Ann Arbor residents footing bill for 'woefully inadequate' bus system
This week, I actually have to go to Canton due to it being the only place U-M could get me in soon for a particular medical appointment. Given this, I actually looked into the Canton ExpressRide service, as the U-M clinic is within walking distance of the Ford Road Meijer where the Canton bus stops. However, as I discovered through my contact with AATA, there is no way for Ann Arbor residents like me to ride to Canton in the morning and from Canton in the evening, even though they're sending the buses out there empty anyway. As such, I had to ask for rides to get to and from Canton — my only other option being a $50 each way cab ride.
My experience with the Canton Express is emblematic of the problems with AATA's plans to expand beyond the existing service area — they currently are oriented towards getting out-county residents (and out-of-county residents, in the case of Canton) to downtown or campus in the morning and back to their parked cars in the evening. This does very little for Ann Arbor residents — those who are paying the bulk of the costs — and seems quite inefficient given the fact that we're running empty buses out there. The transit master plan would call for even more of this in the future, and also would call for the creation of the WALLY commuter rail line to Livingston County to operate in much the same way. Meanwhile, Ann Arbor residents would be asked to foot most of the bill for these services.
At the same time as AATA pushes this expansion in commuter-oriented services, AATA bus service remains woefully inadequate in the core urban areas. There's no night or weekend service on many routes, no fixed-route service at all after 6pm on weekends, and no service on holidays. Counterintuitively, service on New Years Eve ends early, despite the obvious public safety benefits of running transit later on that night. While there is Night Ride/Holiday Ride, that service notoriously is unreliable and hardly substitutes for fixed-route service.
Next year, Ann Arbor will be hosting the NHL's Winter Classic — and for the first time ever, there will be no regularly-scheduled public transportation in the host city on the day of the game. While we may have the best transit system in the state of Michigan, that would be more a reflection of the sad state of affairs that is transit in Michigan than how good AATA is. When it is nearly impossible to do things like go out to dinner or a movie on a Saturday or Sunday night, one can hardly call AATA a great transit system — and it is laughable to think anyone would go carless in Ann Arbor by choice.
With that said, there are things that can be done to improve the current state of affairs. For one, Council should direct AATA to redirect all the funding for TMP consultants and marketing, commuter routes, and trains to nowhere to expand the hours of service in our core urbanized areas. Instead of spending all this time, money, and energy on creating a new Act 196 transit authority, we should just amend the articles of incorporation of the existing Act 55 authority to allow other municipalities to join. If Lansing can do that, why can't we? We certainly should continue to pursue expansion of transit beyond the city limits — including beyond Washtenaw County — though such transit should be paid for by all municipalities it serves and not solely transport commuters into A2.
Tim Hull of Ann Arbor delivered this message to Ann Arbor's City Council on July 23.
Comments
Mick52
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 4:37 p.m.
On occasion I have had to use AATA to get around Ann Arbor and have always found it reliable. My experience is the buses are generally on time. Now I understand they want to expand outward and expand taxes too, while the bulk of funding will come from A2. I live out county now and want nothing to do with it since I highly doubt we will see buses on any regular schedule. It is not worth paying for unless there is regular service. When I need it I will pay the fare. I do not get this writer's complaining. He is upset that AATA can't get him to Canton? I doubt AATA will take him to Brighton either.
Angry Moderate
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 5:38 p.m.
He is not upset that AATA can't get him to Canton. He is upset that he, as an Ann Arbor taxpayer, is forced to pay for transportation for people who live in Canton, while Canton and the AATA refuse to give him a ride in the opposite direction.
Woman in Ypsilanti
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 3:23 p.m.
I am very happy with AATA's bus service although I also think that a regional plan will improve it. I am quite happy to pay for AATA bus service with my Ypsilanti taxes and if I were asked to vote to increase them in order to improve the bus service, I would do so without hesitation.
cornelius McDougenschniefferburgenstein jr. 3 esq.
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 12:40 p.m.
the empty buses vex me.when a bus drops its last load in ypsi.they deadhead to industrial with OUT OF SERVICE light on.why cant i ride that bus?care to answer AATA?didnt think so.
gofigure
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 11:58 a.m.
Be thankful you for the bus system you do have. Wayne, Westland, Dearborn buses run once an hour and 9 times out of 10 they're not on time.
Goodneighbor
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 4 a.m.
If the UofM felt your appointment was an emergency, I'm sure that they would have scheduled you in Ann Arbor at an earlier date. By accepting the OFFER of an appointment in CANTON, YOU took on the extra stress of travel arrangements. ( This would have been a GREAT offer to someone from Canton! :-)!, but, ...) Since travelling to Canton seems too much of a hassle, ... give the U Hospital a call and reschedule, HERE! IF, as you say, it is true that their is no "Regularly scheduled public transportation" during the NHL' Winter Classic"...um, ...well...I believe the "Classic" is an aberration that should not warrant reconsideration of "regular" scheduling practices and policies. Best of luck with your medical issues.... :-)!
SonnyDog09
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 11:20 p.m.
The biggest problem with public transportation is having to share your ride with the public.
breadman
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 8:16 p.m.
I just love AATA, paid the 1.50 fare to go too meijer on Carpenter Road took me one solid hour and a transfer too get there. Now too get back, I took route 6. Bus starts in Ypsilanti that was horrible. Bunch of minors (teens) riding the bus too Briarwood. Way in the back, are swearing.I mean swearing. There were Mothers on that bus with little kids not too say those might not ever had ever heard the words but out of respect to others keep your mouth shut on that kind of words. I,in mind was just about ready to turn around and ask them"if they eat with that kind of potty mouth". But I just did not feel safe on that ride. And one thing did the DRIVER do about them SAILORS on the bus not a ship,did he do. Taking a look at the sings in the bus, I did observe one that did say " PLEASE REFRAIN FROM ANY PROFANITY" You call AATA bus drivers PROSSIONAL..........................
Woman in Ypsilanti
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 3:12 p.m.
I have actually wondered about the profanity rules on the bus. ARe they even legal? Don't bus riders have first amendment rights? But with that said, one of the things about the bus is that it does put you in contact with others in your community and is less isolating than a private automobile. I have found, as a middle aged woman, that a stern look is usually enough to keep rowdy teenagers in line. Sometimes a calm, "Please watch your language, there are children present" does wonders too. The bus driver is busy driving the bus.
Monica R-W
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 6:46 p.m.
If I hear one more time that Ypsilanti Township residents DON'T PAY for AATA Bus Service....literally its time for the screaming to begun. Ypsilanti Township Residents pay for AATA bus services via a tax OUR TAX DOLLARS assessed to all property owners in this community into the POSA from the General Fund. From Local In Ann Arbor Blogspot: http://localannarbor.wordpress.com/2012/03/10/fairness-and-transit-ii/ "POSA (purchase of service agreement) contractual amounts to AATA for specified services. They are all within that urban network seen in the map above. POSA charges are calculated yearly using a formula to pay actual "loaded" costs of the specified services. In general, POSA amounts are part of a municipality's general fund budget and are paid right off the top of their discretionary revenue." Ypsilanti Township is second in the number of riders who use the AATA system besides Ann Arbor. In other words, by revenue received per rider and POSA, Ypsilanti Township do indeed FAIRLY PAY TWICE (in most cases) for uses of our local public transportation system in Washtenaw County. It is NOT JUST Ann Arbor residents and tax payers that are "footing the bill" here, and it would be nice that stories denoting this frequent used "talking point" make light of this!
Basic Bob
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 8:22 p.m.
Thanks, Monica. It is not well-publicized that the 3 largest eastern townships pay for bus service through their communities. Just image if their trustees were to eliminate the POSA funding, it would shut down all bus stops beyond Arborland and make service to Meijers and WCC unlikely. I would rather pay a millage than to rely on the continued largess of the township supervisor.
say it plain
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 6:31 p.m.
Why are so many people missing the point Mr. Hull is trying to make? Namely, that the expansion being proposed doesn't do anything for Ann Arbor citizens--only the ones who hope to capture a little more DDA-type revenue by making it easier for people outside of our little OZ to come in, for appointments with the various Wizards and spiffing up at the purveyors of fashion and skincare?! We foot the bill, and AATA still sends out busses empty for picking up commuters who live in the cheaper-rent communities outside beyond the poppy fields?! The emerald-city folks don't ever need to get out? If we're paying, we should first make sure that we get served well within the city limits, wherein the greatest chance exists of convincing people to live carlessly, and then work on getting people *to and from* the outer regions, no? Don't first create a body that would work against that priority...that seemed to me to be what @Tim Hull was saying... Maybe we should have a multi-centered funding model: have the DDA and/or businesses-UM fund the services geared toward getting people *in* from outside AA, if they find this so important, and let the AA-taxpayers apply their monies to services within the school district! Especially now that the school district is cutting bussing funding! We need to stop allowing the investor classes run the government, or else we'll get only those services which suit their bottom-line.
Angry Moderate
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 5:34 p.m.
Woman in Ypsilanti: If the benefit to businesses outweighed the massive costs, those businesses would already be pitching in for a charter bus service, and a taxpayer subsidy wouldn't be needed. Just like many shopping malls, casinos, bars, etc., run their own buses for their customers.
Mick52
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 4:54 p.m.
I guess I am one of those people missing his point. He complains he can't get to Canton in the morning and evening while saying AATA is sending empty buses out there. I would like an explanation of why those buses are empty. Why wouldn't AATA accept riders on a bus who are willing to pay? Makes no sense for them not to do that. He writes, "... remains woefully inadequate in the core urban areas." What core urban areas? A2, Ypsilanti, or others? He wants it to go to Canton, is that one of the urban areas with woefully inadequate service? I have used AATA in A2 and always found it very efficient. It would be easier to understand what the point is if the article was written better. Woman in Ypsi makes a great point. Ann Arbor is so expensive to live and park in that many people fled during the 80s and 90s but still don't mind working there.
Woman in Ypsilanti
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 3:08 p.m.
The main reason it benefits Ann Arbor to bus people IN is that it keeps the businesses that rely on those people from moving OUT of the city.
Tony Livingston
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 1:48 a.m.
Well said. My understanding is that this would be an additional millage for Ann Arbor property owners but we would see very little benefit. The benefits will go to those outside the city. Enough property tax already.
JRW
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 6:24 p.m.
AATA needs to increase route within the city if it wants to be a viable system. From where I live in the city limits, it's exactly 2 miles to the nearest Kroger store. I once checked out taking a bus there and back, and I would have had to make a transfer each way, and the time would have been close to 1.5 hours each way, given the AATA schedules, for a 2 mile ride. This bus system will never be a viable option unless routes are more frequent and designed to actually allow residents to use the system in place of their cars for basic services.
Angry Moderate
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 5:31 p.m.
The bus system isn't designed to be usable by residents. It's designed as a playground for AATA employees and various consulting firms.
Ken
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 5:01 p.m.
AATA as they are today has the ability to expand bus service to anywhere through a Purchase of Service Agreement (POSA). This has been done since AATA's beginning, and has been echoed by Jesse Bernstien, the Chairman of the AATA Board. I strongly agree that the money spent on the Consultants and the TMP should have been used to enhance the existing bus service. Should the County Wide millage be voter approved, I fear that within 2 years or less the New Authority, Managed by the same folks at AATA today will be crying poverty and asking for additional money to maintain service levels. Evidence of this is already taking place in Ypsi with their new Transit millage.
Angry Moderate
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 5:31 p.m.
Wasn't the Ypsi transit millage just a couple of years ago? The decline in housing values was well-established by then.
Woman in Ypsilanti
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 3:06 p.m.
To be fair, the Ypsilanti transit millage is not bringing in the money that was expected because of the declining property values. My house is worth about 50% of what it was worth a few years ago and my tax bill had been reduced accordingly.
Tim Hull
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 4:41 p.m.
Also, with respect to "why don't you drive a car like 99% of the world" - for me, that is simply not an option due to my disability. And I'm not alone - there is a significant population of seniors and persons with disabilities - not to mention lower-income residents - for which it is simply not an option either. Furthermore, for those who do drive, it is beneficial to have another option - it reduces the traffic on the road, which benefits those who DO drive (imagine the gridlock if the busy AATA routes coming into town didn't exist), it provides another option if the car doesn't start/is broken down or if one is temporarily unable to drive, and is better for the environment. As to why riders don't pay the full cost of service - that is because it is a public service - just as public education, public libraries, and public roads are (and no, gas taxes don't pay the entire cost of roads). Now, I don't exactly expect to get a bus to Canton without Canton contributing to the cost (though if Ann Arbor wants to go it alone as they have - which I'm not endorsing - I'd at least expect it to be scheduled in a way that I can use it). Given that, I do think we ultimately need a regional approach - though not the Act 196 the Mayor is proposing. A combination of an expanded Act 55 local authority (with those participating) and a broader Southeastern Michigan regional authority would seem like the ideal to shoot for in the future. That way, all municipalities pay their fair share, we maintain control over our local service, and we add regional connections where it makes sense both inside and outside out county border. The governor seemed to be headed in that direction with his regional transit authority proposal, though there are flaws in that particular proposal that should be corrected before we look at doing something like that. Granted, it may be a tough sell - for that reason, we need make sure the proposal is as well-thought-out and efficient as possible prior to
Tim Hull
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 4:17 p.m.
I just wanted to clarify a few points based on some of the comments I've seen: 1) With respect to Canton, I don't expect Ann Arbor to subsidize service to Canton - However, if they do, it should at least be usable for Ann Arbor residents. The Canton Express in its current form is not - it takes passengers into Ann Arbor from Canton in the morning, and to Canton in the evening. Even though there are buses running to Canton to pick up people there, they do not allow me to board those buses that are RUNNING ANYWAY in the morning/evening in the opposite direction. In my opinion, either Canton/Wayne County/UM should pay most of the cost of the Canton Express, or it should be dropped entirely and the non-grant dollars reallocated to local service. 2) On the topic of a countywide millage, I do NOT support the proposed Act 196 authority as it stands - it seems likely that many of the outlying townships are going to want to opt out, and it hardly seems worth going through all this trouble when there is a mechanism to expand our existing Act 55 authority to include additional municipalities (as Lansing has). By taking all the money AATA is pumping into this plan and rededicating it to expanding local service, we could see some improvements WITHOUT any new millage. Also, if we wanted to consider an expanded millage/Headlee override in the future (or local sales taxes/other forms of taxation, should state law change to allow those), we can always go that down the road while preserving the existing authority as it stands.
Fat Bill
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 4:05 p.m.
I thought the whole concept of the millage was to ensure that all who benefit from the mass transit system actually support it. This sort of expansion of mission would be better supported on a regional basis.
racerx
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 3:20 p.m.
I had my age required colonoscopy. After the procedure there would be no way in this world I would reply on a bus to get me home. Now, I'm not sure what type of medical procedure you had, but replying on AATA is laughable. AATA does what it does best, and IMHO, what it was design to do, provide an alternate means of transportation for people who live in the city to get around in the city. No. Not Chelesa. Dexter. Saline. Romulus. Canton. If other municipalities want to join, then simply pony up the money and stop attempting to ride our coattails.
DennisP
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 12:38 a.m.
I agree in that AATA should serve its own community. Fact is those of us in Chelsea, Dexter, Saline do NOT want to join your system. This is being railroaded (no pun intended) by AATA and the County Commision without regard to what we want. Further, Canton and Romulus are in Wayne County and will not participate in this funding. The AATA will provide poor outc-ounty service and will provide poor in-city service but AATA council pensions will be well funded. The author's point is that Canton is served by an AATA Express service that does not carry riders who live in AA to Canton. It's a service for Canton residents who work in AA. So while AA residents are taxed, they cannot use a service they pay for through their taxes while non-residents are subsidized by those same taxes. This is the result of taxation without accountability.
snoopdog
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 3:11 p.m.
The easiest way to get from Ann Arbor to Canton is to drive a car, that is how 99.9% of us do it. If you were having a medical procedure and could not drive yourself, how about asking a parent, sibling, child,neighbor, friend ,church member etc for a ride ? Just wondering ! Good Day
Angry Moderate
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 5:24 p.m.
Miss the point much? This article is about how people who benefit from working in Ann Arbor, but don't live here or pay taxes here, are getting their ride to work subsidized by the residents of Ann Arbor.
Adam
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 2:41 p.m.
"There's no night or weekend service on many routes, no fixed-route service at all after 6pm on weekends, and no service on holidays." While this is absolutely true at the moment, if you read what the AATA is proposing as part of the county wide plan, they are going to fix these problems. They will expand the hours of operation for all of the most popular routes.
Veracity
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 8:37 p.m.
I doubt that the new 4-Party Transit Authority (4-PTA) which will take control of AATA money will approve spending for such a localized expansion. Actually, I expect that much of the new 0.5 millage will be used for the "Re-Image Washtenaw" plan offered by the Washtenaw Corridor Improvement Authority. Look for financial "gifts" from the 4-PTA to developers who want to build along Washtenaw Avenue.
Ken
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 4:56 p.m.
Adam, AATA could do this today if they chose to. This has been an ignored problem for years!
DJBudSonic
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 2:31 p.m.
I agree the system seems to have the fewest busses available when they are most needed. My wife tried to take the bus downtown Friday night around 7, and it was running late so it blew by her stop without stopping for the waiting riders. Then, after she waited half an hour for the next scheduled run, she was stuck downtown (she walked home) because they stop running at 10 p.m. Count me as firmly among those who DO NOT welcome the potential taxing power of a regional, un-elected transit authority.
Basic Bob
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 8 p.m.
You can complain to the bus company. Complaining to an elected official is pointless in a one-party town.
Arboriginal
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 1:38 p.m.
Dial-a-ride. Man o man, I sure do miss those funky vans!
Greg
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 1:20 p.m.
While Bus, Police. Fire and other essential functions took cuts, our mayor and his crew spent hundreds of thousands of tax dollars on art for downtown. Really makes you wonder what their priorities are.
aanative
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 2:04 p.m.
Wow. So much for staying on topic.
Ron Granger
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 1:05 p.m.
Right on. Ann Arbor should not fund the development of other communities' bus systems. And we should not worry about remote communities until the core downtown bus system is sufficiently developed. A system that mainly serves commuters is not a real system.
smokeblwr
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 12:50 p.m.
I have a car. That is how I would get to Canton.
Ron Granger
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 : 1:46 a.m.
Bob, you are fortunate if the elderly in your family have not experienced the problem being related here. Most people work during regular business hours when medical visits are scheduled. Asking a friend to take time off of work is a major imposition. Similarly, many people don't have a choice if their provider/insurance requires them to get treated in Canton. This is a major issue for the elderly, and people who require a lot of medical care, who cannot drive for whatever reason.
Basic Bob
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 7:58 p.m.
@johnnya2, Take a car AND a friend. If you have neither, don't schedule an appointment in Canton.
johnnya2
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 2:49 p.m.
So if you were going in for a medical procedure that might not allow you to drive afterwards let us all know how you would get there if say you were single? OR would it be that you MUST rely on somebody besides yourself? This is the fallacy for people like you that think they are independent.
Brad
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 12:41 p.m.
"As such, I had to ask for rides to get to and from Canton — my only other option being a $50 each way cab ride." You mean your only other option was to fully pay for your own transportation to another city that's 20 miles away? And your point is?
DonBee
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 3:33 p.m.
Almost any shared ride airport van service would have done door to door for you for probably $20 each way.
Ron Granger
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 1:04 p.m.
His point is the proposed system - which has taxing authority that it will surely use - does not solve this issue and serves too narrow of a user base. Plus, we'll be paying for other counties. They want us to fund a bus system for other communities before we even have a decent bus system within Ann Arbor city.
Chase Ingersoll
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 12:12 p.m.
Nice thinly veiled, emotional editorial in support of a county wide AATA millage. Perhaps you could have used the widely available "social media" and asked family, friends, church or neighbor for a ride rather that complaining about what the already stretched tax payers have failed to provide and asking us to increase the size of an ever growing socialist bureaucracy through "intergovernmental agreements".
Ron Granger
Sun, Jul 22, 2012 : 1:01 p.m.
Chase, I don't think you got it. The current proposal will create a new multi-county authority with the ability to tax us without any limits (why aren't their limits). And it seems Ann Arbor residents will be funding other municipalities. The author's suggestion is that we concentrate on service in our city. And other cities that wish to participate must pay their share.