Study shows alternative transportation important to downtown Ann Arbor

A recent survey conducted by Ann Arbor's getDowntown program found that more than 80 percent of respondents rate the availability of alternative transportation options as important to attracting customers, clients and employees to downtown. The survey included responses from 194 employers or decision makers and more than 600 downtown commuters.

 

"Employers recognize that to attract and retain the talent they need, we need to have a strong alternative transportation system," says getDowntown Program Director Nancy Shore. "Over time, this means that employers are more likely to purchase go!passes and find ways to accommodate their employee’s interest in walking and biking to work."

 

That's exactly what is beginning to happen. The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority and Downtown Development Authority have recently reported a "sharp increase" in the number of getDowntown's go!passes used by commuters to downtown. Twenty percent of decision makers also reported having employees who would not be able to get to work without their pass.

 

According to Shore, the good news only encourages getDowntown to continue to develop the go!pass program. They are now looking at the possibility of making the go!pass into a "smart card."

 

"This would make it even easier to board the bus and we might be able to find ways to connect it to other transportation options like the Bike House or even parking," Shore says. "I’d also like to see us develop a way for go!pass users to track their go!pass use online."

 

Additionally, Shore says the AATAs 5-year transit plan would be a huge benefit for the downtown commuters and employers, giving riders access to bus options later in the evening and on weekends.