Last Tuesday night, following a referendum in Ann Arbor, approval was given to enable the expansion of transit services in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township in Michigan, USA. We are delighted to hear of the news that the plan for expansion received majority support from Ann Arbor’s residents.
In 2012, Steer Davies Gleave completed the Transit Master Plan for the city of Ann Arbor and its wider county in Michigan. This included the development of an implementation plan for an expanded service and also a funding structure for the plan.
With federal funding capped, local funding was required to pass the plan but this required a majority vote from the local community in a referendum. The referendum took place last week and the final vote showed 71 percent in support for Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority’s proposal.
The yes vote means that the transit authority can raise $4.4m of new revenue per year from the extra millage collected in Ann Arbor and an expanded urban area. This extra income will allow some 40% increase in the level of transit services.