ANN ARBOR—The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority’s (AATA) Link downtown circulator resumes service on Aug. 29 after a summer hiatus.

Partnerships with the University of Michigan (U-M) and the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), along with revenue from its new bus advertising program, have made it possible for AATA to revive the Link by combining the service with the daytime and evening portions of the U-M Oxford/Trotter Shuttle.

The Link proved popular during its 20-month trial. Initial use was low, but skyrocketed in the second year, averaging nearly 800 riders a day in the first four months of 2005. Service was discontinued at the end of April because of funding constraints.

Beginning Aug. 29, the Link will return on a revised route with new service hours and a new, published schedule. The service is being funded through
The Link will once again connect the four main downtown retail areas—Main Street, Kerrytown, State Street and South University—with the U-M Central Campus. The route has been expanded to add service to Hill Street, Oxford Housing and Trotter House, replacing the daytime and evening portion of the U-M Oxford/Trotter Shuttle service.

Service on the entire route will run from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Service between Central Campus, Oxford Housing and Trotter House will continue from 6 to 11 p.m., providing service to each stop approximately every 15 minutes.

Late-evening service for Oxford Housing, Trotter House and Central Campus will be provided by U-M Transportation Services from 11 p.m. until 2 a.m., Monday through Friday.

Speaking about the resumption of Link service, CEO/Executive Director Greg Cook said, “AATA is grateful for the support of the University and the DDA in bringing the Link back to downtown Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan campus.

“Over the 2004-05 fall and winter semesters, the Link proved to be successful in attracting riders, and ridership grew rapidly. The Link’s productivity was equal to the AATA system average, meeting our ridership goal for the service.”

“This was a great opportunity for the U-M, AATA and the DDA to pool resources and provide important transit service in a cost-effective way,” said Dave Miller, director of U-M’s Parking and Transportation Services. “Service to Oxford Housing and Trotter House are important to us, and keeping the Link going provides a popular connection from Central Campus to downtown.”

DDA Board Chair Leah Gunn said, “The DDA Board was pleased to support the reopening of the Link in August. This is consistent with our policy of encouraging alternative transportation wherever possible, evidenced by our underwriting of the go!pass, providing bike lockers and bike parking at our facilities and supporting the non-motorized alternatives studies being done in Ann Arbor.”

The average daily weekday ridership on the Link grew from 225 rides during the initial fall season (
Despite its ridership success, Cook said that the Link was suspended from operation at the end of
The return of this successful route was made possible because AATA expects to generate advertising revenue to supplement its funding, which greatly reduces the amount needed from U-M and the DDA to support reinstating the route.

The remainder of the grant will be used to operate the route along with $101,900 in state revenue, $60,000 in AATA revenue from bus advertising, $71,900 from U-M and $22,600 from the DDA, for a total of $314,200 in direct operating costs.

Cook concluded, “Based on our experience with the Link so far, we think this revised service will be successful. The future of the Link will undoubtedly continue to require innovation, but its presence will continue to connect people with the places they need and want to go around downtown Ann Arbor.”

Route and schedule details on the new Link service will be available in mid-
Details about the U-M transit system can be found at www.transportation.umich.edu. Information on late-night U-M service between Oxford/Trotter Housing and Central Campus is available at (734) 763-0661.

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www.transportation.umich.eduDiane Brown