Ann Arbor Transportation Authority

Key discussions during the meeting included public commentary regarding local transit rider experiences, such as missed buses and signage issues, with a specific suggestion to relocate the Westgate Library bus stop. The Board accepted the Consent Agenda, which included committee meeting summaries and the approval of an MDOT Grant Application. Significant time was dedicated to updates from the Ownership Linkage Task Force concerning recent meetings with the City of Ypsilanti. A presentation provided details on the University of Michigan's UM 2050 campus plan, focusing on transit-specific aspects like dedicated bus lanes. The Board received the FY2025 Audit Report, which resulted in a clean audit with strong financial stability. The Financial Conditions & Activities monitoring report (Policy 2.5) was accepted, with the Finance Committee tasked to review specific contradictory language in the policy. The Annual Plan of Work for FY 2026 was discussed, with additions recommended for general education topics. Operational updates covered the favorable FY2026 Q1 Financial Report, legislative news, and updates from the CEO regarding MDOT's plan for repaving Washtenaw, which may include a dedicated bus lane. The meeting concluded with a unanimous vote to enter and exit a closed session to discuss strategy connected with the negotiation of a collective bargaining agreement.

The meeting commenced with the approval of the agenda. Following a public comment period focusing on issues such as bus headway frequency, unclear route signage, driver visibility at night, and dangerous pedestrian crossings near the Westgate Library, the Board moved to the consent agenda, which was approved. Updates were provided by the ownership linkage task force regarding a recent discussion with the city of Ypsilanti. The primary presentation covered the University of Michigan's Campus Plan 2050, detailing its focus areas including connectivity and collaboration, and its relationship with TheRide's network plan extending to 2045. Discussion centered on the alignment between the two plans, particularly regarding Bus Rapid Transit corridors, dedicated bus lanes, and the potential for a new Madison Transit Center. The historical context and feasibility of an Automated Transit System (ATS) were also reviewed, emphasizing dedicated bus lanes as an immediate opportunity for improved transit efficiency.

The Board of Directors meeting agenda included several key decision preparation and monitoring items. Decision items covered the approval of the agenda, committee meeting summaries, and approval for an MDOT Grant Application related to bus lanes on Washtenaw Avenue/US-23, which requires urgent authorization for grant submission and design work. Discussion topics included updates from the Ownership Linkage Task Force, education regarding the University of Michigan's Campus Plan 2050, and presentations on the FY2025 Audit, current Financial Conditions, and the FY2026 Q1 Financial Report. Operational updates included legislative status and the CEO Report. The agenda concluded with an Executive Session planned for labor negotiation strategy.

The public update meeting focused on temporary service plan adjustments effective November 22, 2020, and updates to the Title VI plan. Key discussion points regarding the temporary service plan included maintaining financial sustainability, focusing fixed route bus coverage in high ridership areas, utilizing Flexride for lower ridership areas, ensuring high frequency for social distancing, and simplifying routing. Specific route changes involved adjustments to boarding locations at the Blake Transit Center for Routes 22 and 26, routing changes for Route 25 to serve Target along Watters Road, restoration of part of Route 26 east of South Maple Road, and the temporary suspension of Route 62 (U of M State) until January 18, 2021. Flexride East service was expanded to cover areas formerly served by suspended routes and now includes Saturday and Sunday service from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. starting November 22. Fare information was detailed, including the $1.00 per trip cost with free transfers, and discounts for eligible cardholders. The Title VI update, conducted for regulatory compliance, included recommendations for a comprehensive operations analysis and service plan, and the implementation of a language assistance plan involving employee training and the use of an on-demand telephone interpreter service for Limited English Proficiency individuals. Mobile ticketing via the EasyFare app was also introduced.

The meeting commenced with the approval of the agenda, which passed unanimously. Public comment was concluded without any participants. General announcements included positive news regarding a $4.3 million award from the Michigan Talent Partnership Program, with $3.4 million allocated to the BTC project, aiding in the reduction of the budget for the Washtenaw Avenue project. The focus then shifted to the consent agenda, which was approved unanimously. Following this, there was a discussion regarding ownership linkage and an update on the date for city landing. The main segment involved a detailed presentation and discussion on the retreat follow-up concerning the framing of Ends policies. Key themes discussed included the appropriate level of detail for written expectations, emphasizing that Ends should be directional and focused on desired impacts for beneficiaries to empower the CEO's vision rather than focusing on compliance. The interdependence between Ends and Executive Limitations policies was also covered, noting that deeply held shared values should be incorporated into policy. Feedback from committee reviews of the Ends policies was shared, highlighting positive reception to streamlined text and the environmental policy, while also noting uncertainty regarding the proposed changes.