Bus funding eyed in Ypsilanti

By Dan DuChene
May. 20, 2009    ·    3:12 a.m.

Updated 3:40 p.m.

Ypsilanti City Council discussed the future of bussing in the city Tuesday, as the purchase-of-service agreement that provides service has increased in price.

The city had budgeted to fully fund bus service provided by the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority this year, a cost it had budgeted at nearly $160,000. The AATA has risen that cost to nearly $281,000.

Dawn Gabay, interim executive director for AATA, said the organization’s board had decided to pass along all of its operating costs to the municipalities to share. She said AATA used to charge only for the direct costs of fuel and labor.

To make up for the $118,000 shortfall, City Manager Ed Koryzno said the city could lower its contribution to the AATA through decreased service or it could raise the budgeted allotment by finding the funding elsewhere.

Last month, council discussed ways it could stave off cuts to public safety due to a $463,000 shortfall in next year’s budget from tax revenue declines. However, he said the unexpected $1.5 million in unanticipated revenue from this year’s budget could temporarily cover the bussing cost.

Mayor Paul Schreiber said he supports increasing the funding to pay the full amount of the AATA increase. He said cutting routes could impact surrounding townships. He also mentioned the proposed rail stop in Depot Town, and how cutting service “sends a bad message.

“I don’t like the idea here of cutting routes,” he said at the meeting. “I think this is a matter of priority.”

Councilmember Bill Nickels, D-Ward 2, said keeping the funding constant while making reductions elsewhere in the budget does show the city’s high priority on bus transportation.

“When the bottom line is looked at, what are we going to cut to fully fund this?” Councilmember Michael Bodary, D-Ward 2, said. “I cannot see us losing any more public safety.”

Among other options, councilmembers discussed opening discussions with St. Joseph’s Hospital and Eastern Michigan University to share in covering the increase in cost, as well as restructuring existing routes to make them more efficient and cost effective.

Routes three and five were mentioned as potential cuts due to higher operating costs and proximity to other existing routes. To see a map of AATA service in Ypsilanti, click here.

“We’re just kind of nibbling around the edges and we’ve been here before,” Councilmember Peter Murdock, D-Ward 3, said.

Murdock pointed to a discussion at a City Council meeting more than three years ago where AATA representatives and councilmembers had discussed promoting a county millage to fund the bus service throughout the region. Since the meeting, City Council had paid only half of the cost-of-service until this year, when it agreed to fully fund the cost.

“I don’t see any movement on that,” he said at Tuesday’s meeting. “And, here we are, nibbling around the edges again.”

Gabay said, “Our board continues to discuss that.”

She said the AATA wants to get the timing of a millage right, to increase the possibility of the measure passing.

“We’re out of time,” Murdock said. “It would be difficult to pass, but it’s absolutely necessary.”

Councilmember Lois Richardson, D-Ward 1, said the best time would have been when gas prices were above $4 a gallon, as voters might have been more in favor of passing a measure to promote and increase mass transportation.

“I think we missed that window of opportunity,” she said.

Council also discussed the possibility of moving forward with options as an eastern Washtenaw County region.

The AATA bus contract runs from September to October. Council agreed to explore options before coming to a decision at the meeting. Koryzno said he would follow up on City Council’s recommendations and make a report.

AATA representatives said their organization would discuss the matter further and could come back to City Council with options to decide on.