AATA launches pilot phase of Nightride Shuttle for downtown workers

Wednesday, July 16, 2008 | Source: Concentrate

Ann Arbor has worked for years to become a 24-hour destination and now it's offering some services to help facilitate that goal.

The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) is offering a Nightride Shuttle for downtown employees who work in city center's bars and night spots. The idea is to provide convenient transit service for night owl workers who don't want to drive or park downtown to go to their jobs.

"Many of the new businesses opening in the downtown are bars and restaurants," says Nancy Shore, program director for getDowntown. "The need for evening transit service will probably increase in the coming years, so I think this service is coming at an important time."

The shuttle picks employees up at Fourth and Liberty at 11:15 p.m., midnight, 12:45 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. A survey indicates that many of the employees live on the city's west side so the shuttle will drop them off at their home. It can also drop off riders at the Pioneer High School park-and-ride Lot.

For now the shuttle is a pilot program and offered for free thanks to a grant from the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority. AATA will look at expanding the service if there is sufficient demand. So far there were 18 riders in June.

Source: Nancy Shore, program director for getDowntown
Writer: Jon Zemke