Ypsilanti to consider requesting AATA membership
The City of Ypsilanti may request to join the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, in an effort to develop a long-range service transit plan that would serve Washtenaw County's "urban core."
The city of Ypsilanti may request joining the AATA to continue providing transit services to its residents.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Ypsilanti Mayor Paul Schreiber said Council Member Pete Murdock brought forth the resolution that will be considered at the city council's Tuesday meeting.
Schreiber said he absolutely will support the resolution.
"Pete and I have been the two people that were, I believe, appointed by council to continue working with the rest of the urban core transit group that's been meeting once a month to improve public transit after the defeat of the Washtenaw Ride 196 board," Schreiber said. "We're trying to pick up the pieces of that."
Schreiber said in 2010, Ypsilanti voters overwhelmingly approved a 0.9789 transit charter millage by a 3-1 margin, reinforcing the need and want for transit in the Ypsilanti community.
"The AATA wanted to expand and be county-wide," Schreiber said. "This is a small step toward that and it brings the eastern side of Washtenaw County into the AATA… Instead of an annual contract, we would get a permanent stake. The citizens really show that they support it. I can't emphasize that enough. That’s what drives city council to act."
Ypsilanti's transit charter millage provides a dedicated revenue stream for bus service and the city has reached the 20 mill state statutory limit, Schreiber said. The city must join a transit authority in order to be able to increase transit funding.
"We can't levy more than 20 mills and we don’t have a balanced general fund," Schreiber said. "Our budget situation has reduced our options... We have a lot of pressure on the general fund and the only other option is some type of millage that could be applied under the authority and would also be applied to all members of the authority."
In return for being allowed to join the AATA, the resolution states Ypsilanti would contribute its entire charter transit millage to the AATA.
Schreiber said he's spoken with a few AATA board members who indicated Ypsilanti is an important part of the coverage area. Schreiber noted the recent 30 percent ridership increase on AATA's Route 4, which services Ypsilanti.
"I've gotten very positive responses," Schreiber said.
If council approves the resolution, it would then go before the AATA board who would vote on it. Schreiber said the AATA would have to change its articles of incorporation. Schreiber said it also would have to be approved by the Ann Arbor City Council, as well as go back before the Ypsilanti City Council, Schreiber said.
After that, Schreiber said it would then be figured out whether Ypsilanti would be able to obtain an actual seat on the governance board.
The Ypsilanti City Council will consider the resolution at 7 p.m., Tuesday at the City Hall.
Katrease Stafford covers Ypsilanti for AnnArbor.com.Reach her at katreasestafford@annarbor.com or 734-623-2548 and follow her on twitter.
Comments
jns131
Wed, Apr 24, 2013 : 2:03 a.m.
We really need a bus out to the Whittaker Library. This library is so empty and Michigan is so busy.
Narnia
Thu, Apr 25, 2013 : 12:10 p.m.
No we don't. The township is smart to stay clear of AATA's money grab. The Michigan Ave. branch just looks busy because it is too small and without adequate parking. Huge waste of money to have renovated that structure.
Barzoom
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 10:39 a.m.
Just say No.
yohan
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 5:44 a.m.
Will it then be known as YAATA? Yaata daba do?
Nicholas Urfe
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 2:02 a.m.
I feel like Ypsi and the AATA are about to reach into my wallet. Some more.
brian
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 10:54 p.m.
I'm for going back to horse and buggy.
mady
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 2:56 p.m.
Riiiiiiight.
Jack Eaton
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 9:16 p.m.
It would be great to see Ypsilanti join AATA as a full partner, paying the same millage rate as Ann Arbor does. Unfortunately, we are more likely to see Ann Arbor continue to contribute its 2 mill transit levy and Ypsi contribute its 0.9 mill transit tax while AATA seeks an additional 0.5 mill tax across both communities. That would mean that Ypsi residents would pay a total 1.4 mills while Ann Arbor residents would pay 2.5 mills total. The lower tax levy on Ypsi would mean that its residents would see little improvement in transit. The current 0.9 mills does not cover the costs of service AATA presently provides to that community. So the additional 0.5 mill will do little more than help pay for the service Ypsi already gets. If Ann Arbor and Ypsi both discontinued their own transit millage and let AATA seek a uniform millage across both communities, the transit authority would have enough money to actually improve services in Ypsi. That should be the goal. What are the chances they will do this right?
RUKiddingMe
Tue, Apr 23, 2013 : 1:38 a.m.
And a lot of nonrich people paying for it as well. And I see a lot of empty buses. And they've added onto and remodeled their maintenance buildings. And they're building a new station downtown with a meeting room (you know, for all the people who say "let's have our meeting at the bus station." I think this is because they have to spend the money to prove they need it, and they've run out of branch programs/staff (getDowntown) and other less obvious ways to spread it around. Too bad property owners will never be able to get any back (or stop paying so much).
Basic Bob
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 11:34 p.m.
Ypsilanti does not have the same tax base as Ann Arbor, so a uniform millage will still collect 94% of its money from Ann Arbor. To collect the same amount as now, Ann Arbor's millage could be reduced from 2 mils to 1.94 mils, while Ypsilanti's millage would be more than doubled. No doubt there are a lot of rich people not using the bus who are subsidizing mass transit in both communities.
RUKiddingMe
Mon, Apr 22, 2013 : 9:11 p.m.
"the city has reached the 20 mill state statutory limit, Schreiber said. The city must join a transit authority in order to be able to increase transit funding." So is that the goal of this? To be able to increase taxes because without being part of the ATTA they can't (because they've reached the maximum limit)? "The city must join a transit authority in order to be able to increase transit funding." Would that sentence mean exactly the same thing if you replaced "to increase transit funding" with "to increase taxes for transit?"