Delta Area Transit Authority (DATA) and Bay College are excited to announce a new partnership to provide scheduled grocery transportation for Bay College students. The initiative is designed to ensure reliable, consistent access to food, healthcare, and other essential resources, helping students thrive both in and out of the classroom.
The pilot program, beginning in the Fall 2025 semester, will feature a weekly scheduled grocery transportation service. Trips will run on a recurring basis to guarantee availability and consistency for students. Based on input from Bay College and DATA, the initial pilot service is scheduled for Tuesdays at 1:00 PM, a time selected to best accommodate student schedules and avoid peak transit demand.
"This partnership goes beyond transportation—it’s about supporting student well-being and removing barriers that can affect academic success," said Amy Fudala, DATA’s Mobility Manager. "By providing reliable access to groceries and healthcare, we are investing in both the health and future of Bay College students."
In addition to grocery services, DATA will provide overflow non-emergency medical transportation and other mobility support as needs arise. This flexibility ensures that students can access vital services without transportation challenges standing in the way.
“Bay College is committed to student success,” said Cindy Gallagher, Vice President of Workforce Innovation & Strategic Partnerships. “Partnerships like this with DATA allow us to support students by providing safe, reliable transportation so students can focus on their education and well-being. We are eager to pilot this for the upcoming academic year, survey our students and then assess student transportation needs going forward.”
The pilot service will run during the Fall and Winter semesters of the 2025–26 academic year, with scheduling and service options evaluated based on student feedback and operational review.
For more information about partnering with DATA, please contact Amy Fudala, DATA’s Mobility Manager at 906-786-1187 ext. 3 or by email: mobility@databus.org.
About Bay College
Bay College is the community’s college with a mission of: Student Success, Community Success, and Culture of Success. Bay is devoted to each individual’s achievement in the classroom, on-campus, online, in the community and into the workforce by providing career certificates, associate degrees, transferable university credits, industry certifications, trainings, and professional development programs which develop skillsets, enrich individuals, and advance careers. #BayIsTheWay