From the Ann Arbor Chronicle: “AATA to Focus on Ypsi Cost Cuts.”
Looming on a six-week horizon for Ypsilanti is the renewal of its Purchase of Service Agreement with the AATA – at a price slated for 10% higher each year over the next three years to make the agreement match actual costs. That’s the context in which three out of seven Ypsilanti city councilmembers appeared at the AATA board meeting on Wednesday.
Their collective message: Recognize the fiscal constraints on Ypsilanti, focus on the 30 years of a positive AATA-Ypsilanti partnership, and find ways to cut costs of the service without cutting service levels. Their message resonated with AATA board members, who seemed more inclined to find creative ways to cut costs than to use federal stimulus dollars to simply make up the gap. Part of that creative approach could include closing the Ypsilanti Transit Station.
I don’t ride the bus much, but I know plenty of EMU folks who do. So hopefully, the AATA and Ypsi will be able to work this out.
Ypsilanti City Council has made the first move by requesting a reduction of service by resolution on 9/08/09; elimination of route #5 and shortened hours for #10 and #11 serving the southern side of the city.