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Transit agency, university and city partners pitch draft bus-lane buildout; commission asked for feedback
Summary
Ride staff and partners presented an aspirational, draft bus-lane plan identifying key corridors (Washtenaw/Huron, State–Plymouth, North University) that could support high-capacity transit and asked the commission to help build support; presenters noted State Street and North University as precedents and ongoing MDOT opportunities.
Representatives of The Ride and partner agencies presented a draft, aspirational plan for dedicated bus lanes across priority corridors in Ann Arbor and asked the Transportation Commission for feedback on coalition-building and public engagement.
Matt (presenter) introduced Raymond Hess, manager of project management and delivery at The Ride. Hess walked the commission through the plan’s policy support (Ride 2045, the city’s Moving Together Toward Vision Zero and new land‑use guidance) and showed corridor inventories that indicate high existing bus service and significant latent capacity on Washtenaw/Huron, State–Plymouth and North University.
Hess said the aggregated numbers are illustrative: when you add existing routes the corridors already carry hundreds to thousands of bus trips daily, and with higher reliability and dedicated lanes the network could move tens of thousands of people per day. He cited State Street’s curbside bus-only lane and a transit signal as an example of a functioning dedicated treatment and noted early work on a similar treatment on North University.
The presentation highlighted MDOT planning studies that include bus-lane alternatives along Washtenaw, and a US‑23 bridge project that could reserve space for future transit lanes. Ride staff described the document as a draft to guide future grant and design work and asked the commission to provide feedback and support as specific projects and MDOT opportunities come up.
Commissioners raised the need to integrate bike facilities, consider painted/high-visibility surfacing and upgraded shelters, and think about programs that create transit riders (for example, fare policies or youth programs). Staff emphasized coordination with the university, the DDA and MDOT and noted that not all corridors will have space for lanes in both directions; project-level design will determine specific tradeoffs.
The commission did not take a formal vote on the draft plan but staff said they will circulate the document for further comments and watch for public comment opportunities from MDOT and other project partners.
