MarqTran
MarqTran is a public bus system in Marquette, Michigan, USA. The MarqTran bus is the city's only mass-transit system. It provides basic transportational needs to people throughout Marquette County.
Routes
MarqTran can take riders almost anywhere in Marquette County. The standard routes in Marquette are:
- North / South Tran (South: includes Econo Foods, Bothwell Middle School, Altamont and Pioneer Streets; North: includes Presque Isle Street, Pine Ridge Apts., and the general downtown area.)
- North / Mall Tran (North: same as for North/South; Mall: Westwood and Marquette Mall shuttle.)
- Trowbridge Tran (Trowbridge area; includes Med Center, Westwood Mall, Wal-Mart, Target, and Goodwill.)
- Ishpeming Tran (Shuttles from Westwood Mall to Pamida in Ishpeming.)
- KI Sawyer / Gwinn Tran (Goes from MarqTran Station to Sawyer Housing Project, Gwinn Area, then back.)
- There are also a few other trans, such as the Republic/Michigamme tran, and the Big Bay tran.
Fares
The current MarqTran bus fares are as follows:
- $.60 for adults
- $.30 for students and senior citizens
- $.30 for disabled/handicapped.
Please note: MarqTran cannot return change, so passengers need to have the exact amount ready upon entering the bus. (Passengers must deposit your coins into the coin bank located at the front of the bus. The driver needs to be present, so the passenger is accounted for in the income counter. If a passenger deposits coins when the driver is not there you will not be clicked off and will not be not authorized to ride the bus. The money slot will not accept items other than coins) The fares apply for one ride (a 'ride' ends when a passenger leaves the bus). MARQTRAN DOES NOT ACCEPT PAPER BILLS OR NON-US MONEY!!!
In the summer, MarqTran offers free rides to students in the Marquette Area.
Other info
MarqTran buses are unmistakable blue and white buses that travel throughout Marquette Country. The tran station is downtown, across Baraga Street by the UP Children's Museum. The State Police post is above the tran station. Soon the tran station will be moving to Commercial Drive behind the Westwood Mall, next to Wright Street.
MarqTran offers door to door services, at a nominal price.
As with all bus transit, the buses can take up to an hour to travel five miles, and are sometimes 15 minutes slow or fast in coming to the tran station.
When on the bus, passengers can pull the cord above the windows to signal the driver when they want to get off. On most buses a bell will ring, but on newer trans, a "Stop Requested" light will come on at the front. When stopping at a terminal of the route, most drivers will exit the bus for about five minutes for a cigarette break. Passengers are not required to leave, however Passengers are required to get off if one of the following happen:
- The bus needs to be refueled.
- They are carrying a weapon.
- They are kicked off the bus for misconduct.
- The bus breaks down.
- They did not not pay the correct amount and aren't clicked in by the meter when getting on.
Like most buses, MarqTrans stop at railroad crossings, and have air conditioning.
What to do when you reach the tran station
Simply wait for your tran to arrive. Tran schedules are available in the MarqTran office. The trans arrive at certain areas of the canopy which are clearly marked by white metal signs bearing the names of the bus route (e.g. "KI Sawyer / Gwinn" is on the east side of the tran station). They also provide Greyhound bus transportation, and R-TRAN, a regional bus system that covers the central UP, also run by MarqTran, which you can board at this tran station.
External links
http://www.marq-tran.com/ (MarqTran home page)