In August 2009 the AATA began offering a new service, the A2 Express. It is comprised of the Canton-to-Ann Arbor Canton Express, and the Chelsea-to-Ann Arbor Chelsea Express. Making commuting into Ann Arbor easy and green for downtown employees is what we’re all about at getDowntown, so I sat down with a Canton Express commuter, Rosanne Frank of Miller Canfield, to get a better understanding of how this bus route works!

gDt: Why did you decide to try commuting by bus?
Rosanne Frank: I saw the flier [for the A2 Express] at our office and the times fit my work schedule, so I tried it. There was a two-week free trial in September that worked great for me, so I started commuting daily by bus in October.

gDt:How has the cost of the A2 Express Commuter Pass balanced out against the price you were paying to commute by car?
RF: I drive a Ford Explorer which doesn’t have the best mileage. It gets 17 mpg. And when you drive in from Canton, which was approximately 25 miles, which could be 3 gallons a day. That could end up being $40 or more in gas a week. I pay $62.50 for the Commuter Pass [as a go!pass holder] once a month. Plus I don’t have to pay for parking for my car at the Ann & Ashley structure.

gDt: How does the A2 Express work?
RF: I start my day at 7:17 am at Independence Park and the bus driver is extremely punctual. I get dropped off between 7:55 and 8:00 a.m. one block from my office. Before when I drove it’d take 25-30 minutes to commute by myself, but then sometimes I would get caught in traffic. I’m able to catch the bus home at 5:08pm. I work an 8-5 day, so I end up putting in an extra half hour each day on this schedule. Because I put in extra time during the week, my bosses let me leave on the 3:35 pm bus one day per week
I’m happy that I take the bus. If I know in advance that I am going to have a busy schedule at work I can take an earlier bus. If I need to get home early for some emergency, there is an emergency cab that is offered, so I know that I have a way to get back to Canton.

gDt: What in particular do you like about the A2 Express?
RF: The buses are comfortable and the drivers are great. The drivers also know where each rider’s stop is so if we don’t need to stop, he doesn’t. The buses are on time too, very punctual.

gDt: What do you do to pass the time on your ride?
RF: Listen to my iPod, sometimes I sleep. A lot of people read and some other riders are coworkers so they ride in together.

gDt: Had you only been a car commuter before?
RF: Yes.

gDt: Have you tried to convince any of your other coworkers to commute by methods other than the car?
RF: I have. My other coworkers’ schedules are too irregular for the bus to work for them. I’m glad that Miller Canfield is a part of the go!pass program, and that they allow me to work within the bus schedule and are flexible so I can take advantage of the A2 Express.

Thank you to Rosanne for her time! If you have any questions about the A2 Express, visit www.a2express.org or call 734-996-0400. If you are a go!pass holder and would like to purchase the discounted tickets, please contact the getDowntown Program at 734-214-0100.