AATA OKs Implementation of New Website

At its Aug. 24, 2011 meeting, the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority board authorized the use of $140,000 in federal funds to implement the redesign of its website. The bid for the redesign had already been awarded to the Michigan firm Artemis Solutions Group Inc.

Among the improvements desired by the AATA is a way to update the website by staff who do not have programming skills. AATA also wants its new website to be a tool that staff can use to broadcast information to AATA riders (via email, text-messaging, Facebook, Twitter, etc.). Among the enhanced information the AATA wants available on its website is real-time bus location information that includes a way for third-party developers to create and distribute smart phone applications using AATA’s real-time data.

The new website will also allow the AATA to provide a “performance scorecard” to display metrics that include finances, operations, ridership, environmental impact, maintenance and safety performance. The website is supposed to allow AATA to comply with section 508 ADA standards, and provide translation into multiple languages.

This brief was filed from the downtown location of the Ann Arbor District Library, where the AATA board holds its meetings. A more detailed report will follow: [link]