MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - A Redi-Ride Community Group will be established as discussed during the Township Board meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 6th.

According to an Oct. 1st memorandum that was distributed to the Board by Township Manager Frank Walsh, the purpose of the committee is to determine several key operational issues including scheduling, performance, management, and cost of operating CATA's Redi-Ride system.

Meridian Redi-Ride is an advance reservation, curb-to-curb service in Meridian Township. Redi-Ride was established in Meridian Township in 2000 and is an extension of the services provided by Capital Area Transportation Authority, otherwise known as CATA.

During recent Township Board meetings, residents who rely on the service have stated that they would like some things improved including hours of operation and availability.

"I use Redi-Ride weekly to go to many different places like the grocery store, hair salon, dentist, and the vet," said Diana Engle, Meridian Township resident. "People have needs now for transportation beyond 9 to 5... people work a variety of hours, they have a lot more varied needs. Lots of families like to use this service to transport their children home from after-school activities."

Three Township Board members will participate in the community group, including Trustee Milton Scales, Trustee John Veenstra, and Trustee Ronald Styka. According to the memorandum, the final list of members will be considered by the Township Board at their next meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 20th.

"We want to make sure that we are receiving the services that the community desires, and if not, how can we improve upon that," said Trustee Scales. "We need to be able to ascertain what are the significant complaints, what are the resolvable complaints, and also what are the complaints that we just can't do anything about and then sit down with CATA and work some of these things out."

CATA says that in order to expand services, more funding is needed; however, simply stating that is easier said than done.

"More funding would very definitely be able to have more hours added, that is a very easy solution. But the more funding is a hard way to come by," said Sandy Draggoo, CATA CEO.

According to Draggoo, CATA is funded through a millage, which generates $298,000 a year. This past year, CATA put in an additional $141,000 to help pay service costs.

"The funding now goes until 2018, but to come up with more funding before 2018 becomes a little of a problem on how would they go back out for more funding until the next millage."