The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (AAATA), branded as TheRide, is the public transit system serving the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti area in the U.S. state of Michigan. In fiscal year 2021 (October 2020 – October 2021), the system had a ridership of 1,725,797.
History
The AAATA was the first transit authority in the United States to operate low-floor buses when, in early 1993, they took delivery of ten New Flyer D40LF buses. In terms of operation, only two Canadian authorities and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey operated such buses prior to the AAATA.
In November 2012, the AATA broke ground on the new Blake Transit Center, at a cost of $8.1 million. The new 2-story, 12,019-square-foot downtown transit hub replaced a one-story structure built at the site at 328 South Fifth Avenue in the 1980s. The new Blake Transit Center was officially opened for use on July 7, 2014. The D2A2 bus provides service from the Blake Transit Center to downtown Detroit.
In August 2013, the agency's board voted to change its name from the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) to the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (AAATA). The name change reflects the addition of neighboring Ypsilanti to the agency board and the growing focus on regional services within Washtenaw County's urban core. In December 2013, the Ann Arbor City Council approved adding Ypsilanti Township as a charter member of the AAATA.
Operations
Fixed routes
The authority mainly operates fixed-route bus service within its service area. Two transit centers, the Blake Transit Center (BTC) in downtown Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti Transit Center (YTC) in downtown Ypsilanti, serve as the system's main hubs; the system also services a number of park and ride facilities in the area. Routes that travel between the BTC and YTC (called "Inter-urbans") are numbered in the single digits. Routes that begin at the BTC and serve Ann Arbor neighborhoods (called Local services, or "loops") are numbered 22–34. Similar routes in Ypsilanti that begin at the YTC are numbered 42–47. Routes that connect neighborhoods but do not serve either transit center are numbered 62–68.
Current routes
Effective June 2023.
TheRide's fixed routes are supplemented by bus services operated by the University of Michigan.
Paratransit and shuttles
TheRide also operates the ARide paratransit system and ArtFairRide and FootballRide event shuttles. It oversees the iShareARide and VanRide carpooling services. The system also formerly ran a free Link Bus connecting central campus and downtown during the U-M school year until 20 August 2009.
The AAATA is also the designated authority for the proposed Ann Arbor-Howell commuter rail line.
Non-managerial and non-administrative workers at the TheRide are union members, organized in Local 171 of the Transport Workers Union of America.
Fleet
TheRide currently operates a mix of Gillig Low Floor and Nova Bus LFS buses on its fixed routes. The system's buses run on B12 biodiesel, and many are diesel-electric hybrid units. The AAATA has 55 hybrid electric buses in its fleet and, in 2007, became the first public transit operator in the Midwest to state its intention to convert to all hybrid electric buses, though these plans never came to fruition.
In 2022, the AAATA began exploring a series of plans to replace its entire diesel-powered fleet with battery-electric or hydrogen fuel cell-powered buses by 2035.
Fares
AAATA uses a fixed-fare system. Full fare on fixed-route buses is $1.50, payable by cash or tokens. University of Michigan students, faculty, and staff with a valid yellow Mcard ride for free. Reduced cash fares and discounted passes and tokens are also available, with children under 6, registered seniors 65 years of age and over, and TheRide employees riding for free. 1-day and 30-day unlimited-ride passes are available for $3.00 and $45 respectively.
Transfers are free, and are valid for unlimited connections to fixed-route buses for 90 minutes, including return trips on the same route. They are not valid for event shuttles, or AirRide.
FootballRide and ArtFairRide shuttles have the same $1.50 fare as normal service. Passes and transfers are not accepted, and reduced fares are not available.