A. MAX’s service area is the greater Holland and Zeeland area. The service area is the shaded yellow area on the composite fixed route map that’s found on the Routes & Schedules web page of this site. Our seven fixed bus routes are located near most hotels and conference centers, malls, retail and grocery centers, medical complexes, industrial manufacturing areas, and residential neighborhoods. MAX does not provide service to neighboring communities, such as Allegan, Grand Haven, Hudsonville or West Olive. For more detailed information, visit the Routes & Schedules page or call Customer Service at (616) 355-1010. Return to top / Hide Answer

A. One way fares for the fixed routes are $1 for adults, 50 cents for children 5-17 and free for seniors 65 and older, and ADA and Medicare cardholders. Return to top / Hide Answer

A. Yes. MAX drivers do not give change. Bills or coins are accepted. Frequent passengers are advised to purchase a bus pass, which is an economical and convenient way to pay for fares. Return to top / Hide Answer

A. Persons with cognitive or physical disabilities who may have difficulty using or accessing the fixed routes may be assessed free of charge to determine if they are eligible for an ADA card or half fare card. These cards entitle the passenger to reduced fares and first priority service on Reserve-A-MAX. Return to top / Hide Answer

A. Yes! All Holland Public and West Ottawa Public schools within the MAX service area are located near a fixed bus route. MAX intentionally planned its routes so that would be close to schools. Note that West Ottawa High School is not located near a fixed route because the school is located in Park Township, which does not participate in MAX and is not in our service area. Zeeland area schools are within the MAX service area, but there is no fixed route service to Zeeland.

Many charter and public school students in both elementary and secondary schools ride MAX daily to and from school. The buses are clean, safe and reliable, and drivers are happy to assist younger passengers. MAX also offers a Student Semester Bus Pass for $50 that is good for unlimited rides on the fixed route for one semester (September-December or January-June). Return to top / Hide Answer

A. Yes, you can transfer between the routes at the Padnos Center every hour, or you can transfer anywhere along the route if there is another route nearby. If you need a transfer, please ask the driver when you board. Transfers are free, but must be used within one (1) hour from the time issued. Return to top / Hide Answer

A. MAX stops to pick up or drop off passengers only at designated bus stop signs. MAX’s 277 bus stops are located at convenient intervals along the routes. Passenger shelters and benches are located at some of the major bus stops. You can also board at the Padnos Transportation Center, which serves as MAX’s transfer center. Buses dwell at the Padnos Center 10 minutes before the top of hour, and depart at the top of the hour. Return to top / Hide Answer

A. Our friendly MAX drivers can help you. All routes originate at the Padnos Transportation Center, and you can transfer to the correct bus at this location. Return to top / Hide Answer

A. Of course! All MAX buses are equipped with bicycle racks that can accommodate two bicycles. The racks are simple to operate, and bikes ride free. Simply pull down the rack by the handle, mount your bike in the rack, and pull down the lever to secure and lock the bike in place. If you’re the first to use the bike rack, please place your bike in the inside rack. Ask the driver for help if you need assistance. Return to top / Hide Answer

A. Yes. Small animals are allowed to ride with you on the bus if they are secured in a pet carrier. Pets ride for free. Service animals for persons with disabilities also are welcome aboard and are not required to be in a pet carrier. Return to top / Hide Answer

A. Absolutely. All MAX buses are wheelchair accessible. Some buses have wheelchair lifts to bring you aboard, and others are low floor buses with a ramp for wheelchair and passenger access. You do not have to climb steps to board these buses. Caregivers for ADA certified passengers also ride free. MAX also provides door-to-door service to assist eligible individuals whose disabilities prevent them from riding the regular route buses. Return to top / Hide Answer

A. Passengers can use our demand response Reserve-A-MAX service if their origin and/or destination are farther than 1/4 mile from a bus stop. Seniors 70 years or older and persons with disabilities who have been ADA certified also are eligible to use Reserve-A-MAX. All other able-bodied persons aged 5-69 must use the fixed routes if their origins and destinations are within 1/4 of a bus stop. Return to top / Hide Answer

A. The Macatawa Area Express Transportation Authority operates the local public transit bus system named MAX, which serves Holland and Zeeland with seven fixed routes and provides demand response rides within our service area. Return to top / Hide Answer

A. No. MAX is a publicly operated transit system. It began as the City of Holland’s "Dial-A-Ride" program in the 1970s and began offering three fixed routes in 2000. In 2007, the MAX Transportation Authority was formed and assumed operations of the transit system. MAX is supported through local, state and federal funding, service agreements with local municipalities, and fare revenues.

MAX's revenue is a combination of local, state and federal funds. The federal funds MAX receives generally do not pay for operating expenses, such as wages, fuel, insurance, repair parts and office supplies. Operating expenses are primarily paid for by passenger fares, local revenue generated by a transit millage levied in the City of Holland and Holland Charter Township, and Michigan state operating assistance. Return to top / Hide Answer

A. Ridership varies greatly depending on many factors, such as the service area, time of day, day of the week, time of year and even the direction the bus is traveling. Buses tend to have more passengers during "peak" morning and afternoon rush hours when people are going to and from work, school and appointments, and at the beginning and ending of routes when buses dwell at the Padnos Center for transfers. Mid-day travel is lighter.

Consider a six lane highway that has little traffic at 3 a.m. in the morning, yet has bumper to bumper traffic during morning rush hour. To best serve the public, MAX needs to have sufficient capacity during peak times, and offer consistent, dependable transportation even during "off" or non-peak hours of travel.

MAX ridership has experienced double-digit growth in recent years, and is expected to reach 240,000 for fiscal year 2008. Return to top / Hide Answer

A. MAX uses a mix of larger and smaller commercial buses to transport passengers in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. Generally, the larger buses operate on the fixed routes to ensure adequate space and capacity for peak travel times, and the smaller paratransit vans are used primarily for demand response service, where only a couple passengers may be aboard. Return to top / Hide Answer

A. MAX's revenue is a combination of local, state and federal funds. The federal funds MAX receives generally do not pay for operating expenses, such as wages, fuel, insurance, repair parts and office supplies. Operating expenses are primarily paid for by local funds generated from a transit millage levied in the City of Holland and Holland Charter Township, Michigan state operating assistance and passenger fares.

Most capital purchases for buses, facilities, and equipment are paid for with 80 percent coming from federal funding and 20 percent from state funding. All MAX fleet buses were purchased with federal and state funds. MAX must comply with applicable federal and state regulations to be eligible to receive funding.

MAX is audited annually, and those audits are available for public review. Auditors have consistently found MAX to be in compliance with auditor requirements and regulations. Additional oversight comes from MAX's Authority Board, which reviews financial statements. Return to top / Hide Answer

A. Most people don’t realize that while local residents and businesses pay taxes to support the transit system, the transit system also generates revenue for the local economy. People generally ride transit to either spend money or make money. They are either going places to buy things or services, or are going to work to earn money.

According to the American Public Transportation Association, every $1 invested in public transit generates $6 in economic returns to the local community, and every $1 invested in transit generates $3 in new sales. This calculation means that MAX’s $3.3 million operating budget contributes roughly $19 million to the local economy and almost $10 million in new sales.

Transit systems provide jobs for their employees, who in turn buy homes, pay taxes, and spend their dollars locally. Transit systems also are viewed by amenities that attract homeowners and businesses to a community. Return to top / Hide Answer

A. All public transit systems helps reduce traffic and congestion, fuel usage and vehicle emissions. MAX promotes and encourages the use of public transit by offering free fixed route rides on Ozone Action Days and on Earth Day. We also explore ways to partner with community event and festival planners to establish convenient Park-and-Ride lots along our fixed routes to event locations. This helps relieve traffic, congestion and parking issues, and familiarizes residents with our transit system. Finally, MAX is actively pursing the use of alternative and bio-diesel fuels with the goal of reducing emissions and possibly reducing fuel costs. Return to top / Hide Answer