Recently Commented Stories

Planning Commission Upholds A2D2 Zoning | February 11

Recent commenters: Vivienne Armentrout, Dave Askins, Tom Whitaker

Latest comment: Vivienne Armentrout said, “Re (2): a. Thanks for the reference. These small lessons are one...” [Full Comment]

UM, Ann Arbor Halt Fuller Road Project | February 10

Recent commenters: Steve Bean, Tom Whitaker, cosmonıcan, Dave Askins, cosmonıcan, and others!

Latest comment: Steve Bean said, “@13: Commuter bus service to and from where, Tom?” [Full Comment]

Transit: Ridership Data Roundup | January 25

Recent commenters: Murph, Joel Batterman, Joel Batterman, Bob Elton, Vivienne Armentrout, and others!

Latest comment: Murph said, “There's some crazy station-to-station and year-to-year variability in the Amtrak stats. ...” [Full Comment]

Totter Toons: Fuller Road Station | February 10

Recent commenters: Marvin Face, john floyd, Leslie Bolgos, Dave Cahill, Tom Whitaker, and others!

Latest comment: Marvin Face said, “I have recorded at Sun Studio using the same mic as Mr....” [Full Comment]

DDA Reviews Mid-Year Financials, Parking | February 5

Recent commenters: Dave Askins, Steve Bean, Jim Rees, Dave Askins, RICK STEVENS, and others!

Latest comment: Dave Askins said, “Re: [5] "not-to-exceed" amount on underground parking garage The contract with Christman was...” [Full Comment]

Liberty & Division | February 9

Recent commenters: Tom Brandt, TJ, cosmonıcan, Dave Askins, cosmonıcan

Latest comment: Tom Brandt said, “The Brasserie Blonde is very tasty, one of ABC's better efforts. One...” [Full Comment]

Michigan Regional Transit Bills Unveiled | January 26

Recent commenters: Steve Bean, Bob Cowen, Vivienne Armentrout, Murph, Vivienne Armentrout, and others!

Latest comment: Steve Bean said, “Bob, can you point to a few places where it's worked and...” [Full Comment]

Liberty & Division | February 10

Recent commenters: Dave Askins, Aaron

Latest comment: Dave Askins said, “My best information from the city was that: (1) The Liberty Plaza...” [Full Comment]

Ann Arbor’s Ward 1: Cthulhu Council? | February 3

Recent commenters: John Floyd, Marvin Face, john floyd, Jack Eaton, Steve Bean, and others!

Latest comment: John Floyd said, “Mr. Face, I can be verbose. Sorry. 1) I like Sabra Briere, even...” [Full Comment]

Jackson & Wagner | February 8

Recent commenters: Rod Johnson, Vivienne Armentrout, Rod Johnson, Vivienne Armentrout, Rod Johnson, and others!

Latest comment: Rod Johnson said, “Yep. That's another of the frustrations. To be clear, I think the...” [Full Comment]

Civic News Ticker

AATA Service to DTW on Feb. 16 Agenda

A proposal long in the works to provide public transportation service between Ann Arbor and Detroit Metropolitan Airport will appear on the agenda of the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority board at its Feb. 16 meeting. The AATA will contract out the service through Indian Trails (Michigan Flyer).

Details of the service include a one-way fare of $12 for advance reservation (and limited refundability) or $15 with re-fundability up to time of departure. Round trip fare would be $22 for advance reservation (and limited refundability) or $30 with refundability up to time of departure. The resolution also provides for an introductory promotional offer of $10 one-way and $20 round trip. Volume discounts also may be available for groups of up to eight people traveling together. [.pdf of resolution establishing fare structure]

AATA CEO Michael Ford has previously described the intent of the service to provide 12 daily trips each way, with a very limited number of stops, in order to achieve a trip time of around 40-45 minutes.

The board previously authorized the negotiation of the contract with Indian Trails. A resolution separate from the one setting fares establishes a two-year contract with Indian Trails at a cost of $2.56 per service mile, with the total cost for the contract not more than $700,000 per year.

Including stops, the AATA has previously described an airport route as long as 70 miles round trip. [On I-94, it's roughly 51 roundtrtip miles from downtown Ann Arbor to the entrance of Detroit Metro.] At the lower end of the regular fare offered on a 70-mile round trip, the service would need to average around eight passengers per bus to cover the cost of the Indian Trails contract on fares alone. [(70*2.56)/22 = 8.14] [.pdf of board information packet]

The Feb. 16 AATA board meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in the fourth-floor boardroom of the downtown Ann Arbor District Library, 343 S. Fifth Ave.

Wall Eyes Ann Arbor Mayoral Campaign

UM Regents OK NHL Use of Stadium

Rezoning Denial Recommended on South U.

UM Regents to Hold Special Meeting

Council OKs Wastewater Treatment Contract

Ann Arbor Council OKs Re-Funding Bonds

Old Media Watch

UM: Lacrosse

The New York Times profiles the University of Michigan men’s lacrosse team, and its transition from a club to a varsity sport. “Although women’s varsity teams have cropped up at high-profile Football Bowl Subdivision universities like Florida and Southern California in recent years, men’s programs have been elusive quarry. Michigan, which opens its inaugural varsity season Sunday, is one of 13 F.B.S. colleges with a men’s lacrosse team — and the first to add the sport since President Reagan took office. The expansion of Division I men’s lacrosse, which is not a revenue sport, at F.B.S. universities has been hindered largely by high overhead costs and Title IX compliance. Michigan leapt these hurdles with a grass-roots approach.” [Source]

A2: Domestic Partners

UM: Muslim Chaplain

UM: Emergency Manager Panel

Washtenaw: Kitchen Incubator

Washtenaw County’s office of community and economic development is considering starting a a food system workforce development program and commercial kitchen incubator. An online survey is collecting information about existing and potential businesses that could be helped by this initiative. Questions include ”What stage of development is your food-based business?” “What activities would you use a shared-used commercial kitchen for?” and “What business services would you need or desire in a shared use kitchen?” [Source]

Washtenaw: Hoekstra

Washtenaw: Crime Map

A2: Arts Alliance

A2: Fuller Road Station

A2: Business

A2: Awesome Award