A Modern Odyssey, Part 2: Trains and Buses in Kalamazoo

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Re-posted from Our Voices, the blog of the Michigan Land Use Institute.  Click to see the original post.

For Odysseus, the ten-year journey from Ithaca to Troy was tough, but at a certain point in the story, his luck turned around.
As we left Birmingham and headed for the west side of the state aboard Amtrak’s Wolverine 351 at 6:18 AM, we passed though Michigan’s largest city one last time.
The smooth ride from Birmingham back through Detroit left us excited about the possibility of a well-coordinated regional transit system that could soon emerge and make regional travel convenient once again. The system will serve as the backbone of a new economy in metropolitan Detroit, if the state Legislature creates a regional transit agency necessary to make it happen. 
We traveled onward, toward Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, where transportation challenges surely exist, but there’s good reason to be optimistic. A decade or so ago civic leaders and business groups in both communities recognized and responded to the market trends that told them that strong urban transit is crucial to regional success and business growth.
What we saw in those cities reminded us that Michigan’s transportation system could grow into a good one some day.
Two things caught our attention: Bus and train ridership is rising dramatically even though funding for buses and trains is not; and there’s a strong connection between buses, beer, and this state’s ability to thrive economically.

More Riders Than Ever
In a recent MLive editorial, Rick Haglund said: “Profound demographic and societal changes are fueling the move to mass transit.”
He’s right: Last year about 775,000 passengers boarded Michigan trains. About 500,000 of those passengers were traveling between Detroit, Kalamazoo, and Chicago. Each year that number increases at about five percent, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation. 
On our train to Kalamazoo we were surrounded by a diverse group: a young professional traveling from Detroit to Ann Arbor, a young couple taking a quick trip to Chicago for an overnight stay, a mom with three young children heading to Battle Creek, and two senior citizens who could have been going anywhere. 
To us the trip was relaxing, enjoyable, and relatively productive. We talked, typed, tweeted, and took photos.
We agreed: The train is the best way to travel.
Despite reports of poor service, no Internet, and warnings that the train would be 45 minutes late that day, the train was almost full.
Improvements are on the horizon, however. Transportation officials report that soon trains will be able to travel at speeds of 110 MPH and be fully equipped with Wi-Fi, making Amtrak the quickest and most productive way for folks to get from Detroit to Kalamazoo and Chicago.
With better service and faster, tech-friendly trains, we predict a remarkable increase in ridership in the years to come. Kalamazoo, where in 2010 about 310 passengers a day got on or off an Amtrak train, will reap the benefits for years to come.

Coming into Kalamazoo
We arrived at the Kalamazoo transportation center at 11:12 AM, and it was easy to see that the town is making some smart moves with public transportation.
Kalamazoo’s 140-year-old, renovated transportation center is conveniently located in downtown Kalamazoo and serves as the region’s hub for Greyhound, Indian Trails, and the city’s Metro Transit system. The old building was restored in 2004, thanks to a federal grant from the Bush Administration. 
It’s there where you can jump off a train from Detroit or Chicago and walk, bike, or bus to almost anywhere in the re-energized city. It’s a popular entry point for Kalamazoo’s diverse population of commuters, tourists, residents, and students.
Bill Schomisch, executive director of Metro Transit, greeted us at the station and gave us a tour. Then we rode a bus to the campus of Western Michigan University. The bus was also almost full.
As we rode the bus, Bill told us that, like trains, more people are using buses than ever before. 
“We gave 20% more rides this past February than we did in the same month the previous year,” he explained.
That trend is clearly a national phenomenon. According to the American Public Transportation Association, “Americans took 10.4 billion trips on pubic transportation in 2011, the second highest ridership since 1957.”

Looking Forward
Later that day we meet with a group of citizens at the headquarters of the Interfaith Strategy for Advocacy and Action in the Community (ISAAC). There we discussed transportation needs for the Kalamazoo region.
We talked about how, as with trains, ridership on buses is at record levels even though bus agencies, saddled with dwindling state funding, are not able to offer high-quality service, adequate signage, or even shelters.
We also reflected back on the spring of 2011, when Michigan legislators threatened to cut the bus and rail budget by $20 million. Fortunately, after pressure from citizens, advocates, and a pro-transit Republican governor, lawmakers redacted their threat, maintained the funding, and tacitly acknowledge just how popular and important public transit has become throughout the state.
Now, with gas prices soaring, demographics changing, and interest in public transportation plainly soaring, it is even more important to make sure we keep the buses rolling.
That afternoon, we boarded the regularly scheduled Indian Trails bus to Grand Rapids to have a discussion about transit and economic development — but not before walking from the bus station to Michigan’s most famous microbrewery, Bell’s, for lunch and a beer.
After all, even Odysseus made sure his crew was well nourished.

Check out the photos from Day Two here.
This is part two of a three part series detailing the Michigan Transportation Odyssey, a three-day journey around Michigan using only public transportation. Part III will explore Michigan’s two growing trends: demand for transit and demand for beer.
James Bruckbauer is the Michigan Land Use Institute’s transportation policy specialist. Follow him on Twitter: @jimbruckb. Reach him by email: james@mlui.org

Riding the Bus Here and There

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Shaan Embrey and Sofie Falenius are visiting Northern Michigan
 from Sweden.  During their stay, they are riding public transit
 and writing a report about what works and what doesn't
Re-posted from Our Voices, the blog of the Michigan Land Use Institute.  Click to see the original post.

Two different cultures, and two very different experiences when it comes to transportation.

Shaan Embrey and Sofie Falenius are from Norrkoping, Sweden. It is a place where you don’t need a car. Embrey and Falenius walk, ride their bikes, the bus or tram to anywhere they want to go.

The two college students visited northern Michigan recently and are writing a college thesis report about their experiences with transportation here in this region. Public transit in Sweden, they said, is accepted by just about everyone as the easiest way to get around, and the fact that it requires public funding is just not a major issue in Sweden.

“We don’t have the need for a car,” Ms. Embrey said. “When you take public transit, you can read a book, read a newspaper, and not deal with parking.”

Here in northern Michigan, the idea of living without a car can certainly seem a world away. The reality is that most families in northern Michigan need one car because public transit is not available at all times, and when it is available, it’s not as convenient as it could be.

We find ourselves driving to get what we need almost all the time. Families in our region spend on average some $11,000 a year to get around, and many of us have to live in areas that require long commutes to work so we can afford the rent or mortgage. This, in turn, leaves commuters struggling to pay for the transportation just to get to and from work.

Given this, Embry and Falenius decided to use their trip to gather information that might, one day, assist northern Michigan in developing a better transportation system. The pair’s families are friends of longtime Benzie County resident and public transit advocate Ingemar Johansson, so during their weeks-long stay in Benzie County to visit, they rode the bus. They now plan to write a report for a thesis in their college logistics class.

The pair said public transit in a rural area like northern Michigan is very different from their experience in Sweden. At home in Sweden, the bus runs what are known as direct routes. This means the bus shows up at the same place at the same time every day, and it makes the same stops on a direct route to a final destination. This direct route from one destination to another makes the bus very timely and reliable.

Here, the experience riding the bus can be very different. Most of the bus systems run a dial-a-ride route, in which the rider has to call ahead of time to book their seat on the bus. Then, the bus takes people door-to-door, meaning the bus routes can often meanders to riders’ homes on varying routes, making the bus not as timely as it could be.

“I think it takes too long – so much going around,” Falenius said. “I just want to go straight into Traverse City and not do that many stops driving around.”

Bus stops, they said, aren’t always well-marked, and it can be confusing to figure out which bus they are supposed to get on.

“It could definitely be clearer,” Embrey said. “At home, you go online and you can write in your departure and where you want to go and it will tell how long it will take.”

Our transit leaders are already taking important steps to address the direct versus dial-a-ride route issue. We’ve reported on those issues extensively, but there is still much to be done.

Embrey and Falenius remind us that some basic changes to the way bus routes are run here can greatly improve the attractiveness of public transit to commuters and our mobile workforce.

Glenn Puit is a policy specialist at the Michigan Land Use Institute. Reach him at glenn@mlui.org.

Temporary Lane Reductions and Traffic Control on Jackson Avenue

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From May 9-17, 2012, the City of Ann Arbor will be installing storm sewers along Dexter Avenue as part of the Dexter Avenue Improvements Project.  The city will reduce Jackson/Huron near the Dexter Avenue intersection to one lane.  In addition, North Revena Boulevard will be closed at the Dexter Ave intersection.  Traffic will be detoured via Huron to Arbana to Linwood.  During this work, traffic may experience delays, so motorists are encouraged to choose alternate routes.  Pedestrian traffic will be able to cross Huron at Revena or will be detoured to Seventh.  See the map of detour route below or see the City's official notice.

E. Stadium Improvement Project, Phase 1

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Between May 14, 2012 and July 5, 2012 the City of Ann Arbor will be installing new watermains on the north and south sides of E. Stadium Blvd between Packard and Brockman Roads. The project also includes the resurfacging of E. Stadium between Packard Rd and Washtenaw Ave. The construction includes four major phases, where Phase I includes the installation of the new water main along the north side of E. Stadium Blvd. between Packard and Brockman, Phase II includes the installation of the new water main along the south side of E. Stadium Blvd. between Packard and Brockman, and Phases III and IV will resurface the pavement along the north and south sides of E. Stadium Between Brockman and Washtenaw.

For the duration of Phase I construction at E. Stadium Blvd. between Packard Road and Brockman Blvd., there will be one lane of traffic in each direction with a center left turn lane. Pedestrian traffic will be maintained on both sides of E. Stadium Blvd during this phase of construction.  See the map below for traffic control plans or see the City's official notice.

SEMCOG and MAC Pulse of the Region Survey

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Southeast Michigan residents are being asked for input on the Ozone Action program, the region’s air quality public education program through a regional online survey sponsored by the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (MAC) and SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments. Citizens can take the online survey directly, or by visiting www.semcog.org or www.mac-web.org.

Air quality is a significant quality-of-life issue for Southeast Michigan residents. Ground-level ozone is a result of hot, sunny days. Elevated levels can be cause for concern to the environment, as well as a health hazard, particularly for the elderly, the young, and those suffering from respiratory ailments.
On Ozone Action Days, Southeast Michigan residents are asked to take simple steps to reduce ozone creation. Residents can make a difference by limiting certain activities – like filling up on gas or mowing the lawn – which cause harmful emissions to enter the atmosphere. Cumulative actions by many do make a difference.

This Pulse of the Region survey is an easy way for the public to voice their opinions and provide better direction for marketing and promoting the Ozone Action Program.
The survey asks two questions pertaining to Southeast Michigan’s Ozone Action program:
  • How do you find out when it is an Ozone Action Day; and
  • How do you adjust your activities on an Ozone Action Day.
What is the current state of Southeast Michigan’s air quality? Our air is cleaner now than in the past, and air monitors in the region show we’re currently in compliance with the national ozone standard.
The Ozone Action season runs from May 1-September 30. In 2011, there were eight Ozone Action Days.

This survey is powered by Cobalt Community Research (www.cobaltcommunityresearch.org), a Michigan-based 501c3 nonprofit research coalition with a mission to provide research and educational tools that help schools, local governments, and other nonprofit member organizations thrive as changes emerge in the economic, demographic, and social landscape.

Limiting Transit Options Limits Opportunities For Kids

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Check out this feature from local news and culture website Concentrate.

Limiting Transit Options Limits Opportunities For Kids
In the conversation about mass transit and whether or not we develop a county-wide service one type of rider often gets overlooked - kids. What do limited transportation options mean for students without easy access to after-school activities and programs? What about the car-less volunteers who can't reach those who need help the most?

2012 Commuter Challenge

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Kick of your green commuting season with getDowntown's Commuter Challenge!  Win prizes, gift certificates, and save money just by riding your bike, taking the bus, or walking.  Just for signing up, you'll get a coupon to Sabor Latino or Douglas J. Aveda Institute in Ann Arbor.  Log one green commute and get free ice cream from Washtenaw Dairy and be entered to win a Amazon Kindle.   Sign up for this year's Commuter Challenge here.

New AirRide Transit Service Connects Ann Arbor, Detroit Metro Airport

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Starting Monday, Ann Arbor residents can take one of 12 trips offered daily by the new AirRide public transportation service to Detroit Metro Airport. The convenient, service to or from the airport will be offered at an introductory price $10 each way with advance reservation through July 30.

“Ann Arbor residents have been asking for a public transportation option between Ann Arbor and Detroit Metro Airport for several years,” Michael Ford, CEO of the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (TheRide), said at a celebration ceremony today. “We’re proud to finally bring this service to Ann Arbor residents and we’re grateful for our partners’ help in making it happen.”

AirRide is a public-private partnership between TheRide, Michigan Flyer, the University of Michigan, the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority and the Ann Arbor Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The organizations celebrated their partnership at the Kensington Court hotel, one of the three stops in Ann Arbor that will be served by AirRide. They were joined by Congressman John Dingell; Gordon Mackay, president of Indian Trails, parent company of Michigan Flyer; Kirk Steudle, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation; John Hieftje, mayor of Ann Arbor; and several local elected leaders.

Bus stops for the service in Ann Arbor include 12 stops daily at the Blake Transit Center and Kensington Court Hotel, and four stops daily the University of Michigan Central Campus Transit Center. At the airport, AirRide offers bus stops at both the McNamara and North terminals. The buses feature comfortable seating, wireless internet and restroom amenities.

 “AirRide will provide convenient, low-cost airport shuttle service for Ann Arbor and surrounding communities, and ultimately increase the number of people who use public transportation to get to or from the airport,” said Gordon MacKay, president of Indian Trails. “AirRide will also help conserve energy, reduce both traffic congestion and environmental pollution in the region, and save passengers time and money in the process.”

Following the $10 introductory rate, regular adult fares will be $12 one-way with advance reservation and $15 for walk-ons. Discounts will be available for seniors, people with disabilities and children. Reservations can be booked online at MyAirRide.com. 

Passengers departing from the Blake Transit Center can take advantage of $2-per-trip for up to 14 days reduced parking rates at the Fourth Avenue and William Street parking structure, while those leaving from the Kensington Court Hotel can park for just $2 per day.

Because AirRide is a public-private partnership, it also saves taxpayer dollars. While the total cost of the new service is $1.2 million, state operating assistance, passenger fares and private contractor contributions bring TheRide’s direct annual cost for the service to $303,400.

“Increasing the availability of regional transit services like AirRide is critical to the future of our state. The local economy, air quality, and development patterns are all connected to transportation,” said Congressman Dingell. “The fact that this service is saving taxpayer dollars through a public-private partnership makes it even more important.”

AirRide also falls in line with the vision Gov. Rick Snyder expressed in his transportation message last fall. Gov. Snyder called for using public transportation to improve regional connectivity in Southeast Michigan. AirRide will connect Ann Arbor area residents to other regional transportation systems by sharing a stop at Detroit Metro Airport with the SMART transit system.

“The public’s transportation needs do not start and stop at municipal or transit authority boundaries,” said Kirk Steudle, director of MDOT. “By sharing a stop with the SMART buses, AirRide isn’t just connecting Ann Arbor and Detroit Metro Airport, it’s connecting Ann Arbor to the rest of Southeast Michigan.” 

Information on reservations and schedules for AirRide can be found at MyAirRide.com.

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.

Connect with TheRide through social media at Facebook, Twitter, or Youtube.

Michigan Flyer—whose motto is “Why Drive?”—offers affordable, seamless, luxury motorcoach connections between East Lansing, Ann Arbor, and Detroit Metro Airport. A division of Indian Trails, Michigan Flyer has carried more than 500,000 passengers since its launch in November 2006. On the web at http://www.michiganflyer.com.

Indian Trails, Inc.—which has served as Michigan’s premiere, family-owned, inter-city motorcoach carrier for more than 100 years, and is based in Owosso, MI—operates one of the largest and newest fleets of deluxe motorcoaches in Michigan. Its services include charters, tours, shuttles, airport transfers, and daily scheduled routes throughout Michigan and into Chicago and Milwaukee. On the web at http://www.indiantrails.com.