Transportation

Downtown Ann Arbor go!Passes up, Zipcars waiting in wings

By Newsroom

●

October 29, 2008

More people are coming and going from downtown Ann Arbor thanks to the go!Pass from the getDowntown program, which is also close to landing a fleet of Zipcars.So far this year, getDowntown has sold 5,350 go!Passes. That's about 400 more than it sold by this time last year. Those passes are also being used more often, accounting for 41,253 rides on Ann Arbor Transportation Authority buses in September. That's up from 32,701 in September, 2007."It's a pretty significant increase," says Nancy Shore, program director of getDowntown.She also is optimistic about downtown Ann Arbor landing its first Zipcar fleet sometime in the near future. The city expects to have a handful of Zipcars ready within 4-6 weeks after Zipcar gives approval."We are just waiting for Zipcar to say yay or nay," Shore says.The University of Michigan Zipcar fleet might be next in line after downtown's fleet is approved. Shore says the fleet on U-M's campus is in high demand and could be ripe for an expansion.Source: Nancy Shore, program director of getDowntownWriter: Jon Zemke

Latest in Transportation

AATA to take over WALLY commuter rail project

By Newsroom

●

Development News

●

October 29, 2008

The commuter rail project WALLY is set to take some serious steps forward now that its future is no longer up for grabs.The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority took control of the project last night and will serve as the agency to take it forward. Proponents of WALLY have been pushing to set up a new authority consisting of Washtenaw and Livingston counties, but officials from Livingston County (where most of the stations will be located) have balked at the idea."There's lot to be done but this really gives it some firm ground to stand on," says Terri Blackmore, executive director of the Washtenaw Area Transportation Study.Now comes the hard part of making the project work behind the scenes before it can make its first public appearance and become operational. A lot of that work includes things like surveying, environmental reports and overseeing improvements to the track.RL Banks & Associates released a feasibility study for the line in July that basically said the commuter line was feasible, needed $32.4 million to start and would take about 16 months to set up. The people behind WALLY want to get it up and running before planned improvements on U.S. 23 (which the line basically mirrors) once again bring traffic to a standstill in 2010. Traffic on U.S. 23 often becomes easily congested as traffic volumes often overrun the highway's capacity during rush hour. The commuter line would have stops on Ann Arbor's north side, Whitmore Lake, Hamburg Township, Genoa Township and Howell. Unfortunately, Ann Arbor Railroad is not cooperating with the project, so a short spur into downtown is unavailable.A key supporter of the rail line is the Great Lakes Central Railroad, whichcontrols the tracks along the corridor and wants to set up the service. Long range plans call for it extending as far as Traverse City.Source: Terri Blackmore, executive director of the Washtenaw Area Transportation Study

Border to Border trail expansion projects set for 2010, 2013

By Newsroom

●

Community Development

●

October 22, 2008

Big improvements are in the near future for Washtenaw County's Border to Border Trail.The Washtenaw County Road Commission's 5-year Capital Improvement Plan calls for building two sections along the 35-mile trail in the next five years. The plan first calls for constructing a section between Hudson Mills and Dexter in 2010. That will cost $1.474 million. A second section between Dexter and a Delhi Mills Metropark is set for 2013. The price tag for that is $800,000.About 15 miles of the 35-mile trail, stretching from the northwest corner of the county to the southeast corner, is done. The trail runs through Dexter, Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti with the latest additions coming in Ypsi. There are completed segments in Ypsilanti, Dexter and Ann Arbor. Maps of those open trails can be found here. The idea behind the Border to Border Trail is not only to provide recreational options in the county, but also create another path for economic opportunity. Supporters say the trail will serve as way to connect users to the cities (and their businesses) the trail passes through.Source: Washtenaw County Road CommissionWriter: Jon Zemke

Plug-in Hybrids and Smart Grid Topics of Upcoming TechKnow Forum

By Newsroom

●

Economic Development

●

October 22, 2008

Themed “Recharging Michigan,” the 2008 TechKnow Forum will bring auto and energy stakeholders together to talk about the Plug-in Electric Hybrid Vehicle (PHEV) and the Smart Grid.“The goal for this forum is to explore two timely topics—the PHEVs and also the Smart Grid—that are also interdependent,” says Stephen Nose, with S-Y-N Associates, a strategy and sustainability consulting firm. “And rather than taking purely technical perspectives, we decided to take a multidisciplinary— more of a 360 degree—view.”The event is Thursday, Oct. 23 at the University of Michigan Power Center in Ann Arbor.PHEVs save money, reduce pollution and decrease dependence on imported oil. Forum guests will discuss these vehicles and the Smart Grid, which will power them.The PHEV panel includes industry representatives from Ford, Toyota and GM. Richard Curtin, with the Survey Research Center at the University of Michigan, will also join the discussion. Curtin is conducting surveys to determine how much consumers will pay for this new technology.The Smart Grid discussion will include representatives from the University of Michigan, DTE Energy, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), Next Energy and the State of Michigan. You can click here for more information on the session.Source: Stephen Y Nose, S-Y-N Associates Writer: Ivy Hughes, Capital Gains

Ypsilanti installs new specialty bike racks in downtown

By Newsroom

●

Development News

●

October 22, 2008

Ypsilanti is getting ready to install 10 unique bike racks to its downtown area this week. The art racks were custom designed by Ypsilanti-based VG Kids, which also made the racks. City residents chose the Tree Guard style earlier this summer over a Sprocket version. The new bike racks will cost $4,200 to create and install. The Michigan Department of Community Health and the Washtenaw County Public Health Department are paying for four new bike racks in the city this year. Typical racks are priced between $175 and $300. Artistic bike racks cost between $300 and $400.The bike racks will, hopefully, help accomplish two things: First, they will allow more people to use alternative modes of transportation to get to downtown, following the path Ann Arbor has been traveling down in recent years. Second, they will help the city create its own brand and enhance its reputation.The 10 bike racks will only go in downtown for now. However, city officials are looking to installing them elsewhere in the city."West Cross Street is looking at installing these," Brian Vosburg, director of the Depot Town and Ypsilanti Downtown development authorities.Source: Brian Vosburg, director of the Depot Town and Ypsilanti Downtown development authoritiesWriter: Jon Zemke

Ann Arbor goes after big funding to expand trails, bike lanes

By Newsroom

●

Community Development

●

October 15, 2008

Ann Arbor wants to squeeze a lot of active transportation projects into a short span of time, with the help of a new proposed federal program.Active transportation can be summed as anything that doesn't involve an automobile. Projects that enhance active transportation include bike lanes, walking trails and other assorted greenways.The Rails-To-Trails 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation is a proposed federal initiative to help build that very type of infrastructure. The program intends to dole out $50 million in federal funds for such improvements to each participating city, and Ann Arbor has its sights firmly set on being one of them."It can enable us to implement a generation of transportation initiatives in five short years," says Eli Cooper, transportation manager for the city of Ann Arbor.The city plans to announce its efforts to win a spot in the program at 1:30 p.m. Monday in front of City Hall. If successful, the $50 million would build another 38 miles of bike lanes, 25 miles of new sidewalks, 128 pedestrian crossings, finishing the Border to Border Trail and launching the Allen Creek Greenway initiative.A number of local organizations are working to make this happen, including the Ann Arbor Transit Authority, Washtenaw County, the University of Michigan, Border-to-Border Trail Group, Ann Arbor Public Schools, getDowntown, Allen Creek Greenway Partners, Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition and surrounding communities. Source: Eli Cooper, transportation manager for the city of Ann ArborWriter: Jon Zemke

Radio Concentrate: Ann Arbor Transit

By Chris McCarus

●

Transportation

●

October 8, 2008

The City of Ann Arbor is trying to lead the state into mass transit. Officials held an open house recently to tell the public where they plan to go and by when. Michigan Now’s Chris McCarus has the story in Concentrate's latest podcast.

Ann Arbor holds meeting on underground parking garage plans

By Newsroom

●

Community Development

●

October 8, 2008

Just how the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority plans to make 770 parking spaces disappear beneath the surface parking lot adjacent to the Ann Arbor District Library downtown is about to be revealed.The DDA plans to hold a public meeting on the grandiose parking project at 7 p.m. Tuesday in its offices on 150 S. Fifth Ave. There DDA officials and planners will detail the plans.The devils in those details include creating a 4-story deep underground parking garage that runs beneath the current parking lot but adjacent Fifth Avenue, too. It will connect the old YMCA site and the site for the newly proposed downtown library branch. The DDA hired two firms, Walker Parking Consultants and Luckenbach/Ziegelman Architects, to design the underground structure. That subterranean garage will also feature a number of environmentally friendly features, such as natural lighting and LED lights.City officials are still debating what to put above the underground structure but there are reports of plans for a small convention center. The City Council should vote on the plan later this year.For information, call Susan Pollay at (734) 994-6697. Source: Susan Pollay, executive director of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development AuthorityWriter: Jon Zemke

Is streetcar service possible for Ann Arbor?

By Newsroom

●

Development News

●

September 24, 2008

Could a streetcar line be in the cards for Ann Arbor? It’s a distinct possibility according to the Ann Arbor Connector Feasibility Study.The $250,000 study outlines ways to beef up the transportation options on a crescent moon-shaped line. It would connect the Plymouth Road exit for U.S. 23 to downtown. It would also travel further south along South State Street to Briarwood Mall. Eli Cooper, the transportation coordinator conductor for Ann Arbor, notes that route is already heavily traveled by bus riders, often to the point of standing room only."It's really a connector study," Cooper says. "There are a lot of technologies that we have to explore."Those range from enhanced bus service (think longer buses that carry more passengers) to bus rapid transit (buses with their own lanes) to streetcars to light rail. The main difference between streetcars and light rail is that street cars are smaller and often cheaper to put into place.Cooper estimated the cost of enhanced bus service at $10-$15 million, bus rapid transit at $30 million, streetcars at $100-$150 million and light rail at $250 million. That just includes building the 10 mile line primarily along Plymouth and South State.The committee reviewing the proposals is made up of representatives from the city of Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority, Ann Arbor Transportation Authority and University of Michigan. The committee will review the proposals and make a recommendation by October.Source: Eli Cooper, the transportation coordinator conductor for Ann ArborWriter: Jon Zemke

Wanted: Authority for Ann Arbor’s WALLY commuter rail project

By Newsroom

●

Development News

●

September 17, 2008

The logic is simple. No authority to run the proposed commuter rail line north of Ann Arbor, commonly called WALLY, means no WALLY."Until we have an authority there probably won't be much federal help," says Terri Blackmore, executive director of the Washtenaw Area Transportation Study.The prime target seems to be the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, but it's far from a done deal. Proponents of WALLY have been pushing to set up a new authority consisting of Washtenaw and Livingston counties, but officials from Livingston County (where most of the stations will be located) have balked at the idea."We still have every intention of involving Livingston County," Blackmore says. It doesn't make much sense as a service without them."RL Banks & Associates released feasibility study for the line in July that basically said the line was feasible, needed $32.4 million to start and would take about 16 months to set up. The people behind WALLY want to get it up and running before planned improvements on U.S. 23 (which the line basically mirrors) once again bring traffic to a standstill in 2010. Local leaders remain optimistic about the project, especially as gas prices climb higher and traffic becomes more congested on U.S. 23 --which often overruns its capacity during rush hour. The commuter line would have stops on Ann Arbor's north side, Whitmore Lake, Hamburg Township, Genoa Township and Howell. Unfortunately, Ann Arbor Railroad is not cooperating with the project, so a short spur into downtown is unavailable.A key supporter of the rail line is the Great Lakes Central Railroad, whichcontrols the tracks along the corridor and wants to set up the service. Long range plans call for it extending as far as Traverse City.Source: Terri Blackmore, executive director of the Washtenaw Area Transportation StudyWriter: Jon Zemke