Ann Arbor school board member says AATA might be able to fill void if district cuts busing
The Ann Arbor school board might have avoided eliminating high school bus services for next school year, but longtime board member Susan Baskett says the issue isn't over yet.
Baskett, who recently was appointed to the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority's governing board, expects serious talks over the next year about the possibility of the school district cutting bus services and seeing where the AATA might be able to step in to fill the void.
Ann Arbor school board member Susan Baskett at a forum last year. She now also serves on the governing board of the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Baskett sat down with AnnArbor.com to talk about what she sees as the next steps for both the AATA and Ann Arbor Public Schools around transportation.
AnnArbor.com: When it was decided by the school board to put transportation cuts on hold for this coming year, was it your thinking that the issue will come back around next budget cycle?
Baskett: Oh yeah.
AnnArbor.com: Is this next year then a planning year to figure out how the AATA could step up and fill the void if school bus services are eliminated?
Baskett: Absolutely. I mean, one of the things we had talked about — and I was quoted on this before — was, 'OK, if we're going to cut transportation, let's just do it all at once.' Now, I wasn't saying this year. And it was basically a statement to give my colleagues a heads up what is possible.
As I look at the resumes of the new superintendent candidates, that's one of the things I'm going to be looking for — collaboration across government.
AnnArbor.com: There are some parents out there in the community who think it's crazy to even talk about cutting busing for students. You've said you would be willing to entirely eliminate transportation for all grades K-12. Why do you think that's a good idea?
Baskett: Cost. I mean, that's it. Cost.
Because remember we tried — or we did — the consolidation with WISD. The consolidation was to help our then school bus drivers — they knew our routes, they knew our children, we knew them. What happened when we consolidated with WISD? The majority of them did not get hired.
I can always tell the start of the school year now, because I live in a neighborhood with a lot of children. I see the big yellow bus go up and down past my house five times with some guy with a piece of paper and he is obviously lost. It's a new bus driver who doesn't know where the heck he's supposed to pick up these kids, because the turnover at the WISD has just been ridiculous.
So it's a managerial issue. We can't sustain the current model. We don't have the funds to even do something totally different like privatize completely. We've got to do something in collaboration that makes sense for the long haul. We don't want to be visiting transportation every single year.
Will school buses in Ann Arbor become a thing of the past?
Baskett: No, but from what I've learned, the AATA, being a mass transit authority, they cannot get into the business of being a new school bus system. It has to be public transportation for all. But I have heard of stories of classmates getting on the bus in big cities in California, for example — 12-year-olds taking three buses to get to school. I have friends from New York where they would talk about a 45-minute subway ride to get to school, so it's not impossible.
AnnArbor.com: Under what scenarios do you think the AATA could realistically help fill the void of lost school bus services? How would that look or work in practice?
Baskett: We have worked with them this past year. We have at least two bus routes, maybe three, where AATA does fill the void of transportation. We have a relationship, for example, where the kids after seventh hour at Pioneer High — we gave them bus passes, which they can even use on the weekends. It doesn't have to be school-related. As I understand, the kids and the parents love it. It frees them up, assures them of being able to get on the bus, so I'd like to see more of that. The issue — the big concern — of course, is for those areas that are not on AATA bus routes.
AnnArbor.com: So you're thinking more of that could work — where AATA routes and services are planned with students in mind as part of the overall picture?
Baskett: Yeah.
AnnArbor.com: I'm told legally the school district can't be involved in organizing alternative transportation for students. Is this something you'll be able to work on in your dual role?
Baskett: Probably so, but I guess I need to understand more of the legal boundaries, because we have had a committee. Trustees Simone Lightfoot and Glenn Nelson have served on this transportation committee the last year with AATA, and that's how they come up to identifying the need, quantifying the need, and possible solutions.
Moving forward, I'm hoping that Trustees Lightfoot and Nelson will be able to continue that relationship since they already know the cast of characters, and I can assist from an outside perspective as well. As I understand it, we can't help negotiate the fees or collect money for the entity, but I think it's OK to discuss the issues.
A biker zips past an AATA bus on Fifth Avenue in downtown Ann Arbor.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Baskett: When we did this last transportation thing with the schools and we were looking at how to partner with AATA, we got some crazy emails from concerned parents who were like, 'I don't want my child on an unsafe public transit.' And I'm like, I've never seen an issue.
The buses are clean. They stick pretty much to their schedule. This fear of kids being lost on some public mass transit was just comical to me. So, from the AATA perspective, we have to make clear that we are one of the best in the nation. From the school board perspective, we have to make clear that AATA is a safe alternative. So there's some marketing to do on both sides.
AnnArbor.com: Your appointment to the AATA board by Mayor John Hieftje and the Ann Arbor City Council comes at a very interesting time considering the talks around cutting transportation at the school district level. Is this just coincidence or is there more to the story?
Baskett: It is coincidence. When I first got interested in anything mass transit, it was after attending one of the community meetings (for the AATA's countywide transit planning process) and looking at the transit master plan. I had applied to be on the multi-jurisdictional entity that went down in flames — the whole countywide thing. So I was looking to do it way before.
AnnArbor.com: Why do you want to serve on the AATA board?
Baskett: To bring to life this vision. I like that we're looking at making mass transit more than a need, but a choice. It's just a desire to be helpful.
When you look at the transit master plan and you look at the need locally, I feel I have to do something to make it happen, because the need will always be there, whether it's for high school kids or the mom trying to get her kid to the pediatrician.
AnnArbor.com: What's been your experience with riding AATA buses here in Ann Arbor? How often do you use the local transit service?
Baskett: I have used it as a consumer, but currently the system is not set up for people like me. For example, last night after a long meeting, I would have liked to just get on a bus and go home and vegetate, but there are no buses at that particular hour.
An AATA bus drives down Liberty Street in Ann Arbor last summer.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
AnnArbor.com: Are you in favor of raising taxes to expand AATA services in the urban core, whether that just includes Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti or some larger urban core footprint?
Baskett: One thing I've learned is you've got to have money. So if that's what it takes, yeah. As I understand, the fares don't sustain the system. It's with municipal support.
AnnArbor.com: What do you make of the move to welcome Ypsilanti into the authority to create a new Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority?
Baskett: At initial blush, it makes sense — they have a need, they're bringing in some money — but Ypsilanti already has this purchase-of-service agreement with AATA, so I'm trying to learn what is the advantage for AATA. I understand Ypsilanti's advantage.
AnnArbor.com: So it sounds like you have some reservations? Is it just that you're trying to make sure you're looking out for Ann Arbor's interests?
Baskett: Selfishly, I grew up in Ann Arbor, so Ann Arbor is all that for me. The control —Â it's my transit authority. I'm the Ann Arbor resident. Would I want an outside entity that brings a limited amount of funds and will be asking for more — do I want them necessarily co-opting expanded services that I would have in Ann Arbor? Then is that a precedence for others?
Because I would hope AATA would expand the model and invite other people in. If Ann Arbor is to pay the bulk of the services, would I necessarily want to be obligated or potentially lose control to other parties at the table? I'm still feeling that one through.
AnnArbor.com: What direction would you like to see the AATA go in the next 5 to 10 years? What projects or initiatives would you like to see come to fruition?
Baskett: I'm very intrigued with the whole master plan. I would love it so mass transit — the AATA — is my transportation of choice, and if I choose to I can get to wherever I want to go without having to use my personal car at $4 a gallon for gas. I would like to see places like Roberto Clemente and Textile — those neighborhoods — have at least a bus stop as an option.
We see students coming from neighborhoods that not only don't have bus stops, they don't have sidewalks, so they can't even walk safely. I want to be able to say that AATA can get you from wherever you are to wherever you want to go.
AnnArbor.com: So you subscribe to the philosophy that public transit in Ann Arbor should be able to serve as a substitute for owning a car?
Baskett: I do. Absolutely. It's getting more costly to own a car. I can't tell you how many of my friends' children who are 16 and 17 don't even think about getting a driver's license. That was a rite of passage for my generation. Young people now don't want to be bothered with it, and if we want to have our city grow, we've got to have that option for them.
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
Brian
Tue, Jun 18, 2013 : 11:52 a.m.
She does that court rulings do not allow a public transportation entity offer home to school transporation right? Since the buses are partially funded by public money they are not allowed to do the work that a private contractor is more than capable of doing. Also, transit buses are not school buses in terms of construction and passenger safety systems. She really needs to get a clue!
Basic Bob
Tue, Jun 18, 2013 : 1:54 a.m.
It smells like resegregation to me.
interesteda2
Tue, Jun 18, 2013 : 1:34 a.m.
Let's see the article starts by noting that Baskett "expects serious talks over the next year about the possibility of the school district cutting bus services and seeing where the AATA might be able to step in to fill the void.". In the middle we learn she doesnt actually use AATA because it is not user friendly. At the end she states "We see students coming from neighborhoods that not only don't have bus stops, they don't have sidewalks, so they can't even walk safely." So given a system (AATA) that doesnt meet the needs of citizens of Ann Arbor and wont meet the needs of students she is all in favor of getting rid of school buses next year? Does she think the problems she admits to will go away magically? Ryan; Do you ever ask followup questions during an interview when the person makes such contradictory statements? Or do you just continue to lob softballs right over the plate for her?
Goofus
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 7:45 p.m.
Good thing A2 schools aren't in Ypsi Township...where AATA won't go.
ViSHa
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 5:14 p.m.
Well there you have it. If, as a parent, you sent an email to the BOE voicing your concerns about using AATA......Ms. Baskett publicly states she considers you crazy. And that is how she represents AAPS and the BOE. Nice. So much for "customer service".
Willie Reid
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 4:53 p.m.
All of this budget cuts discussion over the past year has really started to weigh on me. We bought our house in Ann Arbor knowing taxes would be higher than other local communities. With those higher taxes we believed we were getting a great city with great publci schools. When I tell people what I pay in property taxes they laugh at me. Again, I don't mind paying the higher taxes, but with those higher taxes you'd better believe I expect busing for the local public schools to be part of it. I know everyone will chime in with proposal A comments, but I don't care. When making cuts, we have to see how they compare to other similar school districts. I don't know of any similar school districts that have cut busing. I'm sure there are some, but I don't know of any. You'd better believe if AAPS were to do something like this, people would start shopping for school districts that do offer busing. I rode public transportation to get to high school and while I think it's fine for high school students, I have a serious problem with putting a kindergartener on one of those buses.
jcj
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 4:39 p.m.
Baskett sat down with AnnArbor.com to talk about what she sees as the next steps for both the AATA and Ann Arbor Public Schools around transportation. WHO initiated the contact for this interview?
kuriooo
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 4:36 p.m.
Coming from NYC, I find the local bus system also "not user friendly." I may have unrealistic expectations, but I hardly use it here and only used public trans in NYC, loved it.
jcj
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 4:35 p.m.
12-year-olds taking three buses to get to school. I have friends from New York where they would talk about a 45-minute subway ride to get to school, so it's not impossible. WHAT!!! Having all the students ride the same bus is not "impossible"! You just have some of them wait around outside their school until it starts.Then at the end of the day some could wait at their school for an hour while others are picked up. but I don't think she would propose that. She also said... For example, last night after a long meeting, I would have liked to just get on a bus and go home and vegetate, but there are no buses at that particular hour. Wheres the problem? She could start walking and catch the bus somewhere else! it wouldn't be the end of the world if some board members had to walk and get a little more exercise. !
SuperiorMother
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 3:42 p.m.
"Ann Arbor school board member says AATA might be able to fill void if district cuts busing" *Help* fill the void? Sure. *Fill* the void? Not likely, for reasons other commentors have already said. I also wonder who Ms. Baskett expects will be supervising/monitoring these kids. I wouldn't want my kid younger than, say, 11 navigating a city bus alone with no one looking out for him. And I wouldn't want my 12-year-old taking three city buses to get to and from school.
G. Orwell
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 3:06 p.m.
Who does Basket work for? The AAPS or AATA? She appears to be an operative for the AATA. She will attempt to eliminate busing solely to benefit the AATA at the expense of thousands of families. She is very dangerous.
Catbus
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 2:07 p.m.
"Crazy" emails from parents? Yeah, I suspect if she's really interested in getting rid of K-12 busing altogether she's going to get a lot more of those emails. I don't think buses are "unsafe transit" but does that mean its suitable for a 5 year old to navigate their way to school? Probably not.
Ryan J. Stanton
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 2:02 p.m.
When I was growing up, I had a roughly 20/30-minute walk to school every morning and then again home every afternoon, so the thought of no bus services isn't so foreign to me. Those walks were actually pretty enjoyable and something I looked forward to each day. It was a time spent with good friends (we walked in packs), just being kids. When I later moved to another community where we were bused to school, I never really liked the hour-long bus rides. Of course, I understand there are instances where lack of bus services would be a burden to some students, especially when there are gaps in the city's sidewalk system, and there are some students farther away from the schools they attend than others. Definitely a lot to think about here.
ViSHa
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 10:51 p.m.
1. I thought some kids were possibly bused so that not every school was designated as a Title 1 school? 2. I find it strange that she is questioning this when at her 'Beyond the Talk' meeting she co-sponsored with Simone Lightfoot, one of their plans to address the gap was to: "Examine attendance boundaries for inequity;" http://annarborchronicle.com/2010/06/04/schools-achievement-gap-or-equity-gap/
Willie Reid
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 8:29 p.m.
Replying to Ryan's 2nd comment about busing kids past other schools to achieve diversity. Could you ask Mrs. Basket what she would recommend for the neighborhood's in the far southeastern section of the district? Each neighborhood is bused to a different elementary, but there isn't an elementary in that area for these students to attend. I don't think it's all about diversity. It's about how many students the schools can handle also. The closest elementaries would be Mitchell or Carpenter, but neither of those buidlings would be able to handle all of the kids from this area.
jcj
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 7:02 p.m.
There are hundreds of kids that have the experience of walking to school in Ann Arbor.But there are more than "some students farther away from the schools they attend."
Ryan J. Stanton
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 5:47 p.m.
Like I said, I had a good experience walking and I already acknowledged it's not ideal in every situation. So there needs to be discussion about where it would and wouldn't work. One of the interesting aspects to this issue that Susan Baskett pointed out to me is there are a number of students in the district who are bused from one area of town into another so different schools can have more diversity, and those students are bused past other schools in the process of achieving that goal. It seems that needs to be discussed as part of the bigger picture here.
TryingToBeObjective
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 5:16 p.m.
@DonBee, in my experience, when my kids were in elementary school, the school secretary was there until 4 pm, and the principal even longer. Kids were allowed and even asked to wait in the school office until a late parent arrived for pick up. There was also paid aftercare (not sure of the status of that now). In middle school, I've seen kids waiting in the office for parent pickup ( secretary is there until 4, principals are there later.) There is also "homework club" available to ALL students, I believe at least three days per week. And finally, at Skyline, I always see a number of students hanging out and waiting between the doors (inside), after school. I have NEVER (again, this is in my experience) seen kids "kicked out". Ever. But perhaps it is different at different schools in the AAPS, depending on the principal. I wonder if some of these programs (ie; homework club) could be expanded to accommodate parents if busing cuts are on the table next year again? Perhaps even a before school "homework club". I have also observed kids getting into school early on a number of occasions when the weather was inclement. But again, it could depend on the school.
jcj
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 4:37 p.m.
Ryan Nice little story, BUT you are over simplifying and not in touch with the reality of WHERE some of these students live!
Basic Bob
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 3:21 p.m.
From our house to Huron: cross the two most dangerous roads in the county, of course trying to avoid the most dangerous intersection in the county - without sidewalks or street lights. It's about 4 miles to Meijer. Then take the 22 bus to Huron. If you start at 5:30 you should make it to school on time.
DonBee
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 2:37 p.m.
Ryan - 20 to 30 minutes is about 2 miles walking. I have no issue with that when there are sidewalks that are clear of ice and snow in the winter and separated from the roadway by at least a curb. Some of the students will have 10 to 11 mile walks - at 10 to 15 minutes a mile, that is a 2 to 2.5 hour walk. Many of the longest walks have the least in the way for sidewalks or even valid places to walk in the wintertime across M-14, US-23 and I-94. The closest AATA stop for many of these students is 7 to 8 miles into their walk. The walk distance is not the real issue, the real issues are: 1) AAPS closes the buildings to students minutes after the school day ends, meaning no shelter in bad weather at the school to wait for a ride or an AATA bus. 2) Many of the routes have no infrastructure to make them walker friendly. These issues need to be solved before any other alternative to the current busing will work for most families outside of the Ann Arbor city limits.
Chester Drawers
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 2:35 p.m.
C'mon, Ryan. Do you ever get outside of the city limits? You've been around here long enough so that you should realize that there are locations within the school district that would make a walk to school a horrifying, dangerous, hypothermic experience rather than the enjoyable stroll you remember from your childhood. The bottom line for a lot of us out here is the screwed up priorities of this school board. Until they demand some serious cuts from all levels of administration, WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY!
towncryer
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 1:28 p.m.
Am I the only one who thinks Ms. Basket being on the BOE AND the AATA governing board as a conflict of interest when it comes to deciding on AAPS busing issues????
Ken
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 8:35 p.m.
This was my point prior to her appointment by City Council!!
DJBudSonic
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 4:05 p.m.
As I said when this was first proposed by Ms. Briere, and the appointment made at 1 a.m., this is clearly an attempt to scam the taxpayers. There is NO WAY this is not a conflict of interest. If a person can vote on one board to cut funding for a service, then vote on another board to raise taxes to restore that service, ow can this be anything but a conflict of interest? I will be contacting the County to request an investigation of this appointment.
Haran Rashes
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 1:58 p.m.
There is a Michigan law against holding "incompatible offices." It is 1978 PA 566, MCL 15.881 et seq. However, it can only be enforced by the State Attorney General or the County Prosecuting Attorney. I too question whether Ms. Baskett is now holding incompatible offices, but unfortunately the call is outside our hands. http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(pg4zi455izwkd2vm3xkrib55))/mileg.aspx?page=GetObject&objectname=mcl-act-566-of-1978
DJBudSonic
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 1:26 p.m.
Thanks for this fine choice to fill that vacant seat on the board, city council. And to Ms. Briere, what more do I need to say? It was obvious that Ms. Baskett was your choice to substitute AATA dollars for AAPS dollars, you cannot pretend otherwise now. Another fine example of council cronyism in action.
jmac
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 1:03 p.m.
To quote Ms. Baskett: " But I have heard of stories of classmates getting on the bus in big cities in California, for example — 12-year-olds taking three buses to get to school. I have friends from New York where they would talk about a 45-minute subway ride to get to school, so it's not impossible." Well, I suppose ANYTHING is possible, but is realistic or safe? And, I have to say, the attitude expressed in this article is appalling. It sounds to me like Ms. Baskett would like to have any entity other than Ann Arbor schools be responsible for getting getting kids to school. And thinking the AATA can handle all the student transportation needs is a total pipedream. Is the whole school board made up of people who think like that? If so, woe is us!
ViSHa
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 5:15 p.m.
I agree, the attitude is appalling. But yet she wanted to fight tooth and nail for her food budget.
GG
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 12:58 p.m.
Get real, The City of AA is 25 sq. miles. The District is 126 sq. miles, and AATA does not cover service in those areas.
Brad
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 12:46 p.m.
And the "obviously lost bus driver story" is just plain lame.
AMOC
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 3:48 p.m.
It's lame, but very probably true for the first week or two of school. My kids have had to help the bus driver navigate for the first few days and later, whenever there's a sub.
Basic Bob
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 3:13 p.m.
The cost savings of using WISD to provide busing could only come from wages, since the schools still provide the buses. Cutting wages always leads to turnover. And no doubt we had some obviously lost AAPS drivers now and then, certainly when my kids were little we had a nutty one.
Blazingly Busy
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 2:32 p.m.
Brad, I keep meaning to tell you this... I just love what you have done with your profile pic.
Beth
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 12:38 p.m.
My neigborhood has no bus stops within several miles. It's unreasonable to expect AATA to add one just to get kids to school. And it's also silly to compare AA to cities where kids take 3 buses or have a 45 minute subway ride to school. We're NOT a big city, and that's part of the reason many of us chose to live here!
Sam S Smith
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 11:55 a.m.
Another ploy for the AATA to increase riders and justify their expense???
DonBee
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 11:44 a.m.
Cool - AATA will have enough buses to support moving 8,000 students who ride the buses from AAPS in the morning on a single run and the general public during that 2 hour time period. Figuring that most of the runs are an hour in length (end to end) and that the current ridership is in the range of 5-8,000 - that means places for 14-16,000 passengers in the span (remember buses have to travel both ways in a public transit system - so 1 hour out, 1 hour back). Figuring the average AATA bus holds about 40 seated passengers - that means AATA would need only about 350 buses out on the road during student pick up and drop off hours. Then the routes need to be expanded throughout the school district, which does not match the AATA boundaries right now, so all the townships would have to agree to join AATA and get a millage approved. Then AATA would need to hire drivers who want to work roughly 4 hours a day and have probably about 200 buses that only make 2 runs a day. Sounds great, sounds doable, after all public transit buses are only about 6x the cost of school buses and the hybrid buses preferred by AATA are only about 8x the cost of school buses. http://www.intrans.iastate.edu/publications/_documents/t2summaries/hybrid_transit_bus_tech_brief1.pdf So 200 buses at $400,000 each - the tax payers will be on the hook for $80,000,000 in new buses. NEAT! Great solution!
L'chaim
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 4:04 p.m.
But, check the #7 and the #3, which also may be an hour long...
L'chaim
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 4:03 p.m.
fyi- most runs are a half hour in length. Only 1 is a full hour (the #6), I think. Some are 45 minutes long (one-way, of course).
towncryer
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 1:25 p.m.
Bucket is right, and guess who's holding the handle?
Brad
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 12:45 p.m.
Sounds like a plan for the AATA to suckle some dollars from AAPS. A one bucket feeding the other.
cornelius McDougenschniefferburgenstein jr. 3 esq.
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 12:24 p.m.
don knows math.
RUKiddingMe
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 11:34 a.m.
Oh, and I forgot about the whole 14% return on doubling their service on a popular route. They already tried seeing how an increase in service would pay off; they DOUBLED the service on one of the most-used routes, and saw a 14% increase in ridership. Is this the kind of thing that will justify an increase in taxes? I mean, really. Am I the only one tired of seeing money thrown at ridiculous stuff and sunk through mismanagement, and then MORE money being taken anyway? Isn't anyone else getting tired of this?
RUKiddingMe
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 11:31 a.m.
1) I kind of doubt the AATA option would wind up saving much money. Either the loss in riders due to buses taking too long because of the school route, or, if they're using separate buses, the fitting of all the safety equipment/electronics or lawsuit when someone pulls out to pass it and hits a kid. 2) Let's not be dishonest about how buses work. They can't run til midnight because of late meetings. One doesn't really "wait" for an hour for the bus; they have schedules. Some go every 30 minutes, some every hour, heck, maybe every 3 hours. Sometimes if you miss one it's inconvenient. Sometimes if they're not running on schedule it's inconvenient. But let's not talk about raising taxes to increase bus trips using this "waiting an hour" fallacy. RIDERSHIP and % capacity at given times of day should determine this. 3) I really, really hope all the sensible people are already girding their loins to do a lot of footwork talking to their friends, family, and coworkers about voting another millage increase down. With the terrible turnout in this town, all they need to do is get some of their buddies out there to vote on it, and it'll pass. THEY have plenty of motivation; millions of your dollars. We need to get involved and say enough already. 4) Don't forget about the multiple mechanic stations they renovated and expanded, and the new AATA station with the big meeting rooms (for some reason). They've got brand new buildings and brand new buses; they're doing just fine. Also recall that for their countywide expansion their budgeted website line item was $200,000. Yeah, $200,000 for a website. One year. I wonder how much they're spending on their CURRENT website? Also, please recall the measure of success presented bya getDowntown staff member in a recent story; I forget the actual figure, but it was some astonishingly poor statistic, like 20% of people who work in Ann Arbor rode a bus at least once during the year or something. Ridic
antikvetch
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 11:28 a.m.
Sounds like AAPS needs to throw money at the "bus-gap"
walker101
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 11:12 a.m.
She also argues it wouldn't be the end of the world if some students had to walk to school and get a little more exercise. I live on the southeast side of Ann Arbor. If I want to go to Meijer, I have to wait an hour, so it's not yet user-friendly for me. I want to make it more user-friendly. But she expects the children to do the same in the dead of winter? Where do they get these people.
a2migrl
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 6:05 p.m.
I would like to see her walk from the southeast side to any of the high schools. By the time the kids get there it will be time to turn around and walk home (winter especially).
towncryer
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 1:23 p.m.
Funny how some people like to argue that others should get more exercise, isn't it?
Arboriginal
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 11:12 a.m.
How about that?
cornelius McDougenschniefferburgenstein jr. 3 esq.
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 11:12 a.m.
anyone whos ridden the 5 eastbound between 1+4 on a school day will attest.THIS IS A BAAAADDDD!!!!! IDEA.try it+experience the serene journey.
J. A. Pieper
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 10:14 a.m.
Ever think that it is not that the kids don't want to be bothered with getting a license, but that the true reason is because now everyone has to pay on their own for driver's education? These classes are expensive, and many cannot work this cost into a budget. Not to mention, the need for a car that can be used for practicing, and an adult who has the time to teach their child.
ChrisW
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 3:18 p.m.
It's because they're not allowed to text and drive.
Basic Bob
Mon, Jun 17, 2013 : 11:36 a.m.
There is also the cost of buying a car, fuel and oil, maintenance, depreciation, and insurance.