under the radar
Ypsilanti City Council Considers
Major Cuts to AATA Bus Service
At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 8, the Ypsilanti City Council will be considering a variety of proposals for major cuts to bus service in the city. At the meeting, officials from the Ann Arbor Transit Authority (AATA) will present City officials with several options for cuts which, if adopted, could take effect as soon as Spring 2010. These include complete or partial elimination of routes serving large portions of the city, as well as cutting days or times when service is available citywide.
This special meeting is in response to the Ypsilanti City Council’s recently-passed budget for Fiscal Year 2010, which allocates only 56 percent of the total amount AATA says it needs to provide existing service levels next year. The public is invited to hear the presentation and share their opinions about the proposed changes.
Since the current contract with AATA expires at the end of September, City Council will need to decide by October 1 whether it wishes to adopt some or all of the service reductions — or — whether council members wish to amend this year’s budget to allocate the funding necessary to maintain existing service levels.
The total amount of $282,039 being requested by AATA for 2010 represents about 2 percent of the City’s total budget of $13 million, but would ensure approximately 637,000 individual rides for Ypsilanti residents at an average cost to the City of roughly 44 cents per ride. In addition, each dollar invested in public transit by the City of Ypsilanti is matched by close to $3.80 in federal and state funding, as well as rider fares.
Advance Ypsilanti (AY PAC), an independent political action committee, strongly urges the City Council to maintain current service levels of public transportation being provided by the Ann Arbor Transit Authority (AATA). It is AY PAC’s belief that public transportation is a vital part of a healthy and vibrant community. Without maintaining AATA routes, the city of Ypsilanti will lose significant resources, community support and important services to both individuals and businesses.
Public transit is not a “social service,” but a valuable asset that benefits the whole community. This is not solely about serving the needs of seniors, students and lower income households. Effective and dependable public transportation is important for local businesses, as well as helping draw young professionals who seek neighborhoods with affordable, convenient transit options.
The success of many other important community projects and goals depends on maintaining public transit. Most importantly, it is a key component for the success of Ypsilanti’s future commuter-rail stop. Moreover, public transit complements the border-to-border trail, bolsters efforts to make Ypsilanti a more “walkable” community and moves us closer to sustainability.
AY PAC encourages all interested citizens to contact their city council representatives immediately to let them know how important it is to maintain public transit services at their current levels. Use the “Essential Links” menu selection for city council contact information.
Special Meeting – Ypsilanti City Council Chambers, 1 S Huron St
Click here for a PDF copy of AATA proposed reductions.