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Survey Says Voters Approve Tax Hike for More Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority Service

Facebook/TheRide

A recent survey finds area voters would support a tax hike to help fund the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority's five year transit plan.  

63 percent of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Ypsilanti Township voters polled would probably or definitely vote for a new tax of less than one mill for additional service.  The survey was conducted in October through December for the AAATA.

The AAATA board could vote later this month to place a five year point-seven mill proposal on the ballot sometime this year.  If approved this would raise $4.3 million annually and cost home-owners in the three communities $35 per $100,000 of market value.  

 
The funds could pay for additional hours of evening and weekend service, bus stop improvements, and more services for seniors and people with disabilities.
 

TheRide, will use the additional funding to fulfill residents’ requests for enhanced services in the three communities, including: Expanded Dial-A-Ride/Paratransit services for seniors and people with disabilities More direct service through redesigned routes Extended hours on weekdays and nights Extended weekend service on fixed routes (earlier start times, much later end times) Improved bus stops Increased service frequency on many routes

 
Click here for the AAATA press release on the survey.

— Andrew Cluley is the Ann Arbor beat reporter, and anchor for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at 734.487.3363 or email him acluley@emich.edu.

Like many, I first came to this area when I started school at the University of Michigan, then fell in love with the community and haven’t left. After graduating from U of M in the mid 1990’s I interned at WDET for several years, while also working a variety of jobs in Ann Arbor. Then in 1999 I joined the WEMU news team.
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