My City May 2023

1985 Robert J. Foy was appointed MTA General Manager. He remained in the position until 2010 when Ben ning was named the new GM. 1989 The new Downtown Trans portation Center was built on the former site of Uncle Bob’s Diner (Wallenberg and Harrison Streets). “This was very significant,” Benning reports. “Before it was built, people had to stand outdoors to wait for the bus and this allowed riders to wait indoors. It also provided better access to all vehicles coming into one central area.” 1990 A trackless trolley route was established in partnership with Wind mill Place on 5th Avenue to shuttle residents to work and workers to a place for lunch. The MTA Board of Directors was restructured, expanding from a nine-member board to eleven members. “It brought additional representation,” Benning reports, “from small cities, township associ ations, the disabled community and business and education communi ties. It was restructured to better serve those in need.” 1996 The first MTA millage was approved. According to Benning, MTA requested that a county-wide,

2003 Construction began on the Grand Blanc and Mt. Morris Your Ride Service Centers. 2004 MTA expanded primary route service time to 11:30pm; a significant change as service previously ended at 6:30pm. 2006 Construction began on the Fenton Your Ride Service Center. 2008 Construction began on the Swartz Creek Your Ride Service Center.

expanded Your Ride service be placed on the ballot to provide additional routes. “It was approved by 78 percent,” Benning notes. 1997 The second millage was ap proved. “The community wanted more service. The Board of Directors asked to go for a higher-level millage to meet that demand,” Benning states. 1997 Transportation expanded to include Regional Service to Living ston, Oakland, Lapeer and Saginaw Counties. “This was the first time we were able to reach out to other counties,” Benning says, “to provide job opportunities outside of this area and bring people here for employment. We still provide this service today.” 1998 A $10 million renovation of a bus storage and maintenance facility on Dort Highway began to house 221 buses and 100 vans. Construction also began on the 53,000 square-foot Administration & Training Facility at the N. Dort Highway property and a facility to accommodate 321 vehicles. Inter-local agreements were es tablished with Washtenaw, Oakland, Saginaw Livingston and Lapeer Counties to connect regional trans portation services.

2011 Edgar Benning was appointed MTA General Manager. An employ ee of the MTA since 1980, Benning brought much experience to the po sition having held various titles, in cluding Assistant Superintendent of Bus Operations, Superintendent of Bus Operations and Director of Cus tomer Service. In 2001, he became Assistant GM and Chief of Staff in 2009, running human resources and other departments. “I did a little bit of everything,” he says. Prior to his time at MTA, he was Vice President of Assembly for American Sunroof Corp., overseeing six plants. →

THE MTA FLEET IS NOW OVER 300 VEHICLES. WHEN IT STARTED, THERE WERE FEWER THAN 50 EMPLOYEES AND JUST 12 ROUTES RUNNING IN THE CITY OF FLINT ONLY.

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