Public will have chance to weigh in on plans for new Blake Transit Center on Thursday
The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority is holding a citizen participation meeting Thursday to give the public a chance to weigh in on plans for a new downtown transit center.
AATA's design team will be on hand on the fourth floor of the Ann Arbor District Library, 343 S. Fifth Ave., from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
A conceptual image of what a new Blake Transit Center could look like in downtown Ann Arbor.
Courtesy of DLZ Michigan
AATA officials hope to win approval and get started on demolishing the Blake Transit Center downtown in August and build a new two-story transit center in its place.
At Thursday's meeting, members of the public will have an opportunity to discuss the project with the AATA's design team and express concerns or suggestions.
A summary of information gathered at the meeting will be submitted to the city's planning department when the AATA files for site plan review.
Notices of Thursday's meeting were mailed out to neighbors within 1,000 feet of the proposed project at 331 S. Fourth Ave., where the Blake Transit Center now stands.
For additional information about the project, contact Terry Black, AATA's maintenance manager, at 734-973-6500 or tblack@theride.org, or Stephen Kromkowski of DLZ Michigan Inc., at 517-393-6800 or skromkowski@dlz.com.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
GB
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 : 9:06 p.m.
I say if the tax payer has money in their wallet let's go after it and spend it on something... As a government employee I love spending money! Spend, Spend, Spend ...... More art, more transit, more low income housing, more consultants, just more, more, more..... Oh! and let's turn more four lane city streets into three laners so's we can ride our bikes in the street safely..... God how I love Ann Arbor, land of the rich with deep wallets to tax!
DeeAA
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 4:56 p.m.
What we need is places where the bus-riding public can wait without freezing or getting drenched. The busses are schedule either 30 or 60 minutes apart on each route on average. If you have just missed a bus or a transfer, that's a long uncomfortable wait in inclement weather. Oh, I forgot to mention how c-o-l-d it can get with the wind blowing. Those metal slatted benches along Fourth with their decorative glass covers just don't do the job. I assume they are designed that way to discourage anyone sleeping overnight on one. Not all busses pull in alongside the Blake Transit Center alleyway. At least there's more shelter there.
Tom Whitaker
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 2:49 p.m.
Just got today's mail, and we haven't received any notice of this meeting, although we are within 1000 feet. Ann Arbor's Design Review Board was very critical of this design--it will be interesting to see if AATA responds and corrects the problems noted at that meeting. Personally, I was much more impressed with the version that was circulating last January. Since nothing on the second floor of the proposed structure provides any amenities for the public, or more specifically, the transit passengers that are supposed to be served by this building, I would recommend that the AATA scrap plans for a second floor and use the savings to fund a more inspiring design. Anyone trying to get from one part of the city to another, or anyone arriving in Ann Arbor on the Air Ride bus will have to interact with this building at one time or another. Emphasis should be on passenger amenities and a welcoming feel, and not on making more office space for AATA staff and a fancy new meeting space for its board of directors.
PersonX
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 5:50 p.m.
Ryan--you must have gotten Tom's and mine!
Ryan J. Stanton
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 5:21 p.m.
We got five postcards at my house
PersonX
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 2:26 p.m.
This is really a terrible thing all around. Many of the posts here have spelled out good objections, but it seems that all of this will fall on deaf ears. The technocrats have made up their minds and nothing will persuade them to change. Perhaps we all need to urge Council to stop this project and demand something better. a) it is a terrible design that is out of place downtown; this is the kind of building we have seen all over the country that looks shabby a year after it is built. b) as already noted above, any new project should aim at unblocking congestion on 4th Avenue. This project just continues the problem. Write to the mayor and council!
javajolt1
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 2:10 p.m.
AATA is a grant writers dream. They continue to pile up government money year after year without the ridership to warrant it. Even in a difficult economy, I rarely see a bus during the day with more than a hanfdul of people on them. It is a very important resource to be sure, but not so important that is deserves upgrades, updates and improvements that really aren't necessary. Wasn't the Blake Transfer Center built relatively recently? Ryan, Can you let us know when the current station was built?
Ryan J. Stanton
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 5:21 p.m.
The AATA has stated in the past it was built in either 1987 or 1988. I've seen it both ways.
63Townie
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 12:36 p.m.
Is it just me or is the city commissioning ugly architecture to justify public art in hopes of beautifying it?
jmac
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 12:30 p.m.
I am also concerned that the plan doesn't accommodate bus movement better than the current transit center. I often park in the structure at 4th and william directly across from Blake and traffic there is murder. Why not design a new structure that better accommodates bus, auto, and pedestrian traffic? Why a second floor anyway? Why a new transit center anyway????
peter kostishak
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 11:23 a.m.
Why is re-doing this building even necessary? The article states no reason. Not a stellar piece of reporting. AATA is heavily subsidized yet they insist on tearing down a building that is not that old. Who pays? Mostly us non-riding taxpayers.
Barzoom
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 10:49 a.m.
Another waste of taxpayer money on a unnecessary project that will keep traffic in that area fouled up for years.
Basic Bob
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 10:08 a.m.
It reminds me of a two-story truck stop. No one wants to know what goes on on the second floor.
Tesla
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 2:53 a.m.
I agree. Looks nice.
mike gatti
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 1:54 a.m.
Looks nice.
Stephen Landes
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 12:57 a.m.
In my opinion it is pointless to comment. I have been commenting to AATA senior management in person and to articles right here on A2.com for well over a year. Ears are closed: they've made up their mind and don't really want public input. Views of the public are tolerated because of the process they are forced to use, but they don't really care what we think. Go ahead. Build this horribly ugly structure (do we have any two story buses?) in the wrong place and miss your golden opportunity for a true intermodal transportation facility that could support real growth in Ann Arbor.
63Townie
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 12:37 p.m.
I bet Hizzhonor has plans for double-decker buses just like London.
Elijah Shalis
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 11:10 p.m.
Why does this city always build the most ugly government buildings? The only exceptions are the new branch libraries. This proposed bus terminal is so ugly my god. Have they visited other cities's terminals to take a look at them?
Stephen
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 12:27 p.m.
It modern, get with the times.
A2comments
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 10:55 a.m.
Your opinion. I agree this is ugly, but the Traverwood library is also ugly, and rusting...
A2.com.user
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 10:41 p.m.
The main problems that I can see with the new library lot and Blake Transit center is the possible reduction of new parking spaces downtown. If a convention center/hotel is placed on top of the new library-lot parking structure.....the out-of-town conventioneers will likely take up much of the new parking spaces.....which would totally defeat the purpose of building the new parking structure in the first place......which was to relieve downtown parking congestion. The new Blake Transit center is possibly going to be built over the Williams and Fifth Street open parking lot (the one with the pay machines).......this will eliminate another 100 or so parking spaces. Between the new Blake transit Center and a possible convention center/hotel on top of the new library lot structure there may be very little net-gain of new parking spaces downtown....after spending many millions of dollars building the new library lot parking structure. New convention centers and hotels should be located near the highway and away from downtown.......and have their own open parking lots built next to them.
Rod Johnson
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 3:08 a.m.
What makes you say that? It's my impression the new BTC will be right where the current one is. That will have zero impact on parking spaces.
a2cents
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 9:34 p.m.
gag (wretching)
MyOpinion
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 8:47 p.m.
Fourth Avenue also needs some sort of intermittent light so that buses exiting the lane parallel to Blake can make a left turn (South) onto Fourth. Occasionally, there will be an officer directing/stopping traffic, but it would be nice to have a 30 second light that reacted to signaling by the bus driver. I'm pretty sure some buses leave a minute early just to allow for the delay in turning left onto Fourth, not to mention left again at Main.
djm12652
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 8:41 p.m.
two floors? How about widening the street there so I don't get clipped by buses going around other parked buses....
bobslowson
Thu, Apr 26, 2012 : 12:47 p.m.
Agreed! Either that or just close off fourth street to cars...and close that entrance/exit to the parking structure....but that would cause an even bigger mess!
MyOpinion
Wed, Apr 25, 2012 : 8:20 p.m.
Notices of Thursday's meeting were mailed out to neighbors within 1,000 feet of the proposed project at 331 S. Fourth Ave., where the Blake Transit Center now stands. Seems like the users of the AATA are also a relevant population. It might be nice if they advertised the meeting within Blake Transit Center. They've got all sorts of notices about the Air Ride to DTW so I know they can post on their glass walls.