At the Jan. 21 Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees meeting, Dr. Laurence Krieg, an avid rider and study of transportation systems around the globe, was unanimously appointed to the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority’s (TheRide) Board of Directors.
Ypsilanti Township was officially added to the Authority through a unanimous vote at the Nov. 18, 2013 Ann Arbor City Council meeting. Dr. Krieg’s confirmation follows several others that occurred in 2013, strengthening a well-rounded Board focused on improving transportation options throughout Washtenaw County’s Urban Core:
- Eric Mahler and Susan Baskett, who were appointed by Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje with the support of the Ann Arbor City Council to replace David Nacht and Jesse Bernstein
- Gillian Ream, who was confirmed by Ypsilanti City Council after being nominated by Ypsilanti Mayor Paul Schreiber
- Jack Bernard, who was appointed by Ann Arbor City Council following the Board’s expansion, which provided an additional seat for an Ann Arbor representative
Dr. Krieg, a decorated military veteran who taught at the University of Michigan, Washtenaw Community College, and Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí in Mexico, received his PhD in Linguistics from the University of Michigan. He has used and studied transit throughout Spain, Japan, Israel, Germany, France, England, Canada, and the United States in an effort to observe and document what has worked and what has not.
Dr. Krieg said that his work on TheRide’s Board will focus on ensuring that all citizens who need or want public transportation have access to it. “When excellent transportation is within reach of all citizens, all have the opportunity to prosper, to contribute to the economy, and to enjoy a healthy life,” said Krieg. He also plans to work to provide transportation that is socially, fiscally, and environmentally sustainable; building a more desirable quality of life for all citizens in our region. "Transportation does more than get people from place to place. It shapes their lives by determining the extent of an individual’s sphere of life, the distance and location of places they can work, worship, play, shop, and seek medical services,” he added.
“We look forward to gaining the expertise and perspectives of our new Board members, as we continue our work in improving public transportation options for Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and the Urban Core Communities in Washtenaw County,” said Board Chair Charles Griffith. “We have a very well-rounded and talented group of people, invested in improving our community.”
