Lansing, Mich.-based CATA’s board of directors unanimously supported staff’s recommendation to award its paratransit demand services contract to Transdev. The company will begin providing CATA’s Spec-Tran and supplemental rural services effective April 2018, affecting more than 15,500 paratransit customers.

Over the full course of the contract, which was awarded for a total of five years, Transdev will receive $37.1 million.

“We are confident that Transdev will help CATA respond to customer feedback and enhance service quality,” said CATA CEO Bradley T. Funkhouser. “Transdev offers an aggressive driver-recruitment plan, competitive wage structure and a proposal that comprehensively addresses how it would meet our customers’ needs. They capably demonstrated that they thoroughly understand CATA’s goals and expectations, and that they have the experience, leadership, technical strengths, track record and commitment to safety, thereby guaranteeing exemplary customer satisfaction.”

Four organizations — including local incumbent Dean Transportation — responded to CATA’s October 2017 request for proposal. All vendor submissions and presentations were independently reviewed by an in-house evaluation team against specific, predetermined criteria.

“We are excited to be part of the Greater Lansing community,” said Transdev Business Development VP Arthur Rader. “We’re looking forward to demonstrating that Transdev has the experience and talent to provide the best service for CATA. Our quality personnel, proven processes and prudent use of applicable technologies will enable us to provide CATA with world-class operations and maintenance. Furthermore, one of our goals is to minimize the displacement of current contracted operators by retaining as many as possible and welcoming them into the Transdev family to ensure a seamless transition.”

CATA’s existing contract with Dean Transportation, which includes Spec-Tran, Williamston Connector, Mason Connector, Mason Redi-Ride, and CATA Rural Service, expires March 31, 2018. These and other services operated by CATA such as Lot Link and Night Owl utilize smaller buses and minivans, and operate curb-to-curb, picking customers up curbside and transporting them to their destination.