The AATA is looking for public comment regarding some changes to routes over on the NE side of town.  These routes are happening as part of the creation of a new Park & Ride Lot at Plymouth Rd and US-23, which would make it easier to park and take the bus into downtown.  Read on for details.

If approved by the AATA Board of Directors, the following  route changes would go into effect on Sunday, January 24, 2010:

The proposal for Route 2 – Plymouth includes two alternate routings:

2A from downtown Ann Arbor would serve Nixon and Green roads before serving the new Park & Ride lot, and then take Plymouth Road to downtown.

2B from downtown Ann Arbor would serve the new Park & Ride lot, and then serve Green and Nixon Roads going to downtown.

Service between Plymouth/Nixon and the Blake Transit Center downtown would be unchanged.

NEW ROUTE!

Weekday service on Route 2 on Green Road south of Plymouth Road to Glacier Hills would be replaced with a new Route 23 – Green-Glazier. Route 2 would continue to operate to the Green Road Park & Ride Lot evenings and weekends.

Route 23 would serve neighborhoods south of Plymouth Road, including Glacier Hills, Greenhills School, the Green Road Park & Ride Lot and Greenbrier Apartments. The new route would operate every 30 minutes with weekday service only. Trips would be timed to connect with Route 2 on Plymouth Road.

Route 2X would be renamed as Route 602 – Plymouth Limited, and would be extended along Plymouth Road to serve the new Park & Ride lot and would no longer serve Traverwood Boulevard or Nixon Road.

Bus stops would be added at Georgetown Boulevard and Green Road.

Service would continue to operate during morning and afternoon peak hours only, and

the frequency would be increased to every 20 minutes.

Route 602 would continue to provide direct service to downtown Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan Central Campus with limited stops

Persons or organizations having questions or wishing to comment on the proposed changes may do so between October 8 and November 6, 2009 by one of the following methods:

1) By computer: Comment or ask questions by email to aatainfo@theride.org (put “Service Changes” in subject line).

2) By phone: Call the service change hotline at 734.794.1880.

3) By fax: To 734.973.6338 (put “Service Changes” in subject line).

4) By mail: AATA Service Changes, 2700 S. Industrial Hwy., Ann Arbor, MI 48104.

5) At public information meetings:

Meetings will be held at the Traverwood Branch of the Ann Arbor District Library, 3333 Traverwood Drive, at Huron Parkway, Ann Arbor, as follows:

Thursday, October 15 – Noon-2:00 p.m.

Tuesday, October 20 – 4:00-6:00 p.m.

Thursday, October 22 – 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, October 27 – 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Routes 1 and 2X currently serve the Traverwood Branch Library.

At each public meeting, there will be an opportunity to discuss the proposed route changes individually with AATA 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 are available at the AATA web site, www.TheRide.org, or by contacting AATA 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 changes at its November 18 meeting.