Capital Area Transportation Authority is continuing to make progress on its plan for the Bus Rapid Transit program, initially proposed in March last year.

The BRT program would replace the current 1 line bus that runs from Okemos to downtown Lansing and makes several stops along MSU’s campus. Instead of using the current model of buses, the organization is considering higher quality articulated buses.

Debbie Alexander, CATA’s assistant executive director and rapid transit project manager, made a presentation regarding the progress of BRT before City Council at their joint meeting with the East Lansing Public School Board last week.

Alexander detailed the environmental assessment review that CATA has been working on since September of last year.

The data sampling looks at the environmental impacts that would come with the consumption of two lanes of traffic exclusively for the BRT program. Potential issues could include the loss of sidewalk space, pollution, traffic congestion and modification of historic properties.

CATA is developing a draft document for the traffic model based on the results of the environmental assessment and is expecting to publish it later this spring.

The organization is still receiving funding for the program, and expects to have environmental clearance by the end of the year. Construction is expected to begin sometime in 2016, with the program implemented as early as 2017.

Tim Dempsey, East Lansing’s Director, Department of Planning, Building, and Development said a public hearing is expected to take place in September or October regarding the potential options for BRT construction.