CATA Rural Service

Operating Area

Service that connects residents in Ingham County’s outlying areas with other CATA services.

• Residents in the southern half of rural Ingham County are transported to the Meijer in Mason to connect with other CATA services
• Residents in the northern half of the Ingham County’s rural area travel on Rural Service to the Meridian Mall in Okemos to make connections to other services.
• Some exceptions apply.

You can also view the service area map here.

Fares

Standard Fare

Regular one-way fare:

• Up to 10 miles: $2.25
• Over 10 miles: $3.25

Multiple and Unlimited Ride Passes also available. Click here for more information.

Reduced Fare

Reduced one-way fare:

Up to 10 miles: $1.00
Over 10 miles: $1.50

Available for:

• Medicare cardholders
• Seniors age 62 and older with valid CATAClub card
• Persons with disabilities with valid CATAClub or ADA card
• Students with valid college or CATA Student ID.

Children under 42 inches tall ride free when accompanied by an adult.

Veterans from all U.S. Armed Forces and Reserves ride FREE every day on all CATA services when a valid U.S. Dept. of Defense ID, U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs ID, DD 214 form, driver’s license or state ID with Veteran designation, or Veteran bus pass (available upon request at the CATA Transportation Center in downtown Lansing, the Multimodal Gateway in East Lansing and CATA’s Administrative Offices in South Lansing) is presented.

Transfers to a CATA service of equal or lower fare value are free (please request transfer ticket upon boarding). When transferring to a higher-fare service, the difference in fare must be paid upon boarding.

Multiple and Unlimited Ride Passes also available. Click here for more information.

Accessibility & Eligibility

Paratransit/Reduced Fare Eligibility

There is no complementary paratransit for CATA Rural Service because it is curb-to-curb, flexible route service, not fixed route. CATA Rural Service vehicles are lift/ramp equipped and accessible to wheelchair users or other mobility device users.

To qualify for reduced fare eligibility, you must have a Medicare Card, a CATA Student ID available through local middle and high schools, or apply for one of the following:

CATAClub Annual Card –  issued to persons with a temporary disability. They are valid for a calendar year. Click here for the application.

CATAClub Lifetime Card – issued to persons with a permanent disability or persons 62+ years. They are valid for up to ten years depending on when you apply.

• Click here for CATAClub Lifetime Application for Persons with Disabilities
• Click here for CATAClub Lifetime Application for Seniors 62+

Children under 42 inches tall ride free when accompanied by an adult.

Veterans from all U.S. Armed Forces and Reserves ride FREE every day on all CATA services when a valid U.S. Dept. of Defense ID, U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs ID, DD 214 form, driver’s license or state ID with Veteran designation, or Veteran bus pass (available upon request at the CATA Transportation Center in downtown Lansing, the Multimodal Gateway in East Lansing and CATA’s Administrative Offices in South Lansing) is presented.

Transit Service Accessibility

CATA Rural Service is a curb-to-curb, flexible route service. CATA Rural Service vehicles are lift/ramp equipped and accessible to wheelchair users or other mobility device users.

Additional Notes

CATA lists all demand response or flexible route services under “Curb-to-Curb & Paratransit” on their website. It is important to understand that although CATA Rural Service will pick people up at their homes, it is a flexible route service, not paratransit or demand response. It serves the general public, not just individuals with disabilities. With exceptions, it will only take people to set destinations to connect with other CATA transit services – Meijer in Mason, or Meridian Mall in Okemos.

Spec-Tran is CATA’s paratransit service. You must have a disability and not be able to use CATA’s fixed route services to use Spec-Tran.