LANSING - Transportation was one of the major topics at last week's Tri-County Regional Planning Commission Meeting. And while minor changes to CATA's Clean Commute program were discussed, the bigger item was potential changes to a well-known CATA bus route; changes that are years away from taking place, if ever, but ones that could affect your daily commute.

On July 1st, vanpooler's in CATA's Clean Commute program will notice a change that will require spending green while going green.

"It was very exciting to work with the city for the last couple of years to provide vanpools free parking at the 10 hour meters," Debbie Alexander, Assistant Executive Director of the Capital Area Transportation Authority said. "They've asked now that we back that down to a 50% cost.

CATA's Route 1, which runs from Meridian Mall to Downtown Lansing, is one of the more popular routes for commuters. But because of high demand, a new rapid transit system is being discussed. Alexander presented the project to the commission last week, and says it's still in the early phases

"We've submitted our environmental report to the Federal Government, and we're awaiting their decision," Alexander said.

If approved the Bus Rapid Transit would replace the current Route 1. Alexander says right now, buses depart from stops every 10 minutes. With the BRT, that time would decrease to 6 minutes.

But not all think the changes are necessary. Meridian Township resident Leonard Provencher is concerned with the decrease in number of stops.

The time that people need to get to and from those may be significantly changed, and that may act as a deterrent from the BRT," Provencher said.

But commissioner Teri Banas says she would welcome this new mode of transportation.

"I'd love to be able to use it if I'm working downtown, or some place in East Lansing," Banas said. "I get tired of driving myself."

If approved, the BRT is expected to be complete in 2018.