets, all of the governments that pay will get some say in how it’s operated.
There will be more buses on some lines, extended service at night and Sunday service for the first time, eventually.
The final tally was a lopsided one, 7,048-yes and 4200 no, with just about 9% turning out to vote.
Voters in Kalamazoo Township also approved the renewal of the Township’s operational millage by a wide margin.
Voters in Van Buren County were also generous, approving road and fire millage questions by two to one in Hartford and a school bonding issue in Decatur by an even larger margin.
