New AATA bus pullout on Washtenaw Avenue finished
The new Ann Arbor Transportation Authority bus pullout on Washtenaw Avenue is complete, the agency announced Friday.
The new pullout is on eastbound Washtenaw Avenue, east of Pittsfield Boulevard and opposite the Arborland shopping center. AATA said a shelter would be installed at the stop in the next several weeks.
A new bus pullout is complete on Washtenaw Avenue across from Arborland shopping center.
AATA bus stop
The completion means buses on routes 4, 7 and 22 have stopped using a temporary stop about 50 yards to the west of Pittsfield Boulevard.
Arborland previously had a major bus stop and transfer station in its parking lot until July 1, 2009, when the shopping center ended the AATA’s lease on the station. The closing of the Arborland bus stop affected an estimated 1,000 bus riders per day after 30 years of use. At the time, AATA officials said the main issue Arborland had with the bus stop was the 150 parking spots being used by commuters, according to a previous report.
The project cost about $154,000 and was paid for with federal stimulus money granted to the AATA.
Comments
Peter Eckstein
Sun, Dec 4, 2011 : 7 p.m.
In defense of the operators of Arborland, it should be said that the two major closings--Circuit City and Borders--were the result of the bankruptcy of their national companies and had nothing to do with the performance of the Arborland outlets. On the other hand, there is little that can be said in defense of their decision to remove the AATA bus stop. Buses stopping to unload and load passengers on Washtenaw Avenue itself are one important cause of the intolerable rush-hours congestion on the road. Having more stops off-road, like the one at Dollar Tree, are a step in the right direction. More needs to be done to reduce congestion. The "visionary" plan to create a Washtenaw Avenue development authority--to add housing and greater density generally, possibly to create bike lanes within the road--will only make matters worse. Let's have some serious traffic engineers figure out some ways--maybe some combination of alternative routes, adding lanes, improved traffic signal coordination, and easier exits--to reduce the congestion that plagues the corridor.
Andy Piper
Sun, Dec 4, 2011 : 2:16 p.m.
Bus riders are still considered second class citizens by The folks at Arborland. Lack of parking is an excuse. It's sad that bus transit and mass transit in general in this area is practically non-existent. On Friday night, in downtown Ann Arbor there was so much traffic it took about 20 minutes must to move through town, with only one car at a time able to turn left at a stop light. While I was moving through town I noted not one bus! Zero mass transit bringing people in and out of downtown on this super busy Friday night. Fail.
Katie
Sun, Dec 4, 2011 : 4:46 a.m.
Arborland just keeps making these questionable decisions. Why rid themselves of the bus stop? I know the mentally-challenged in Ann Arbor take the bus, but so do other people that will spend money. Why deter potential shoppers? Arborland failed as a regular mall because when one store at a time closed, nothing came in to replace and the customer counts dwindled. They're doing the same thing. I love Arborland, and loved the old mall when I was a kid. It's very frustrating. Whoever is running it is doing a terrible job.
Ann English
Sat, Dec 3, 2011 : 11:50 p.m.
Completed already? I thought it would takes weeks longer. I was about to make it a habit to reach the Dollar Tree off Yost from the south, instead of from Washtenaw, perhaps until next year.
Gramma
Sat, Dec 3, 2011 : 11:45 p.m.
With Borders gone, I wonder if Arborland still needs those 150 parking spaces? I also have to wonder if business has gone down at the other stores with the difficulty of crossing Washtenaw on foot?
jns131
Sun, Dec 4, 2011 : 4:07 p.m.
I have to agree with this one. Arborland needs to rethink why they opted those buses out of there. Those who were waiting for a bus did go into Borders for coffee and maybe a magazine or two. Borders lost biz when those buses were ordered off the property. I too hope they reconsider the buses.
Pixie Belle
Sun, Dec 4, 2011 : 12:42 a.m.
Business has defiantly gone down there isn't really anything over there that you couldn't find anywhere else. People still try to jay walk over there even though there is a crosswalk at Washtnaw and Pittsfield