01/26/2026
📢PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING RIDE CALHOUN FARE STRUCTURE
🗓️January 27, 2026
📍Marshall City Hall, 323 West Michigan Ave, Marshall MI 49068
⌚️9:00AM
📧 [email protected]
📞 269-966-3474
The Transportation Authority of Calhoun County (TACC), operating as Ride Calhoun, is holding a public hearing to seek feedback regarding proposed fare structures. Those interested in providing feedback may provide public comment at the meeting, or provide written feedback at any time by sending an email to [email protected].
Members of the public needing a ride to the public hearing can contact Ride Calhoun dispatch at 269-966-3474 to schedule a free ride to and from the public hearing. Transportation to and from the public hearing is available for residents of the cities of Albion, Battle Creek, Marshall, and Springfield.
WHY IS THE FARE CHANGING?
Ride Calhoun assumed operations of the existing public transit systems (Marshall Dial-a-Ride and Battle Creek Transit) on October 1, 2025. Ride Calhoun has maintained the fare structures established by DART and BCT while gathering public feedback regarding a revised, unified fare structure.
Existing fares varied widely between previous service providers and ranged from $.85 - $15.00 depending on service mode and distance traveled. Ride Calhoun must transition from these previous fare structures to a unified fare structure under the Authority.
WHAT SERVICES ARE IMPACTED?
Fares for RC Max and RC Move will be maintained from the previous fare structure in place under Battle Creek Transit. There is no change proposed to fixed-route or paratransit fares.
A fare structure for RC Flex, which replaces Marshall Dial-a-Ride and BCGo, is being proposed to reflect travel within and between the four communities.
WHY IS A FARE REQUIRED?
Fare establishment and collection is a complicated process largely dictated by State and Federal regulations. Fares support, rather than directly pay for, the cost of providing service. The TACC budget recognizes an estimated 7% farebox recovery rate, meaning roughly 7% of TACC revenues are generated by fares paid at the farebox.
State lawmakers, as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 Michigan Budget, added language that states:
“It is the intent of the legislature that all transit agencies in this state should strive to achieve a farebox recovery rate of not less than 6%.”
Millage revenues, under current legislation, cannot be counted toward the farebox recovery rate, and therefore, fares must be charged at the farebox in order to meet this intent.
WILL DISCOUNTED FARES BE AVAILABLE?
Reduced fares will remain available on RC Max service and reduced fares are included in the RC Flex fare proposal. Reduced fares are not available on RC Move (paratransit).
RC Max offers a reduced fare of $.85 for a single one-way trip. Reduced fares are also extended to multi-ride passes.
The RC Flex fare proposal includes reduced fares of $3-$5 for a single one-way trip. While multi-ride passes are not available on RC Flex service, passengers can purchase trip credits, loaded into a mobile wallet, which offers a discount and can be used for future trips (i.e. $50 for $60 trip credit).
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR REDUCED FARE?
RC Max extends reduced fares to seniors (60+), Medicare cardholders, people with disabilities, and veterans.
The RC Flex fare proposal extends reduced fares to seniors (60+), people with disabilities, veterans, and residents of the TACC service area.
WHEN DOES THIS TAKE EFFECT?
The TACC Board of Directors will continue to hold public hearings and receive public feedback regarding proposed fare structures for the next several weeks. The Board will review all feedback received at their regular meeting on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. The exact date of the fare change will be determined by the Board at a later date.
CAN I CONTINUE TO USE MY EXISTING PASSES OR TOKENS?
All existing passes, TripTiks, tokens, and mobile wallet funds may continue to be used at the current fare rates. Passengers with unused multi-ride passes for the previous Battle Creek Tele-Transit service should contact Ride Calhoun at 269-966-3474 for more information about conversion to RC Flex trip credits. RC Move (previously Tele-Transit) multi-ride passes will only be available to those passengers certified as ADA Paratransit eligible.
HOW CAN I PAY MY FARE?
Fares for RC Max and RC Move can be paid in cash on board the vehicle (exact fare only), or by purchasing a multi-ride pass from the Ride Calhoun office, Full Blast, or Battle Creek City Hall.
Fares for RC Flex can be paid in cash on board the vehicle (exact fare only), or by credit/debit card at the time of booking. Trip credits, loaded into a mobile wallet, can be purchased in person or over the phone using a credit/debit card.
