TheRide receives $6.6 million state grant for Bus Rapid Transit study

TheRide receives $6.6 million state grant for Bus Rapid Transit study Gabby Ceritano/Daily. Buy this photo. The state of Michigan awarded the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority $6.6 million to study a potential Bus Rapid Transit route in an attempt to decrease commuting times on Washtenaw Avenue, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Tuesday. The study will explore creating a BRT route, which would roughly follow the Interstate 94 Business Loop, starting on Jackson Avenue near Maple Road and continuing down Huron Street through downtown Ann Arbor. The potential route will then follow Washtenaw Avenue to U.S. Route 23 and end in downtown Ypsilanti, mostly along TheRide Route 4, which has one of the system’s highest ridership rates. The grant will allow TheRide to study the feasibility of many aspects of BRT, including queue jump lanes so buses can pass traffic buildups at stoplights and traffic signal priority that would adjust traffic signal cycles to reduce the amount of time buses spend stopped at red lights. The AAATA will also research the addition of dedicated bus lanes. TheRide will collect data and survey public opinion while beginning preliminary engineering and seeking federal approval. In a press release, TheRide CEO Matt Carpenter wrote he is thankful for assistance from the state government to improve service in Ann Arbor. “This funding is a significant step toward realizing our long-term regional transit goals and will help us build a more connected, accessible, and efficient transportation system for the communities we serve,” Carpenter wrote. The grant is part of $65 million awarded through the Infrastructure Projects Authority Fund — a newly-established state fund to support public transportation projects in cities throughout Michigan. The fund also allocated $10 million to restore the Detroit People Mover and about $13.6 million to the Mass Transportation Authority in Genesee County to improve transportation in and around Flint. The proposed BRT route is included in the AAATA’s TheRide 2045 plan for improving service. The plan suggests buses would arrive at stops along the BRT corridor as often as every five minutes during peak hours and travel longer distances between stops. Additionally, buses and stops could include amenities like bus arrival information, larger shelters and ticketing machines. In a press release, state Rep. Jason Morgan, D-Ann Arbor, wrote he hopes these investments will help decrease commuting time. “No one should have to spend hours getting to work, school, a doctor’s appointment, or home simply because they don’t have reliable transportation,” Morgan wrote. “When we invest in transit, we’re investing in people’s time, their opportunities, and Michigan’s future.” Daily News Editor Dominic Apap can be reached at dapap@umich.edu. Related articles