Meetings Scheduled for Proposed Changes to AATA Route #4

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PRESS RELEASE  
For immediate release
September 20, 2011

Ann Arbor Transportation Authority
2700 South Industrial Hwy., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104
734.973.6500; 734.973.6338F; www.theride.org
Mary K. Stasiak, Mgr. Community Relations
734.794.1870; mstasiak@TheRide.org

TheRide proposes increased transit service
between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (TheRide) is seeking public comment on proposed service changes that are designed to improve transit service between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti on the #4 Washtenaw route.

Public comment will be gathered on a plan to double the number of weekday trips that operate on Route 4, primarily along Washtenaw Avenue, between the Blake Transit Center in downtown Ann Arbor and the Ypsilanti Transit Center.

TheRide’s Manager of Service Development, Chris White, said that the proposed service improvement is intended to accomplish:
  • More frequent service east of US 23, where most of the current demand originates
  • More reliable service (better on-time performance)
  • Less crowded trips
  • More direct and faster service to and from U-M Central Campus and the Blake Transit Center on every other trip – seven minutes less than the current schedule

Current service on Route 4 operates between the two cities every 30 minutes mid-day and every 15 minutes during morning and afternoon peak service hours. Additional peak trips also operate between the University of Michigan Medical Center and the Ann Arbor city limits at US 23.

Ridership on Route 4 has the highest ridership among all of TheRide routes. More than 800,000 trips are taken per year and more than 3,000 trips on an average weekday on Route 4.

White added, “Increased service frequency along Washtenaw Avenue has been needed for some time, but funds have not been available for service expansion outside of Ann Arbor. The new funds in Ypsilanti dedicated to transit service and preparations to jump start the countywide Transit Master Plan implementation have enabled TheRide to propose this long awaited service improvement.”

The service plan proposal includes:
  • Mid-day – four trips per hour in each direction (service every 15 minutes)
  • Peak Hours – eight trips per hour in each direction (service every 7.5 minutes on average)
  • Peak Hours – Discontinue service on trips which operate only between U-M Medical Center and US 23
  • Mid-day and Peak Hours – Every other trip to provide service to U-M Medical Center. Remaining trips to provide service directly to the Central Campus Transit Center

Public comments may also be submitted to TheRide between September 23 and October 22 by:
·         Email – aatainfo@TheRide.org (put “Service Improvement” in subject line)
·         Telephone – TheRide Hotline at 734.794.1880
·         Fax – 734.973.6338 (put “Service Expansion” in subject line)
·         Mail – AATA Service Improvement, 2700 S. Industrial Hwy., Ann Arbor, MI 48104.
  • Attendance at a public drop-in session – these are scheduled for:
Thursday, October 6, 5-7 p.m.                                                               
Glencoe Hills Apartments, Clubhouse, 2201 Glencoe Hills Drive, Pittsfield Township

     Tuesday, October 11, 9-11 a.m.
     University Hospital, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, Classroom #2C108,   
     across from the Gift Shop and Cashier’s Office

     Tuesday, October 11, 1-3 p.m.
     Michigan Union, 530 S. State St., Wolverine Room AB, Ann Arbor

Wednesday, October 12, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Dom Bakeries, 1305 Washtenaw Avenue, Ypsilanti

Tuesday, October 18, 5-7 p.m.
Ann Arbor District Library, 343 S. Fifth Avenue, downtown Ann Arbor
  
At each public drop-in session, there will be an opportunity to discuss the proposed service improvements individually with TheRide staff members.

The facilities are accessible, and reasonable accommodation to permit persons with disabilities to participate will be made if requested at least two days in advance at 734.973.6500. Two-week notice is required for interpreter service for persons with hearing impairments.

Copies of maps and timetables for the proposed changes will be available at the AATA website, www.TheRide.org, or by contacting TheRide by one of the methods listed above. Copies are available in alternative formats upon request.

A copy of all written comments and a summary of verbal comments will be provided to the AATA Board of Directors before a decision is made on adopting the proposed changes. The board will consider the service improvements at its November 16 meeting. If the final recommendations are approved, the route changes would go into effect on Sunday, January 29, 2011.

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The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (TheRide) was chartered in 1969 by the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan, as a not-for-profit unit of government. AATA operates the local public transit system for the greater Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area, enabling the area’s residents to reach their destinations at reasonable cost, and offers the region efficient, environmentally sound transportation alternatives. For more information, please visit www.TheRide.org.

TheRide’s Board of Directors has endorsed a 30-year Transit Master Plan for Washtenaw County. Updates on the progress of the plan are available at www.MovingYouForward.org.

E-mail and text message updates on bus routes, schedules, detours and other news from TheRide are available by free subscription to MyRide at www.TheRide.org.

Visit TheRide at www.facebook.com/CatchTheRide  or www.twitter.com/CatchTheRide.

Celebrate the New Washtenaw Ave Non-Motorized Path!

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In Summer 2011, the City of Ann Arbor completed a new shared use non-motorized path connecting Downtown to the Washtenaw Avenue shopping district.  Come celebrate this non-motorized milestone with the City, MDOT, WATS, Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Department, AATA, and area neighbors and businesses.  The ribbon cutting ceremony and brief walk along the path begin at 2:30pm at the Ann Arbor Assembly of God parking lot.  See flyer below for details.  See the full sized flyer here.


2011 getDowntown Commuter Challenge

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Congratulations to all those who participated in the 2011 getDowntown Commuter Challenge!  This year there were 192 registered organizations and 1,817 participants who logged at least 1 commute.  Everyone who participated received a coupon for a free ice cream or Italian ice.  Employees at organizations that met their participation goals will receive a bundle of prizes including coupons and gift cards to downtown stores.

Every WATS staff member participated this May, tying first place for organizations between 2 and 50 employees.

In total, WATS staff:
  • Logged 595.80 miles of sustainable travel
  • Took 32 green commutes
  • Avoided 509.94 lbs of CO2 emissions
  • Burned 4,855.20 calories
In July, getDowntown will begin its 2011 Commuter Club program, helping downtown employees stay motivated t to commute sustainably all year long.  For more information, check out the Commuter Club website.  See the getDowntown Blog for official results of the 2011 Commuter Challenge.

Again, congratulations to all those who participated!

Michigan and Washtenaw County Recognized as Complete Streets Leaders

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A new report by the National Complete Streets Coalition recognizes the WATS Non-Motorized Plan for Washtenaw County, the Village of Dexter’s Complete Streets Ordinance, and the State of Michigan’s Complete Streets policy as some of the best examples of Complete Streets policies.  The report scores plans and ordinances based on the ten elements below.
·         Vision
·         All Users & Modes
·         Connectivity
·         Jurisdiction
·         Phases
·         Exceptions
·         Design
·         Context Sensitivity
·         Performance Standards
·         Implementation Plan
The Non Motorized Plan for Washtenaw County, developed by WATS in 2006, scored high marks in the Vision, Connectivity, Jurisdiction, and Context Sensitivity categories.  Dexter’s Ordinance scored well in the Vision, All Users & Modes, Connectivity, Exceptions, Design, and Context Sensitivity categories.

Washtenaw County is already a leader in considering the needs of all road users.  This recognition means that even more communities could look to Washtenaw County as a model for their own policies.
Other communities with Complete Streets Policies or Non-Motorized Plans include the Cities of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Saline.  Communities that have designated a non-motorized section in their master plan or have adopted the WATS Non-Motorized Plan by reference include the City of Chelsea and Dexter, Lyndon, Pittsfield, Northfield, Scio, and Ypsilanti Townships.

Heritage News Letter to the Editor on Public Transportation

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A recent letter to the editor on public transportation was posted on the Heritage.com.  The letter offers the perspective of a senior and the impact the lack of public transportation can have on the way one lives.  Click on the link or read the full text below.

http://www.heritage.com/articles/2011/03/08/opinion/doc4d768a7145a5b152171317.txt

My husband and I are giving serious consideration to selling our home in Texas and moving back to my hometown.


I'm sure we would be welcomed by family and friends as well as local merchants, taxing entities and the governor.

Frankly, the one area that gives us "pause" in our decision is the limitations in the current public transit system.

Last fall, we moved into a senior apartment complex here in Chelsea to recover from injuries suffered in separate accidents. We love the activities and the residents where we live. Like most residents, we want to be active members of the community. We want to attend community events and do some volunteer work. There is so much to do in this area. The problem is getting to these activities.

The door-to-door bus service operates in Chelsea from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It costs $4 round trip for seniors needing service in Chelsea.

If you need door-to-door service to Ann Arbor, the cost is $10 one way for seniors and persons with disabilities.

You can take a personal care attendant at no charge.

The Chelsea Community Ride Shuttle offers free service three times a day, six days a week. Unfortunately, our apartment complex isn't one of the stops except for three times a week.

Many of the activities I had planned to attend during my recovery period were "off limits" due to problems with transportation. Participating in evening activities is out of the question in Chelsea since the system stops working here at 4:30 p.m.

The monthly lunch outing our residents enjoyed was canceled due to high costs. We can no longer attend concerts at another nearby senior facility due to lack of transportation. Few residents are able to attend the programs sponsored by the library, hospital and local merchants.

The time is here for every resident, regardless of age, to think ahead. What will happen when you can no longer drive and become dependent on public transportation? Do you want seniors to feel trapped and dependent on their children to provide transportation? What about the valuable volunteer services seniors often provide to the community? It will be very costly for everyone if our seniors are unable to fully participate in our community activities.


If you are still not convinced that we need to expand and improve our public transit system, stop driving. Start using public transportation and your family and friends to meet all of your transportation needs. I believe that you will quickly learn as we did that Chelsea isn't "45 minutes away from the world" as advertised by the Chamber of Commerce. It is much further away when you don't drive and/or have mobility issues.


Mary Ann Snider

Chelsea

Seasonal Weight Restrictions Return

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If this warm weather isn't sign enough that spring is right around the corner, check out this press release from the County Road Association of Michigan.

Lansing, Mich. – The County Road Association of Michigan (CRAM) announced today that counties are beginning to enact seasonal weight restrictions. The return of seasonal weight restrictions is an indication that spring- pothole season- is coming to Michigan.

"Although warmer weather is welcome after the subzero temperatures last week, the freeze thaw cycle makes road surfaces more susceptible to damage," Association Director, John Niemela said. "Even with weight restrictions our roads take a big hit each year."

Michigan's county road agencies are working to improve roads to accommodate commercial vehicles, but increasing costs and declining revenues delay these costly improvements.

The enforcement of seasonal weight restrictions, commonly known as frost laws, is vital to minimizing damage to Michigan's local road system. On average road commission weight restrictions last 5 to 6 weeks, between March and May.

By law, Michigan’s state and local road agencies may enact seasonal weight restrictions when ever conditions warrant. Weight restrictions are traditionally enacted each spring to minimize road damage caused by even legal load limit commercial vehicles during the freeze-thaw cycle of spring.

As the ground thaws, water is forced toward the surface exerting pressure under the pavement. This causes weak spots in the pavement and makes the road surface more prone to damage. The heavier the vehicle, the greater the probability of causing harm to roads. During the weight restriction period, trucks traveling on "posted/restricted" roads must carry lighter loads (legal load limit reduced by 25 to 35 percent) and travel at slower speeds.

CRAM offers a convenient Web resource for information on all county seasonal weight restrictions, simply visit www.micountyroads.org and click seasonal weight restrictions.

Most northern states and all Canadian Provinces allow road agencies to impose seasonal weight restrictions. The CRAM Web site is continually updated as counties change their restrictions and provides commercial truck operators the information they need to comply with these temporary restrictions.

The County Road Association of Michigan represents the state’s 83 county road agencies that are responsible for 75 percent of Michigan’s road system, representing more than 90,000 miles of roads and 5,600 bridges- the fourth largest local road system in the nation.

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County residents get another chance to provide input to transit master plan

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Ann Arbor, MI – Washtenaw County residents will have another opportunity to have their say on what types of public transit they would like to see in the future. TheRide (Ann Arbor Transportation Authority) will hold 20 community forums to review three possible transportation scenarios (combinations of public transportation solutions) that may be included in the new countywide transit master plan.

The community forums will be held from January 31 to February 23. A complete list of meeting locations and times can be found at the transit master plan website MovingYouForward.org.

“The transit master plan will impact everything from economic development and the environment to the quality of life for seniors for the next 30 years,” said TheRide CEO Michael Ford. “The only way to ensure the plan will have the greatest impact is to gather as much feedback as possible.”

The scenarios proposed for the master plan have been developed based on two key reports created to aid in the creation of the transit master plan: The Transit Master Plan Visioning Report, which outlines the shared goals that are common to all Washtenaw County communities and the Transit Audit and Needs Assessment, which identifies the needs that the Transit Master Plan must address for Washtenaw County’s shared goals to be met.

Each of the three transportation scenarios presented at the community forums will include a combination of transit solutions – such as extended service hours or increased express routes –designed to meet Washtenaw County’s current and projected transportation needs.

Possible Transportation Scenarios

Lifeline Plus Scenario

• Improves lifeline services where they exist today

• Provides essential door-to-door connections for seniors and people with disabilities across the County

• Ensures that our most vulnerable populations can remain independent with access to fresh food, employment and educations opportunities, health care and recreational facilities

Accessible County Scenario

• Builds on the Lifeline Plus Scenario to provide a basic level of transit service for all County residents

• Establishes transit as an integral part of the County transportation system, making the County a more attractive place for employers to locate and employees to live

Smarter Growth Scenario

• Adds to the Accessible County Scenario, with investment in high capacity systems and regional rail to guide land use development on high capacity transit corridors

• Stimulates job creation and economic growth

• Focuses development in areas that best accommodate growth

• Preserves green space

• Stems growing traffic congestion

Input received through the community forums will be used to guide development of a preferred scenario that will be used as the basis for the final Washtenaw County Transit Master Plan. The final outcome may be based on one of the scenarios, or a combination of transit options.

“This will be one of the last chances for the public to review what’s being proposed for the transit master plan, ask questions and provide feedback before a final plan is presented early this summer,” said Saline Mayor Gretchen Driskell, who serves on the transit master plan leadership committee. “We encourage Washtenaw County residents to take their future into their hands, get involved and offer their ideas and suggestions at one of the upcoming community forums."

Community forums to be held next week are:

• Manchester Village Offices, Monday, January 31, 6-8 p.m.

• Ann Arbor District Library, Downtown, Tuesday, February 1, 6-8 p.m.

• Domino’s Farms, Wednesday, February 2, 5-7 p.m.

• Ypsilanti Library, Whittaker Road, Thursday, February 3

• Washington Street Education Center, Chelsea, Friday, February 4, 8-10 a.m.



A complete list of community forums is available at http://www.movingyouforward.org/.

WiFi Added to A2Express Buses

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AATA recently announced an exciting addition to their A2Express service between Ann Arbor and Chelsea.  The full press release is included below.  Don't forget to follow TheRide on twitter @CatchTheRide for frequent updates.



ANN ARBOR, MI – Free WiFi and 10-ride tickets to try the A2Express bus service from to Ann Arbor from Chelsea and Canton are being offered to area commuters by the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (TheRide).


TheRide recently added WiFi to its A2Express buses and reduced the fare on each of the routes after taking over operation of the service from a contracted vendor. The fare on either route is now $99 a month, down from $125. Also available for riders are a 10-ride ticket priced at $40 and a one-way cash fare of $5. Eligible University of Michigan faculty and staff members and individuals with a go!pass are eligible for a reduced fare.

Each express route provides two weekday trips each morning and two return trips each afternoon for commuters between Chelsea or Canton and downtown Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan campus.

The A2Express began in May, 2008 as a new kind of bus service for TheRide, characterized by the commuter-oriented nature of the schedule and the premium fare. The Chelsea Express was the first implementation of longer-distance commuter service into Ann Arbor, followed 15 months later when the Canton Express was initiated.

Both routes were operated initially by a subcontractor, but have since been taken in-house by TheRide resulting in a significant reduction in costs. In fiscal year 2010, the budget for A2Express service was $509,428 and for fiscal year 2011, the budget has been set at $241,687, a 53 percent reduction.

The service was originally funded by a federal demonstration grant. The Chelsea route is no longer covered by the grant, but a portion of the funding remains for the Canton Express.

Current riders are enthusiastic about the service and have actively encouraged other to try it out. Several participated with TheRide in promoting the service at the Chelsea Parade in August. Combined ridership on the routes is currently about 82 trips per day, or 41 riders daily.

In describing his positive experience on the A2Express, rider Alan Vollmer said recently, “I park at the Arctic Coliseum in Chelsea and take the Chelsea Express. Riding a commuter bus saves me 700 miles of wear and tear on my car and 25 hours of driving time per month! I was sold after my first trip on the bus!”

The free 10-ride tickets may be requested through the A2Express web site www.a2express.org, or by calling TheRide at 734.973.6500. The tickets are available only to first-time riders.

Information about TheRide’s services, individual bus routes, schedules, detours and other news is available at www.TheRide.org. Available at TheRide’s web site are e-mail and text message updates by free subscription to MyRide.

WATS Expands Public Particpation Process through Goolge Earth and Twitter

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Public participation is a critical component to the transportation planning process.  In fact, agencies like WATS are required to assemble a Public Participation Plan to document existing and future ways in which public will be able to participate in the process. You can view the WATS Public Participation Plan by clicking here.

In addition to the public involvement methods WATS has used for years, the agency is increasing the ways in which the public can stay informed and involved online.  WATS now provides information on facebook and twitter in addition to this blog and our website. 

WATS is now providing maps of Transportation Improvement Program projects in Google Earth. A .kml file of the WATS FY 2011-2014 TIP projects is available.  If you already have Google Earth installed on your computer, click on this link http://bit.ly/chI0Vb, to download and open the file. The file will automatically open in Google Earth.

If you don't have Google Earth you can download it for free here. 

If you'd like to see more maps provided in this format leave a comment on this blog or send us a tweet @miwats and let us know what you think.