Interurban bus service ending in January

The Laketown Township Board of Trustees is ending the experiment with the Interurban bus service and is looking to increase use of the Allegan County Transportation network instead.

The board voted 2-1 on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, to cut ties with the Saugatuck-Douglas Interurban Transit Authority effective in 30 days. That means the on-demand bus service will no longer pick up or drop off passengers in Laketown Township as of Jan. 10, 2026.

The township began using the Douglas-based bus service on May 1 for a trial period to last through Oct. 31. An adult rider paid $1, senior citizen, handicapped or child rider paid 50 cents, to picked up or dropped off in the Interurban’s service area of Saugatuck Township and the cities of Saugatuck, Douglas and Fennville.

The township said if the service was a success, it would consider funding through a millage request.

The township was billed $7 per rider.

The township saw ridership as high as 846 people in July for a cost to the township of $5,929. The township had 823 riders in October for a cost of $5,761. The November numbers are not yet available. Since May, the township has paid $30,065 for the service.

The township originally budgeted $21,000 for the trial period but extended that period through March 2026. The board authorized another $26,000.

The board began looking for ways to reduce the costs, including changing the fare structure.

The Interurban offered a flat fee of $4,100 a month. In November, the board asked Supervisor Steven Ringelberg and Manager Stephanie Fox to negotiate better terms. They came back with one offer of $3,500 a month.

Allegan County Transportation

Board members were concerned about the cost and on Dec. 11 discussed having residents use Allegan County Transportation service.

Fox was instructed to contact Allegan County Transportation officials to help promote the service on the township’s website. Fox will also collect ridership data and report back to the board after March 4.

The bus service out of Allegan schedules on a priority basis:

Priority One — Standing Orders/Subscription Trips: These are services, established in advance, same passenger, same time, and same origin. They are based on availability. Medical trips take precedence. Recurring or subscription trips for employment purposes for new passengers will be set up once the passenger has completed two weeks of travel with 1 or less no-shows.

Priority Two — Reserved Trips: These rides are reserved before noon the prior business day in advance of service needed.

Priority Three — On Demand: Trips requested without advance notice. Call by noon the day before travel is needed to secure your spot on the next day’s schedule.

Adults and children 13 and older pay $2 for a one-way trip. Those 60 and over, people with disabilities and children 5-12 pay $1 for a one-way trip, except trips for those 60 and over are no charge (the Allegan Commission on Aging reimburses the ACT for such trips). Children up to 4 years old with an adult supervisor ride free.

Transportation is available from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, and on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The service is funded through Allegan County. Laketown Township does not pay extra for the service.

Allegan County Transportation has been serving Allegan County since 2000. Its mission is to enhance and promote economic development and serve the transportation needs of Allegan County by providing safe, reliable, barrier-free travel.