Indian Trails To Take Over U.P. Greyhound Bus Routes

Indian Trails Bus Company is taking over Greyhound Bus Company's routes through the Upper Peninsula February 1 under a twoyear, $25 million agreement between Indian Trails and Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). The contract guarantees

intercity bus service will continue uninterrupted once Greyhound's contract expires January 31, and the $25 million for operations is funded through state and federal funds.

Indian Trails will operate every day of the year.

Greyhound, which had been serving the U.P. since September 1999, did not extend its U.P. contract but will continue to provide service along major corridors like I-94, I-96, and Flint to Toledo, via Detroit. Greyhound spokeswoman Anna Folmnsbee said the company

eliminated some of its routes with little or no demand "to improve our route network."

Indian Trails will retain the existing service between St. Ignace and Ironwood (via Escanaba), and between Calumet and Milwaukee (via Marquette). Connection to the

national intercity bus network will be maintained through Milwaukee and beyond.

Daytime service from Calumet (via Trenary) to Menominee will be dropped in the new contract with MDOT.

Indian Trails will continue to provide service in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula on statesupported routes, including Grand Rapids to St. Ignace (via Traverse City), and Bay City to St. Ignace. The company will also be adding service for Alma, Mount Pleasant, Clare, Harrison, Houghton Lake, Grayling, Gaylord, and Indian River, which will connect to the Upper Peninsula service.

"Indian Trails is pleased to work with the Michigan Department of Transportation in order to maintain daily service to the Upper Peninsula," said Gordon McKay, president of Indian Trails. "We are also excited about the new service running through the middle of the state. It is our intention to improve the level of service and be a valued transportation option for the good citizens of Michigan."

"As an existing contract carrier, and a Michigan-based company, Indian Trails was well suited to ensure that quality intercity bus service would continue," said MDOT Director Kirk Steudle. "To guarantee there would be no gap in service, our staff worked quickly to hammer out the details."