After introducing the biggest expansion of bus service in the greater Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti area since 1979 this past May, the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide) has announced it will implements even more service improvements starting Sunday, August 28. The August, 2016 fixed-route and paratransit service improvements are part of TheRide’s Five-Year Transportation Improvement Program approved by voters and continue TheRide’s promise to create more ways for citizens to connect with jobs, school, appointments, shopping, and family and friends.
“Improving the bus frequency and number of connections between locations in our community is important to sustaining the quality of life we all enjoy,” said TheRide CEO Matt Carpenter. “When buses run more often, more riders are able to rely on public transportation to get them where they need to go. We’re proud to continue to make improvements that allow citizens to ride more places more conveniently. This ultimately benefits both those who ride and those who don’t.”
The August, 2016 improvements include a new route, 61 (Airport – Avis Farms), which will provide service between the office parks near South State St. south of Ellsworth and Costco with connections to Route 6; increased weekday service to every 15 minutes on Route 6 (Ellsworth) between downtown Ann Arbor and the Meijer on Carpenter Rd.; and more direct service on Route 32 (Miller – Maple), which serves Skyline High School, the Miller Rd. Park & Ride lot and businesses along Maple and West Stadium Blvd.