ANN ARBOR, MI – On May 1, TheRide will be introducing the largest expansion of bus service in the greater Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti areas since 1979, as part of its Five-Year Transportation Improvement Program. The May, 2016 phase of fixed-route and paratransit improvements will be the third since voters approved the Plan in May, 2014. It will create more ways for citizens to connect with jobs, school, appointments, shopping, and family and friends in the urban core of Washtenaw County. Following community workshops, numerous presentations at local meetings and transit center outreach, employee ambassadors from TheRide will be holding “Get Ready” events starting April 19, educating riders at bus stops and at transit centers in the greater Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti areas.
 
“Get Ready” Events

• Bus Stop Visit at Michigan Union:
  • Tuesday, April 19, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
• Bus Stop Visit at Central Campus Transit Center (CCTC):
  • Tuesday, April 19, 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.
• Bus Stop Visit at Ingalls Mall:
  • Thursday, April 21, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
• Bus Stop Visit at Observatory and Washington Heights:
  • Thursday, April 21, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
• Bus Stop Visit at Mott Hospital:
  • Tuesday, April 26, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
• Transit Center Table at Blake Transit Center (BTC):
  • Friday, April 29, 7 a.m. – 10 a.m.
  • Saturday, April 30, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Sunday, May 1, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Monday, May 2, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday, May 3, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Transit Center Table at Ypsilanti Transit Center (YTC):
  • Friday, April 29, 6 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
  • Friday, April 29, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, April 30, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Sunday, May 1, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Monday, May 2, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday, May 3, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

 
The improvements beginning May 1 include more routes to serve more places, more direct routes in Ann Arbor & Ypsilanti, more frequent service, new route names and numbers, new service in Scio Township, new service in Pittsfield Township, and expanded A-Ride service for riders with disabilities. More information on the upcoming improvements can be found at TheRideYourWay.org.
 
Summary of May, 2016 Service Improvements

City of Ann Arbor

• Service on the west side of Ann Arbor will have more direct service starting May, 2016.
• The new service will replace loop routes with “out & back” routes on major streets with a crosstown connector.
• Routes 9, 12, 15 and 18 will be replaced with six new routes to provide more direct service.

Ypsilanti Area (City of Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti Township, Superior Township)

• TheRide will replace three local Ypsilanti routes, (Routes 10, 11 and 20) with six new routes to provide more direct service.
• Frequency of bus service will increase from every hour to every 30 minutes on weekdays.
• New Route 68 (Harris–Ford) will provide Ypsilanti residents with an east side connector that will reduce the need for transfers at the Ypsilanti Transit Center.
• Route 3 (Huron River) will begin serving LeForge, River St. and Clark.

Pittsfield Township

• Beginning May 1, another new route, Route 27 (W. Stadium–Oak Valley), will be added to serve Pioneer High School, the Ann Arbor Ice Cube, the Pittsfield Branch of the Ann Arbor District Library, Oak Valley Shopping Center, Target, and the Ann Arbor–Saline Rd. Meijer.
• The May 1 improvements follow the introduction of Route 67 (Michigan Ave.) in August, 2015, which serves the Carpenter Rd. Meijer, Pittsfield Township Hall, and the Saline Walmart on Michigan Ave.

Scio Township

• Scio Township’s new transit service will be implemented during two phases over three years.
• The first phase will begin May 1, with Route 30 service on Jackson Rd. to the Meijer west of Zeeb Rd.
• Two new routes will begin serving Scio Church, Liberty and Scio Ridge.

Route Summary

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The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide) was chartered in 1969 by the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan, as a not-for-profit unit of government. TheRide operates the local public transit system for the greater Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area, enabling the area’s residents to reach their destinations at reasonable cost, and offers the region efficient, environmentally sound transportation alternatives. For more information, please visit TheRide.org.
 
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