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Travel Information
 
  		• Driving Distances
     
  		• Amtrak
     
  		• Dowagiac Dial-a-Ride
     
  		• Cass County Public Transit
     
  		• Dowagiac Municipal Airport
    		Dial-a-ride employees Sandy Myers & Phyllis Ifill make your travel easy.
    Driving Distances

    The Grand Old City is served by Michigan Highway 51 and 62, which adjoin the community with Interstate-94 and Indiana Toll Road 80.

    Dowagiac's convenient location in southwestern Michigan places it within close driving distance to larger metropolitan cities.

    Dowagiac is located approximately:
     
  		• 25 miles north of Notre Dame University and South Bend, Indiana
     
  		• 30 miles from St. Joseph & Benton Harbor, Michigan
     
  		• 45 miles southwest of Kalamazoo, Michigan
     
  		• 90 miles east of Chicago, Illinois
     
  		• 180 miles west of Detroit, Michigan
     
  		• 225 miles north of Indianapolis, Indiana
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    Amtrak
    Dowagiac native Dora Clarke-Pine of California boards Amtrak to return home. Dowagiac's $1.8-million Depot Drive Redevelopment Project was designated a Model Community Initiative by Michigan Department of Transportation and Amtrak, illustrating how the future of high-speed rail can be tied into the plans of en-route communities and economic development.

    The city is served daily by Amtrak and has been identified as one of the stops for the planned high-speed train, running from Detroit to Chicago.

    Amtrak schedules are available at the offices of the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development Authority, located within the historic Dowagiac train depot. For reservations and rates, call Amtrak at 1 (800)-USA-RAIL or visit them on the web at www.amtrak.com.
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    Dowagiac Dial-a-Ride

    The historic Dowagiac train depot also houses the city's Dial-a-Ride services. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Final reservations are taken by 4:30 p.m. Dial-a-Ride serves residents within, and one mile outside, the city limits.

    While Dial-a-Ride serves the handicapped, people in wheel chairs should have an attendant available to assist them in loading and unloading their equipment. Children, five years and younger, must be accompanied by someone older.

    The basic adult fare is $1. Senior citizens can ride for 25 cents. Children 12 and younger may ride for 50 cents.

    To place your reservation, call Dial-a-Ride at (269) 782-3300.
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    Cass County Public Transit

    Dowagiac residents traveling outside the Dial-a-Ride operational area, can use Cass County Public Transit, headquartered in Cassopolis.

    Service is available Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and for special purposes on weekends and evenings. Cass County Transit serves all of Cass County with 24-hour advance reservations.

    Its operation is coordinated with Dowagiac Dial-a-Ride and neighboring counties. Groups can subscribe to daily, weekly or monthly trips.

    Cass County operates eight buses, one cut-a-way and two mini-vans, each with the capacity of six to 28 passengers. Buses are equipped with lifts for the handicapped. Drivers are experienced in working with the disabled.

    The cost to use county transportation includes:
     
  		• travel within five miles from the base.....$1.70
     
  		• travel beyond five miles from the base...$2.80

    Rates also provide:
     
  		• group pricing upon request
     
  		• 50 % discount for senior citizens
     
  		• 50 % discount for physically or mentally handicapped
     
  		• half-rate fares for children, ages five to 12, when accompanied by a parent

    To place your reservation 24 hours in advance, call 1 (800) 323-2508.
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    Dowagiac Municipal Airport

    Unique for a community our size, pilots are served by Dowagiac's Class "A" full-service municipal airport. Creative management and innovative service delivery have transformed what was once an under-utilized facility into one of the finest transportation gems of the region.
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