Barry County Transit Director Bill Voigt confirmed that the  transit system has been nominated for a national award by the Michigan Department of Transportation, Office of Passenger Transportation. The award is the Federal Transportation Administrator's award for the ”Outstanding Rural Transit System.”

"The nomination recognizes the Transit System, including all of our fantastic clients and organizations that make up the Barry County Transit family,” Voigt said.

During 2015, The transit’s  ridership increased by 30 percent overall, including a 9 percent increase in senior rides and a 20 percent increase in rides for those with disabilities. The increase was due to awareness presentations and the decision to access the outer areas every service day rather than to assign individual days of the week, he said.

“The previous practice made fiscal sense,  but we wanted to try and go beyond that. We also extended our hours until 7:30 p.m. with a couple of routes and may increase those due to their popularity,” he said.

“At this point we've only been nominated. Whoever receives the award will be presented in Ashville North Carolina in October. We have our fingers crossed!!”