About BCATS
The goal of BCATS is to assist in the development and preservation of a safe, effective, well-maintained, efficient, and economical transportation system for the Battle Creek metropolitan area which minimizes its negative impacts on the physical and social environments and related land use. The BCATS area includes the Cities of Battle Creek and Springfield as well as the Charter Townships of Bedford, Pennfield and Emmett and the Townships of Leroy and Newton.
BCATS' organizational structure consists of a Policy Committee, Technical Committee and staff.
Policy Committee
The decision-making body of BCATS is the Policy Committee. The Policy Committee has final local approval and authority on all major transportation decisions, policies, and programs of BCATS.
The Policy Committee consists of elected and appointed officials representing the Cities of Battle Creek and Springfield, the Calhoun County Road Department, the Charter Townships of Bedford, Pennfield, and Emmett, the Township of Leroy, the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners, the Transportation Authority of Calhoun County, and the Michigan Department of Transportation.
Technical Committee
The BCATS Technical Committee is comprised of technical personnel from many of the same units of government and agencies that are represented on the Policy Committee.
The Technical Committee advises the Policy Committee and staff on technical methods, procedures, and standards to be used in the development of transportation plans and programs.
Member Units
City of Battle Creek
Calhoun County Road Department
City of Springfield
Charter Township of Bedford
Charter Township of Emmett
Charter Township of Pennfield
Leroy Township
Calhoun County Board of Commissioners
Transportation Authority of Calhoun County
Michigan Department of Transportation - Planning
Michigan Department of Transportation - Marshall Transportation Service Center (TSC)
BCATS Staff
Executive Director - Jeff Franklin
Finance Director - Brandy Standler
History
The Battle Creek Creek Area Transportation Study was organized in May, 1974, in response to two events. The first event was the adoption of a comprehensive plan for Calhoun County, Michigan. The plan necessitated the development of a group to address the transportation component of the plan. The second event was the designation of the Battle Creek area as an "urbanized area" by the U.S. Census Bureau following the 1970 Census. The designation made it possible for local units of government to receive federal transportation funds, if there was a local transportation planning effort which was organized according to federal regulations. The regulations required a "continuing, comprehensive transportation planning process carried out cooperatively by states and local communities." This came to be known as the "3C" planning process.
From its organization in 1974 until 1981, the BCATS effort was part of the Calhoun County Department of Planning and Development Coordination. In 1981, BCATS was formally reorganized as an Intermunicipality Committee under Michigan Public Act 200 of 1957. The units of government forming the Intermunicipality Committee all adopted resolutions to form the entity. The Policy Committee was designated as the governing body of BCATS and bylaws were adopted.
Shortly thereafter, another major change went into effect for BCATS. The Policy Committee was designated by the governor as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Battle Creek urbanized area. Prior to that time, the Southcentral Michigan Planning Council (SMPC) had been designated as the MPO for both the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo urbanized areas. BCATS did not have the final local approval of its plans and programs, the SMPC also had to approve. The change in the MPO designation gave the Battle Creek area more control over its own process.
Also in fiscal year 1981, the BCATS staff office was moved from the County Building in Marshall, Michigan to the Battle Creek Transit administrative offices in downtown Battle Creek. This put the office within the urbanized area.
In 1988, the staff office moved to the City of Springfield City Hall in Springfield, Michigan, also within the urbanized area.
The staff office is currently still at this location.