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98 < m ETRO m AGAZINE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014 metro-magazine.com Through public-private partnerships, both entities are able to service customers and diversify their businesses, while solving complicated transportation issues in the areas they serve. BY ALEX ROMAN, Managing Editor MOTORCOACH OPERATORS , PUBLIC TRANSIT TEAMING TO OFFER MORE OPTIONS Sometimes viewed as adversaries, public transportation agencies and private motorcoach operators are teaming up to expand transportation options in some areas with agreements called public-private partnerships (P3). Te P3 agreements are proving to be extremely ben- efcial for both private operators, who have focused on diversifying their operations post-9/11, and public tran- sit agencies, who are trying to capitalize on growing de- mand by ofering even more services. METRO spoke to two motorcoach operators, and a public transportation agency, about their P3s and how and why they have proven to be successful. A partnership between Indian Trails and TheRide increased the daily frequency of roundtrips from eight to 12 on the Ann Arbor/DTW segment of Michigan Flyer's route from East Lansing. CONTINUES ON PAGE 100