Metro Connect to Help Access Businesses Impacted by Construction
Published on July 23, 2024
Free Metro Connect rides will start on Thursday, July 25 to help residents access business impacted by major construction projects happening along S. Westnedge and Crosstown Parkway.
The businesses include Midtown Marketplace, Mid-Town Fresh, Ace Hardware, Oak Street Health, Everside Health, Happy’s Pizza, Paris Cleaners, PNC Bank, and Heilman’s Nuts & Confections. Rides to these establishments are free, and Metro Connect will do the driving for you for your next trip to the grocery store and to run errands. Metro Connect demand/response service covers all of Kalamazoo County and the VA Hospital in Battle Creek. Everyone in Kalamazoo County is eligible to ride.
Call (269) 350-2970 today to schedule a reservation. Scheduling a reservation is recommended up to seven days in advance and no later than the previous day by 5 p.m. The shuttle service will continue through Friday, Sept. 20, or until work is completed on Westnedge Ave and it can be reopened to traffic.
This service was established to help residents and customers navigate to businesses in this area, which are impacted by the Westnedge Ave utility project. This project has created closures on Crosstown and Westnedge within a location that is difficult to access with detours.
“We recognize that this area is especially hard hit during this construction season that is bringing major investments to every one of Kalamazoo’s utilities and street reconstruction all over the city,” explained City of Kalamazoo Public Services Director James Baker. “This area and these businesses are at the center of a major utility project to improve water system reliability, so we are hoping that the Metro Connect service will help lessen some of the impact on them and their customers while these critical investments are completed.”
Local access is maintained in all construction areas in the city, and all businesses remain open and accessible. The City of Kalamazoo encourages residents to continue supporting the local businesses that our community depends on, even if it takes a few additional minutes or a short detour to get there. Stores within the Midtown Marketplace can still be accessed by driving Burdick St. to Maple St. to Park St., or via Stadium Dr. or Oakland Dr. to Howard St. to Midtown Marketplace.
Metro Connect is operated by Metro and supported the City of Kalamazoo.