FYI:

The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority will offer a valet parking service in the Maynard parking structure, beginning Monday December 15, 2008, and running Monday through Friday, 8am until 6pm. The cost for this valet service will be $5.00 to be paid in addition to standard parking fees.

The Ann Arbor Downtown Parking Study commissioned by the City in June 2007 set forward recommendations for the downtown parking system, including a suggestion that vehicles be accommodated at peak periods in the parking structures using a valet service. This study further recommended that community interest in valet parking be assessed by implementing a pilot daytime valet parking project at the Maynard structure, as this is a facility that is popular among visitors and commuters.

Valet service will begin at Maynard on December 15th and the DDA has determined that it will run this pilot program for a year or so. Patrons will deliver their vehicle to the Thompson Street entrance to the parking structure, where a Republic Parking employee will then place the car in a designated area in the upper levels of the structure. Patrons can arrange to pick up their car at a designated time or will phone Republic Parking (734-945-9147) fifteen (15) minutes before they need their vehicle. Republic Parking will have their car waiting at the structure exit, thereby saving patrons time and the need for reluctant customers to navigate a busy parking structure.

For additional information on the pilot daytime valet parking project in the Maynard parking structure, please contact A2 DDA Deputy Director, Joe Morehouse at jmorehouse@a2dda.org or phone: 734/994-6697.

The combination of high gas prices and a sinking economy must have knocked something loose for a lot of people from July-September.  According to the American Public Transportation Association, transit ridership showed the highest quarterly ridership in 25 years this past July-September.

Over here at the getDowntown Program, we saw a 20% increase in go!pass ridership from last go!pass season (Nov 2006- Oct 2007) to this go!pass season (Nov 2007-Oct 2008).

This comes at a time when money for all transportation needs is drying up.  Which clearly is a problem.

What’s the solution?  Well Obama is talking about creating a massive public works project that would include green infrastructure (retrofitting buildings, transit, etc) so that could help.

In MIchigan, there has been a push to call for funding public transportation during the lame duck Michigan Legislature.

I also believe that more and more young professionals “get” the idea of sustainable transportation.  So I’m forever hopeful.  Especially since there were lots of folks on the bus today.

As we enter the part of winter that is chock-full of holidays, many of us are gearing up to exchange gifts. If you’re a go!pass holder, this is a good time to note that you have access to discounts at many downtown businesses. And we’re very excited to announce that as of today, Orchid Lane is offering a go!pass discount as well: 10% of all merchandise at Orchid Lane (not applicable on the warehouse side).