Contact
Online Reservations will be entered Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 6:00pm.
Rides outside of Brookings, Volga, and Aurora must be scheduled by phone. Please call dispatch- 605-692-2222.
BATA is located at
418 Western Avenue Brookings, SD 57006
BATA's office is in the same complex as the Brookings County Highway Department.
ABOUT BATA
Public transportation is a core part of a community’s infrastructure, playing a vital part in economic development. A goal of the Brookings Economic Development Corporation is to attract the baby-boomer population back to Brookings. BATA understands the significance that public transit plays in this plan, keeping a pro-active strategy in mind.
BATA prides itself on being a very active and involved part of the community, both as a business, as well as on an individual basis, with many employees understanding the importance of doing so.
BATA is a Medicaid licensed transportation provider which allows us to provide transportation service to medical centers for their patients that need our services. We provide service to all of the clinics in the Brookings, Watertown, Sioux Falls areas, with scheduling transportation completed by the facilities or the individual patients.
The History of BATA
The history of public transportation for the community of Brookings begins in April of 1982 when the Brookings Transportation Committee for the Elderly and Handicapped was organized as a volunteer service group. When this group reached the point of working with the state, they felt it was necessary to seek some technical assistance. At this time they asked Inter-Lakes to become involved assisting them through the grants process and eventually to administer and operate the transit program. Transportation service included 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM six days a week and from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Sundays. A second vehicle was added to the fleet in 1987.
The service was available to residents of Brookings and also the area communities one day per week upon request. Local coordination was done with the nursing home facilities, ADVANCE and the Brookings Public School system. These were the only public vehicles that were accessible to accommodate wheelchairs.
Through increased ridership and transportation needs, in 1990 the decision was made to break away from the Inter-Lakes Community Action Program to allow the Brookings County Transportation for the elderly and disabled be a stand-alone agency. The name was changed to Brookings Area Transit Authority, Inc. (BATA). Transportation was expanded to all, without limit to age or ability.
The development of community and governmental relationships with Brookings and the surrounding communities has fostered increased coordination with nursing homes, assisted living communities, United Way, ADVANCE, youth programs, South Dakota State University, Chamber of Commerce, health care providers, employers, families, etc.
Meet the Team

Brenda Schweitzer
Executive Director

April Thielsen
Office Finance Manager

Amber Blanchette
Customer Service

Jordyn Bortnem
Driver- BATA

Brad Erickson
Driver- BATA

Ron Klosterman
Driver- BATA

Kristine Madsen
Driver- BATA

Leonard Witte
Driver- BATA

Jordan Fast
Driver- BATA

Mike Mullaney
Driver Supervisor

Brad Kragh
Maintenance- BATA

Anna Munkvold
Driver- Freeman

Bruce Norman
Driver- BATA

Dan Eclov
Driver- BATA

LaVerne Lanz
Driver- BATA

Terry McKeown
Driver- BATA

Russ Eich
Driver- BATA

Chuck Engelstad
Driver- BATA

Jay Caylor
Mobility Manager

Diane Kriese
Dispatcher

Bonnie Hofer
Driver- Freeman

Charlie Schnabel
Driver- BATA

Blake Azevedo
Driver- BATA

Kim Hubers
Driver- Dell Rapids

Kathy Vrchota
Driver- BATA

Troy Jonker
Driver- BATA

Robert Risty
Driver- Dell Rapids

Travis Bortnem
Resource Manager

Chris Williams
Dispatcher

Cheryl Fleury
Driver- BATA

Dave Gries
Driver- BATA

Lloyd Holter
Driver- BATA

Jim Eidem
Driver- BATA

Tom Arreola
Driver- BATA

Shirley Deckert
Driver- Freeman

Steven Moulton
Driver- BATA
"Our mission to provide coordinated transportation services for all citizens of the Brookings area and to foster independence by providing mobility options is done so by allowing dignity, integrity and compassion to all those we serve."