AATA adds Wi-Fi to A2Express buses, offers first-time riders free tickets to try service
For a limited time, AATA is promoting free 10-ride tickets, which can be requested through the A2Express website or by calling TheRide at 734-973-6500.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority is offering area commuters a chance to try out its new Wi-Fi service with free bus trips to Ann Arbor from Chelsea and Canton.
The AATA recently added Wi-Fi to its A2Express buses and reduced the fare on each of the routes after taking over operation of the service from a contracted vendor.
For a limited time, AATA is promoting free 10-ride tickets, which can be requested through the A2Express website or by calling TheRide at 734-973-6500.
The free tickets are available only to first-time riders.
The normal fare on either route is now $99 a month, down from $125. Also available for riders are the 10-ride tickets priced at $40 and a one-way cash fare of $5. Eligible University of Michigan employees and individuals with a go!pass are eligible for a reduced fare.
Each express route provides two weekday trips each morning and two return trips each afternoon between Chelsea or Canton and downtown Ann Arbor and the U-M campus.
The A2Express began in May 2008 as a new kind of bus service for AATA — one that officials say is characterized by the commuter-oriented nature of the schedule and the premium fare.
The Chelsea Express was the first implementation of longer-distance commuter service into Ann Arbor, followed 15 months later when the Canton Express was initiated.
Both routes were operated initially by a subcontractor, but have since been taken in-house by AATA, resulting in a significant reduction in costs.
In fiscal year 2010, the budget for A2Express service was $509,428. For fiscal year 2011, the budget has been set at $241,687, a 53 percent reduction.
The service originally was funded by a federal demonstration grant. The Chelsea route is no longer covered by the grant, but a portion of the funding remains for the Canton Express.
Combined ridership on the routes is currently about 82 trips per day, or 41 riders daily.
Comments
dextermom
Fri, Nov 19, 2010 : 8:36 p.m.
There are a number of us who used to regularly use the AATA bus to commute to A2 from Dexter. Sure would be nice if the bus still came to Dexter. The WAVE bus is a totally unacceptable alternative. Leaving on the 6:30am WAVE bus, it is still not possible to make it to parts of central campus and the hospital by 8am for those of us who "punch a clock". WiFi. We can only dream. I like Kelly's idea.
Kelly
Fri, Nov 19, 2010 : 6:33 p.m.
Sorry leaguebus, I cannot agree. Lots of cities in the county have 0 bus service. Yet there are near empty buses seen in those with service on a regular basis. Too often a schedule allows a person to get to work, but service end before their 8 hour shift ends, leaving them stranded. This is ALL FIXABLE. Just ask the university student in urban planning programs. The only way to get people on the bus to work is to provide bus service home. I regularly rode public transportation in several other regions of the country. Wifi can't get me on a bus that does not exist. The money we are putting into near empty buses is beyond waste. Instead, why not put the money into real routes that will actually carry folks to various destinations throughout the county with a minimal number of transfers.
leaguebus
Fri, Nov 19, 2010 : 3:12 p.m.
Kelly, the schedule says it takes about 35 minutes to/from Canton and Chelsea. If you work for the University and don't have to pay $500 for a U parking pass, then the cost of the ride is about $700 without the U discount. Things like this start small and either build or go away at some point. AATA deserves some credit to try this. Hopefully they can build enough ridership to make it work. I use the bus whenever I cannot safely ride my bike to work, usually after or during snow storms. Its great to be able to step onto a bus and know I will get to work safely. If the bus did not exist, I could not ride my bike through the winter and I would have to have buy a parking pass for at least 3 winter months a year as I live to far to walk. Go AATA!!! To all the people that think they are trapped by not having their car at work, try the bus, it takes a little longer to and from work, but it saves a bunch of money on car upkeep and insurance.
rusty shackelford
Fri, Nov 19, 2010 : 8:54 a.m.
Wait, so I'm paying for people in Chelsea and Canton to have Internet on their bus ride in to Ann Arbor? How is this a good use of AATA's resources? Since this is not serving AATA's service area, it is only justifiable to run the routes if they are making a profit. Sounds like they're subsidizing it with hundreds of thousands of Ann Arbor more while providing luxury service for 40 people. C'mon.
Kelly
Fri, Nov 19, 2010 : 8:42 a.m.
41 riders daily? Seriously??? This is completely unsustainable. There is no reason why any bus line should only have 41 riders each day. The line is not being run properly. Either folks can't get to where they need to go, or worse, once there they can't get home.
Soothslayer
Thu, Nov 18, 2010 : 9:53 p.m.
"82 trips per day, or 41 riders daily." This must mean 41 *rides* not riders.
Kelly
Thu, Nov 18, 2010 : 6:29 p.m.
How is this for a better idea? Offer up a $300.00 book scholarship for the urban planning undergraduate that can deliver a schedule that actually works with a 2010 lifestyle? What do I mean? Well, lets see, most folks do not want to travel for 2 hours to go 15 miles. Find a north/south and an east/west route system that can accomplish this. Make it possible for a park and ride in EVERY Washtenaw County city to be linked to the bus system so they too can go from park and ride in their city to work and home within 60 minutes. This would mean full buses all day long.