AATA Link service resumes Aug. 29; combines with U-M Oxford/Trotter Shuttle

Updated 8:00 PM September 2, 2005

AATA Link service resumes Aug. 29;
combines with U-M Oxford/Trotter Shuttle

By Parking and Transportation Services
and Mary Stasiak, Ann Arbor Transportation Authority

The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority's (AATA) Link downtown circulator will resume service Aug. 29 after a summer hiatus.

Partnerships with the University and the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), along with revenue from its new bus-advertising program, have made it possible for AATA to revive the Link by combining the service with daytime and evening portions of the U-M Oxford/Trotter Shuttle.

The Link proved popular during its 20-month trial. Initial use was low but skyrocketed in the second year, averaging nearly 800 riders a day in the first four months of 2005. Service was discontinued at the end of April because of funding constraints.

The Link will return on a revised route with new service hours and a new, published schedule. The service is being funded through April 28, 2006, and will operate free to all passengers, including U-M faculty, staff and students.

The Link will connect the four main downtown retail areas—Main Street, Kerrytown, State Street and South University—with Central Campus. The route has been expanded to add service to Hill Street, Oxford Housing and Trotter House, replacing the daytime and evening portion of the Oxford/Trotter Shuttle service.

Service on the entire route will run 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Service between Central Campus, Oxford Housing and Trotter House will continue from 6-11 p.m., approximately every 15 minutes.

Late-evening service for Oxford Housing, Trotter House and Central Campus will be provided by U-M Transportation Services from 11 p.m.- 2 a.m. Monday through Friday.

"This was a great opportunity for U-M, AATA and the DDA to pool resources and provide important transit service in a cost-effective way," says Dave Miller, director of Parking and Transportation Services. "Service to Oxford Housing and Trotter House is important to us, and keeping the Link going provides a popular connection from Central Campus to downtown."

The average daily weekday ridership on the Link grew from 225 rides during the initial fall season—September-December 2003—to 565 rides in the subsequent fall period. Ridership rose further from January-April 2005, with the average reaching 779 daily trips.

Despite its success, CEO/Executive Director Greg Cook says the Link was suspended from operation at the end of April due to a lack of funding. The remainder of the initial federal grant—$57,800—was not enough to fully fund the route for a significant period of time.

The revival was made possible because AATA expects to generate advertising revenue to supplement its funding, which greatly reduces the amount needed from the University and the DDA to support reinstating the route.

"AATA is grateful for the support of the University and the DDA in bringing the Link back to downtown Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan campus," Cook says.

The remainder of the grant will be used to operate the route along with $101,900 in state revenue; $60,000 in AATA revenue from bus advertising; $71,900 from U-M; and $22,600 from the DDA, for a total of $314,200 in direct operating costs.

Route and schedule details on the Link service will be available in mid-August in the AATA Ride Guide route and schedule book, on the AATA Web site, http://www.TheRide.org, or by calling (734) 996-0400.

Details about the U-M transit system can be found at http://www.transportation.umich.edu. Information on late-night U-M service between Oxford/Trotter Housing and Central Campus is available at (734) 763-0661.

AATA Link service resumes Aug. 29; combines with U-M Oxford/Trotter Shuttle

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AATA Link service resumes Aug. 29;
combines with U-M Oxford/Trotter Shuttle