Are you happy with the current bus routes? Are you satisfied with the current bus routes? Let’s AAATA forward…NOT BACKWARDS!! Let’s vote YES for the bus route expansion!

Looking ahead to a new name for AAATA…WCTA (Washtenaw County Transit Agency)!

The largest population of bus users are those who can, indeed, afford the small fare increase that would be more than enough to cover the free rides given to those who have no other choice. A small fare increase, combined with more efficient operation would also pay for the minor expansions of the system asked for. Downtown commuters, and University employees – are these the people who have no other choice? No, they ride because it’s a good deal, since their commute is subsidized by the rest of us.

And what of the other communities who need economic development opportunity and transit operating funds more than Ann Arbor? What about cities like Flint, Detroit, and Saginaw? Is it not selfish of our transit users and transit authority to demand MORE! – to raise and spend as much money as possible -adding on to an already decent system -even though this takes State and Federal matching funds away from other more needy communities? How is this not selfish? More Buses! More Places! More Tax Dollars! Give us More! Sounds pretty selfish to me.

So far, no public official who has any doubt about the millage has been willing to say anything. AAATA and its companions in millage promotion have emphasized that if you’re not for the millage, you’re not a worthwhile person.

If, after all this pumping, the millage doesn’t pass, it’s going to be a slap in the face for the subsided growth coalition.

The AAATA is a Public Act 55 transit authority. PA 55 requires transit authorities to seek renewal of their millage at least every 5 years. By doing so, the transit authority must ask voters: “How are we doing?”

The AATA (and now AAATA) has historically received its funding through our City Charter transit millage, which does not require renewal. Thus, AATA has never had to face a millage renewal or ask about what voters think of their performance.

I think this is an opportunity for elected officials to step back and listen to what the voters have to say about AAATA and this millage. What better way to learn what the voters think than to let them vote as they wish on a ballot issue like this?

With all of the high powered endorsements, we may not be able to get a clear picture of what voters really think. Looking at the endorsement list, it seems a lot like the list of library bond supporters. If the millage fails, will it be attributed to the list of supporters? If the millage prevails, can it be taken as a clear expression of support for the efficacy of the AAATA?

I was disappointed to receive a mailing from the millage proponents that characterized the opposition as Tea Party members. I thought we learned last year that name calling of that kind is wholly ineffective. Why can’t we have civil discussion of issues?

The only other indication I have seen recently is 5th Ward candidate Leon Bryson’s opinion piece in the Ann Arbor News, in which he asks for more open, civil dialogue, but does not express his own opinion regarding support of or opposition to the millage itself.

Two days later, at a May 1 mayoral candidate forum hosted by the Main Street Area Association, Petersen came out in support of the millage: “I am happy to say that I am supporting the millage on May 6 and will vote yes. We need better public transportation to alleviate parking issues downtown.”

Kunselman: “As mayor, we need to support local transit…Commuter rail to Detroit when the City of Detroit went from 2 million people down to less than 700,000 or so – it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to a broader range of people. ”

Petersen: “I am saying I am leaning towards supporting [the local transit millage] right now, but I am a little bit still on the fence…I live in a ward where there is quite a bit of opposition to the transit millage…[on pedestrian safety ordinance] We need to look at other solutions other than requiring cars to stop for pedestrians waiting on the crosswalk.”

Taylor: “I believe that more buses more often is a good and I am a hearty supporter of the upcoming millage…I think also the mayor has a role in supporting and moving forward the conversation about expanded rail services to the city…Folks from the west, from the north, coming into town, not driving, coming into employment centers, this is great for us all.”

Briere: “Public transit is not a local issue. Public transit is a regional issue. It’s about people coming to Ann Arbor, people leaving Ann Arbor. It’s about the relationships between the various communities in southeast Michigan. It is the mayor’s obligation to see the big picture…And then, if you can’t support transit, then there is something really seriously wrong.”

(and for comparisons, the second link is Madison, WI (notice how Madison’s cost per mile is falling yearly, whereas AAATA keeps rising)

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