• Interested in how Ann Arbor is addressing future transit needs?

• Want to know what your family can do to reduce congestion in Ann Arbor

• Dying to learn some common transportation planning terms?

Then look no further than the Ann Arbor Transportation Plan Newsletter #2.

And don’t forget, the Final Public House for the Transportation Plan is Sept 23rd and City Hall!

FYI:

LABOR DAY TRANSIT SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

ANN ARBOR, MI - The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority will not operate regular fixed-route bus service, A-Ride paratransit, or senior taxi services on Monday, September 1, 2008 in observance of the Labor Day holiday.  Regular bus, paratransit and senior taxi services will resume on Tuesday, September 2.

AATA administrative offices at 2700 South Industrial Highway will be closed in observance of the holiday.  The offices will reopen on Tuesday, September 2 on their regular 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. schedule.  The Blake and Ypsilanti Transit Centers also will be closed on September 1 and reopen during their regular hours on September 2.

Passengers may take advantage of AATA’s Holiday Ride shared-ride taxi service on Monday for just $5 a person.  Seniors and persons with disabilities with an AATA identification card may ride for $2.50.

The Holiday Ride taxi service operates only within the city limits of Ann Arbor.  To schedule a Holiday Ride trip, call 528.5432.

Bus route and schedule information is available at 734.996.0400 or on AATA’s Web Site at www.TheRide.org.

Megan Gibb, a former Michigander who now works for the Portland, OR Transit Agency, offers this advice to Michigan:

• Michigan must expand public transit
• Michigan must practice regional planning
• Michigan needs more public-private partnerships

Why?  Well, according to Gibb, that’s where the money is.  Billions, actually.  She uses the example of Portland, who as early as the 70’s began taking bold moves to invest in public transit, couple land use planning with transit development, and create public-private partnerships to turn blighted areas into livable communities.  The result?  Billions of dollars in cost savings and investment.  In addition, the Portland region has attracted young, college educated professionals at 5 times the national rate.

That’s pretty exciting.  And inspiring.

It’s also something Michigan can do if it takes the bold moves other states have taken to invest in public transit.  As I see it, we are moving in that direction, albeit slowly.  In the Metro Detroit region, there are plans for two commuter rails, a light rail down Woodward, a comprehensive plan for transit in Washtenaw County, and a conscious effort in Ann Arbor to tie land use to future transit development.

So where are the sticking points?  Well money, of course.  There’s not even enough of it to repair the roads we already have.  To this end, there are several movements in the state to look at new ways to raise funds for transit, including the Drive Michigan initiative. Gibb also suggests that the Michigan Legislature pass House Bill 6114 “to provide a funding tool necessary for public-private partnerships.”

I would also say that we need more politicians pushing for transit.  The economic, social, and business benefits have been demonstrated time and time again in other states.  So why not here?

I know much will be put on hold during this election season, but I look forward to continuing to work on this issue in the coming years.

Let’s use just a little of this Labor Day weekend to think about the work ahead of us, and get ready to move forward (pun intended) soon.

Here’s a great resource from local advocacy group TRU:

What do your local candidates think about public transit?

Public transit is clearly one of the most important issues facing greater Detroit. Some candidates for public office have platforms supporting transit. Many, however, say nothing at all.

If you want better public transit, one of the most important things you can do this year is to ask questions about transit to candidates for public office.

Who should you ask questions to?

• Candidates for public office, including current elected officials and candidates for city council, mayor, county commission, county executive, state legislature, congress, senate and president!

Where can you ask questions?

• At candidate forums, debates, town hall meetings, on campaign websites, at coffee hours, parades, and any other opportunity to talk with candidates for public office

Why is it important to ask candidates questions about transit?

• As a voter, you should know where they stand on this important issue. Plus, during election campaigns candidates listen to what their constituents are talking about. It’s a critical time to insert transit into their discussions about what is important in your community. If they don’t hear about transit during the campaign, they’ll think it doesn’t matter and are less likely to act once elected.

What types of questions should you ask?

• You can ask questions about whatever aspect of transit you care about the most, whether that is bus improvements, funding for more transit, state commitment to the Ann Arbor-Detroit commuter train, federal funding for high speed rail, or anything else.

Sample questions:

1. Given how expensive it is to drive these days, what will you do if elected to ensure more and better transportation alternatives, such as better buses or new rapid transit alternatives?
2. In the past, disagreements between the city and suburbs have torpedoed efforts to bring real quality rapid transit to our region. Will you commit to actively working with neighboring counties and cities to improve public transit throughout the region?
3. Clearly keeping and attracting young college educated workers in Michigan is critical to our economic future, but half our college graduates are moving out of state, mostly to big cities with good public transit like Chicago, Denver, and San Francisco. What will you do when in office to support creation of vibrant urban areas and good public transit?
4. Because of gas prices, lots more people are riding the bus. But bus agencies don’t have enough money to add more buses or new service. If elected, what will you do to make sure bus agencies have the funds they need to provide good, affordable alternatives for commuters?

If you have a chance, explain to the candidate why transit is important to you. Mention if you ride the bus, if you’ve ridden transit in other cities, if you’re concerned about global warming, etc.

Afterwards, visit www.DetroitTransit.org/candidate to let us know who you asked a question of and what they had to say. Thanks for your help!!

313-963-8872 Transportation Riders United (TRU) www.DetroitTransit.org

Hello all,

Some folks in Ypsi have put together a great assortment of fun sustainable commuting events happening this Tuesday at the Ypsi Farmer’s Market.

Here’s the list:

TO DOWNTOWN
Transportation options
Ypsilanti’s Alternative Commuting Fair
Tues. Aug. 26th from 2 to 7 p.m.
@ the Downtown Farmers’ Market

Alt Commuting Raffle
Bring your bus pass or transfer, your bike helmet, walking shoes, or carpool buddies and enter our raffle. Prizes drawn every half hour starting at 2:30. Last drawing at 6:30 p.m.

Bike Commuting Extravaganza!
See examples of commuter bikes, get route information, take a bike tour of downtown with Bike Ypsi, practice locking your bike, park your bike in our fancy valet lot, and purchase kids helmets for just $5!

Walking & Busing, & Carpooling, Oh My!
Find out how to  sign up for carpooling and vanpooling.  Grab some bus schedules & learn everything you need to know to save money and stay healthy!

Family Friendly, Free & Open to the Public!

Co-sponsored by Bike Ypsi and TO Downtown Alternative Commuting Committee with support from the Michigan Department of Community Health

Hello all,

Washtenaw County is conducting a user survey with the help of MSU to help get more funding to complete the trail.  You can volunteer to help out!  There are 20 volunteer shifts in Septembe they want to fill within the next week.

Here are the details:

Washtenaw County’s Border to Border (B2B) trail is a 35 mile long non-motorized trail that will, upon completion, follow the entire length of the Huron River on its course through the County, connecting parks and other destinations. Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation, Planning and Public Health Departments are working with MSU to complete a trail usage survey of the B2B. By gathering data on trail usage and demonstrating how the existing trails are being used, Washtenaw County will be better able to leverage available local, State and federal funding to complete the trail.

When: Shifts will be only a few hours, and a variety of dates, times and locations are available throughout the month of September. Volunteers may sign up for multiple shifts.

Where: Survey sites will be at one of the following locations: Riverside Park,

Gallup Park, Ford Lake and EMU campus

What will I be doing? This type of survey, called an intercept survey, involves two volunteers stationed along the trail assisting willing trail users to complete a one page questionnaire.

Find out more: Contact Anya Dale at 734-222-6848 or dalea@ewashtenaw.org for information on volunteering.

Check out the flyer here:

http://www.ewashtenaw.org/government/departments/planning_environment/planning/B2B%20Trail%20Survey%20Flyer

Hello all,

Several local cyclists have recently reported having items stolen from their bikes when parked downtown.

The items taken include bells and lights.

Locations include Fourth and Washington, The Library, and in Front of the Ann Arbor School of Yoga (across from the Y on Washington Street).

Here’s what people have reported so far:

Just an FYI. I was parked at the bike racks in the Washington Street parking structure on Sunday (across from Arbor Brewing Company) for a few hours and somebody stole my headlight, tail light, and bell.

—

FYI, I also had some thievery happen last night (Tues, Aug 19). I parked my bike outside the Downtown Ann Arbor Library last night between 7-8 pm. When I came out, someone had stolen my Cat Eye headlight along with the plastic rack for my handlebar bag, its weird as I had other things on my bike that were more valuable?! I talked to the police and the library, it was on one of the library cameras….hopefully find out more today.

—

I too had lights stolen. Saturday evening (Aug 17), in front of the A2 School of Yoga (Huron St across from the YMCA). Two headlights and a bell were stolen from my and my wife’s bikes.

I’ve locked bikes up in A2 for 15+ years, in shadier locations and later at night and have never had anything stolen. There certainly seems to be a bike thief loose in A2.
—

If you have had something stolen from your bike recently, please contact the Ann Arbor Police Department at (734) 994-2911

Looking for the best bike route to work?

Want to find a cool 10-mile loop around Ann Arbor?

Check out some of these great online biking resources, all of which are on the bike portion of the getDowntown website:

Bikely: a website where community members can post commuting and recreational rides

MapmyRide: a website where community members can post mostly recreational and training rides

Also click here for online versions of several Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County Bike Maps

Ride on!

In case you haven’t heard, the City of Ann Arbor is revising its transportation plan for 2030.  This is a comprehensive plan that will be used to create a more transit and non-motorized friendly Ann Arbor.

The consultants for the plan just recently produced a newsletter describing some elements of the plan.  You can view the newsletter here: A2 Transp. Plan Newsletter

Perhaps you already know this, but I was pleased to find that when I typed in a location in Google Maps that all of the AATA Bus Stop locations popped up!  Not only that, but when you click on the little bus icon it tells you a little something about the route.  This is very cool and very useful.

Check it out for yourself.