The “dog ate my homework” excuse doesn’t work on Election Day, but the Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA) will help you overcome transportation difficulties to cast your ballot on time.
“If (your polling place) is not along our routes, we do have our Link Service, which is our door-to-door service,” explained Eric Lingaur, spokesperson for BATA.
The regional bus service is offering free rides on Tuesday for fixed routes. Route 10 travels along M-22 from Traverse City through Suttons Bay, providing access to polls for Elmwood and Suttons Bay townships. Route 11 travels from Traverse City to Glen Arbor. The bus can vary from its fixed route up to 3/4 mile upon the request of riders.
However, those two routes won’t cover the majority of polling places in Leelanau County — neither Empire nor Northport, and places between. Fees for Link, the door-to-door service, are being cut in half on Election Day, from $6 to $3.
“If it’s going to be a quick vote, they can wait. If it’s going to be longer, they can schedule a pick-up ride in a half hour or hour, or however much time you need,” Lingaur said.
Pick-up times can be made in advance or on the day of voting. Call 941-2324 to arrange transportation.
Lingaur said 600 people were delivered to polls for the previous presidential election, with most voting in more-populated Grand Traverse County.
“We’ll get as many people to the polls as we can,” he said.
