Summary of Frequently Asked Questions and the MTA’s Response on the Art in Transit Program

1. Why has the MTA commissioned art for the MTA Service Centers?
Response: The Mass Transportation Authority was a participant in the Granholm Challenge for the redevelopment of downtown Flint that occurred several years ago. The Granholm Challenge evolved into the Community Challenge. The MTA was involved in the community meetings that led to much of the current effort in downtown Flint. The decision coming out of the group was that the most significant deficiency was the lack of people in the downtown area. If we were to revitalize downtown Flint it would be necessary to create programs that would bring a significant number of people on a regular basis into downtown Flint. Considerations were the building of loft apartments, reopening small businesses, the construction of student housing at the University of Michigan-Flint, the transition of the MTA Transportation Center into a community building and the affective use of the 15,000 - 20,000 people a day that the Mass Transportation Authority brings into the downtown area. After a study was commissioned regarding the appropriate role of the MTA facility, the conclusion was that the building should be transitioned from a facility to transfer passengers into a community facility. The decision was to concentrate on the facility being a memorial for civil rights, a seven-eleven type store for quick purchases for the new residents, expanded restroom facilities for people in the downtown area, a meeting room to allow for public meetings and a museum dedicated to civil rights that would address revolving issues. It was concluded after much discussion that art would be the medium utilized to commemorate important civil rights events. This led the MTA to include a request for funding for art as part of a $6 million program to renovate the facility. The MTA commissioned art for the downtown facility as part of the overall community effort to attract individuals from all over the State to come to downtown Flint as a destination.

2. How much money is being spent on art by the MTA?
Response: Presently the Mass Transportation Authority has committed $524,052 for the purchase of art throughout the fourteen facilities owned and operated by the Mass Transportation Authority. Of this amount, $317, 500 is projected for use at the downtown transportation center. $85,262 was spent on art for the MTA Administration Building. The remaining $122,000 is spent on art distributed throughout the MTA Service Centers.

3. Over what period of time has the art been purchased?
Response: The Mass Transportation Authority has been accumulating funding for these facilities since the year 2000. It is our intention to continue to accumulate funding for the construction of service centers through the year 2010. The $524,052 has been accumulated throughout that period. It is anticipated that an additional $75,000 will be allocated to this program in future request for funding. The current projection is that the total cost for Art in Transit will be $600,000 acquired over an eleven-year period. This would average approximately $54,500 each year.

4. What is the source of funds for this program?
Response: Funds for the Art in Transit program comes from State and Federal discretionary grants. These grant funds are restricted for use on the construction and renovation of the service centers. No local Genesee County tax dollars are spent on this program. These are discretionary dollars awarded on a competitive basis. If the Mass Transportation Authority does not receive these dollars, they will be awarded to other communities throughout the United States.

5. Can the funds be used for other transit purposes?
Response: No

6. How much of the cost is for art in the downtown center and the other centers?
Response: The Mass Transportation Authority has spent $9,599,485 for the original construction and renovation of the transportation center. This does not include the cost of the land, which was valued at the time it was transferred to the Mass Transportation Authority from the City at approximately $1 million. We have presently allocated $317,500 for the Art in Transit program in the downtown transportation center, which is a special project. This constitutes approximately 3.3 % of the construction cost of the facility. The other service centers provides about 1.1% for Art in Transit.

7. Why isn’t the art available for everyone to review?
Response: The art is available for everyone to review during normal business hours. The downtown transportation center is open approximately eighteen hours a day. Service centers are open nine hours each day. The Administration Building is open from 8:30 in the morning to 5:00 at night Monday through Friday. It is our intention to have a regular open facility scheduled in conjunction with the art community to encourage the public to view the art in the Administration Center and Service Centers. The downtown transportation center will have regular art exhibits as part of our effort to attract interested people from throughout the State of Michigan to come to the center at their convenience. The conclusion that certain pieces of art are behind closed doors is accurate only for the Administration Building where the responsibility of the Mass Transportation Authority to maintain reasonable security for our administrative employees is balanced with the access of the general public to see the art. During normal business hours, any request to see the art is encouraged and will be made available with the assistance of a tour guide.

8. Is the work being done by local artists?
Response: At the present time all artwork is being local area. In some cases sculptures have been awarded to artists outside of Genesee County based upon the decision of the Art Selection Committee.

9. Why are we building service centers throughout Genesee County?
Response: The Mass Transportation Authority is the provider of public transportation throughout Genesee County. After we initially implemented the program from a single location on Dort Highway, it was determined that we must decentralize if we were to meet the expectations of the small cities and townships throughout Genesee County. We are a countywide authority providing service to all of the county. We were perceived as being a City of Flint public transportation authority because of our consolidated location. As a result of the decentralization where we lease facilities, we found customer acceptance and utilization increased significantly. We are building the Service Centers throughout Genesee County to better meet the expectations of the residents of Genesee County. The Mass Transportation Authority is projected to provide for the growing transportation needs for the long-term future. It has been determined to be more cost effective, as well as responsive to the public, by building facilities designed specifically for the mission of the Mass Transportation Authority as opposed to using lease facilities that were less than adequate in many cases. The construction and maintenance of our facilities is a significant economic development program. It provides work in many construction disciplines that is so important to the economic growth of Genesee County.

10. Who determined the Artist to be awarded the various contracts?
Response: The Mass Transportation Authority is focused on providing outstanding public transportation that is affordable to the public. We are not trained in the process for evaluating various forms of art. For this reason the decision was made to contract with the Greater Flint Arts Council to act as the facilitator for this program. The Flint Arts Council has established a committee to review proposals and ultimately make the decision on which proposal submitted by the artist would best meet the specifications outlined Council. In addition, the committee has identified a theme for each service center. In the Grand Blanc Center the theme is the role of public transportation in education. In the Fenton Center the theme is the role of public transportation in recreation. In the Mount Morris Center the theme is public transportation in family life. In the downtown center the focus is on civil rights. The proposals by the artists must address the theme of each center.

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