Pedestrian safety concerns arise in aftermath of AATA bus stop's forced move from Arborland Mall

AATA officials have offered to resolve the mall's concerns that bus riders park too close to store entrances by posting signs designating commuter parking areas. AATA also said it will provide on-site staff to monitor the area.

But so far, no compromise has been reached.

Attempts by AnnArbor.com to reach the mall's management this past week were unsuccessful. Phone calls to the corporate office in Denver were referred to an office in Connecticut, which didn't return phone calls.

Left in the lurch are commuters forced to brave busy traffic, construction hazards and torn-up sidewalks to get across Washtenaw Avenue to a new makeshift Route 22 stop tucked away on Pittsfield Boulevard.

"It's really a very big concern. This is our major thoroughfare where people switch from one route to the next," said Carolyn Grawi, director of advocacy and education for the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living.

"People have to get off those buses where it isn't safe to get across the street to the (route) 4 or the (route) 7 before it leaves going into Ann Arbor. Or if somebody has gotten off the 4 or the 7 and needs to get over to the 22, they can't get back across quickly enough.”

Grawi said the relocation of the mall stop on Route 22 has been especially difficult for people with disabilities and limited mobility.

“See what it is like to take the 4 out to Washtenaw and catch the 22 and then try to come back on the 22 and catch the 7 into town," Grawi said. "It takes timing of the lights, energy and mobility to make the quick dash, and then you still might not make it safely before the bus has to leave. Next try it all again using a wheelchair."

Ford said AATA officials had no luck trying to reach out to the mall's property management firm or leasing agent in Farmington Hills. AATA officials now are reaching out to corporate owners with AmCap Inc. in Denver.

Ford says he's willing to fly to Denver to discuss the issue if that's what it takes.

“Whatever I have to do,” he said. “We're going to try every avenue available to us. But to even begin the dialogue, it's been a difficult situation."

Mary Stasiak, AATA's community relations manager, said she was able to finally make contact with Arborland's owners in Denver on Thursday.

"We were able to really talk about the concerns about the traffic congestion on Washtenaw as it exists today, and the impact of the buses moving out of the mall, and also about the mall's concerns with buses being in the mall area," Stasiak said. "I think that we'll probably be able to work out a solution. My hope is that we can come to some kind of agreement, whether it's short-term or long-term."

Stasiak added that she's met with most of the mall tenants and several of them have mentioned a decrease in business since AATA was kicked out. She said the businesses also told her employees use the bus service and have been affected.

Tim Hull, a University of Michigan graduate student and North Campus resident, called the relocation of the Route 22 mall stop a "huge problem."

"It seems to be kind of a mess," he said. "If you want to go to Arborland, you've got to cross over one street, then cross Washtenaw, then cross the other street, because for some silly reason there's not a direct intersection and about 50 percent of the people just cross Washtenaw where there's no crosswalk basically."

Ford said he wants to get the AATA back into Arborland before the school year starts to avoid safety issues involving students. In the meantime, AATA officials announced in recent days that they'll be adjusting the timing for many trips to Ann Arbor on Route 4 to compensate for the relocation out of Arborland.

"I know that AATA is doing everything they can, but we need to figure out how to put more pressure on Arborland's management," Grawi said. "Right now it just isn't safe. If the management at Arborland would allow AATA to be there, that would be the best solution."

Photos by Melanie Maxwell, AnnArbor.com:

Photo 1 - A bus pulls off after a stop on Washtenaw Avenue near Arborland Mall on Thursday.

Photo 2 - Reyanne Boyk of Ypsilanti makes her way to a bus stop after crossing several lanes of traffic on Washtenaw Avenue. "It's dangerous." said Boyk. "It's difficult when it's your only mode for transportation."

Photo 3 - Maxine Horn of Ypsilanti tries to cross Washtenaw Avenue near Arborland Mall.

Ryan Stanton covers government for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.