ANN ARBOR, MI – The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide) has announced a public engagement period to learn more about and provide feedback on TheRide’s Service Standards. TheRide is accepting public feedback April 15 – May 23.

In line with Title VI guidelines overseen by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), TheRide and all other transit agencies create service standards and guidelines to help inform how various types of public transportation services are provided to riders. Transit agencies are required to produce data-based standards which monitor services to prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, color, or national origin. 

TheRide is undertaking a project to review and make recommendations for updating its Standards based on current industry best practices and changing local environment to better address the needs of the community, including service availability (coverage), on-time performance, frequency of service, hours of operation, bus stop spacing and amenities, passenger loads (overcrowding), and service productivity, among others. Any future major service changes will take these standards into account. Service standards are reviewed every three years as part of the Title VI Program.

“As transit agencies, we must make difficult decisions regarding what service improvements can be made within our budget,” said Forest Yang, Deputy CEO of Planning and Innovation at TheRide. “We are asking our current and potential riders to tell us what they think should be prioritized when we consider future service improvements. For example, are you willing to walk farther to a bus stop if that bus runs more frequently?” 

“Service improvements come at a tradeoff, and we want to know what people think is more important,” continued Forest Yang. “We’re looking forward to sharing the updated Standards based on the community’s feedback and comments.”

The public input period runs April 15 – May 23. The public is encouraged to provide feedback in a number of ways:

• Visit TheRide-Engage.org to review the Service Standards and provide your feedback via an online survey
• Attend TheRide’s May 15 Board of Directors meeting
  Thursday, May 15 6:30-9:00 PM
  Riverside Arts Center
  76 N Huron St.
  Ypsilanti, MI 48197
• Write a letter:
  Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority
  Attn: Service Standards Feedback 
  2700 S. Industrial Highway
  Ann Arbor, MI 48104
• Call:
  734-794-1882
• Email: Planning@TheRide.org  

The latest information on TheRide’s routes, schedules and detours is available at 734-996-0400 and on TheRide.org.

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