AATA moves forward to rebuild Blake Transit Center

In making the announcement of the upcoming demolition and rebuilding of the BTC, CEO Michael Ford said, “After weighing the options very carefully, we have determined that it is in the best interest of our passengers and employees and the best use of the available funding to demolish the BTC and build a new structure on the available property,” Ford said.

Ridership has almost doubled in the 22 years since the original construction of the public transit facility, resulting in more than 5,000 passengers now using the BTC daily for waiting, boarding, transferring, customer information and security, and employees using the break area. Downtown Ann Arbor is the destination for more than 2,500 individuals using the facility each day.

The estimated cost to rebuild the BTC is between $2,758,500 and $3,757,000. AATA received approval for federal and state grants to renovate or rebuild its downtown transit center in 2005. The funds are designated for use only for capital expenditures such as facilities and buses, and cannot be used to directly operate transit service, Ford said.

Ford explained that AATA may lose some or all of the state and federal grant money if it does not have a project in place by September 30, 2010, when the $402,003 in state funds are due to expire after a two-year extension was granted. There is no expiration on the federal grant of $1,608,012, but a local match is required.

Additional funds totaling $918,750 need to be put into an approved grant or they will be lost, Ford added.

“The BTC is essential to public transportation in Ann Arbor and its location in the downtown area is the most efficient as the center of our pulsing radial route system. AATA wants to maintain a strong presence downtown to provide our passengers with the most modern, comfortable, safe and convenient facilities possible,” Ford said.

“This facility allows transfers to be made without passengers having to cross city streets. The BTC serves as an Ann Arbor Police Department mini-station for the southwest quadrant of downtown and also enables some 75 bus drivers to take their breaks and eat their lunches each day.”

DLZ, a professional engineering, architectural and contract management firm was hired to evaluate the facility and make recommendations for either rehabilitation of the current structure to extend its life for five more years, improve and slightly expand the existing facility, or demolish the BTC and build a newly designed facility to serve the public for years to come.

“In analyzing the current structure, DLZ found that many critical repairs would be needed to the existing facility,” Ford said, “including replacement of equipment that is beyond its life expectancy, and deteriorating concrete pavement, structural columns and roofing. The current building does not allow for expansion to meet our growing needs, nor does it provide AATA with alternate meeting areas to better engage the public.”

Among other concerns that DLZ identified were the need for a new fire suppression system and an upgrade of the facility to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Cost estimates were developed for each of the approaches, as well as for demolition and rebuilding on a larger footprint, should that opportunity arise.

The new transit center will be designed to include an interactive public lobby/waiting room with a capacity of 60-75 people, information kiosks, a concession space, expanded public restrooms, a public board room accommodating 60-75 guests, a computer room, an improved employee lounge area and additional facility storage space.

In approving a resolution to move forward, the AATA Board of Directors stated its intention that the new BTC be designed and built to take maximum advantage of the present site, incorporate environmentally friendly concepts and include all functional areas now provided by the current facility, plus additional space for new uses, and be flexible in order to take advantage of possible opportunities for future expansion.

Ford said, “While AATA moves forward to update its downtown facility, it will also continue to develop other transfer facilities around our service area. For instance, we are working cooperatively with the University of Michigan on a new Central Campus Facility -- scheduled for completion next year -- that will provide facilities for waiting passengers and will help coordinate transfers between our two systems.”

Ford added that planning work continues on the future intermodal facility at Fuller Road where transfers would be made for North Ann Arbor and potentially between AATA and Amtrak trains. Plans are also under way to develop an off-street transfer facility on Washtenaw Avenue near US 23.

“AATA will make every effort during the course of the BTC project to relocate the services now available there, to minimize disruption to our customers and operate in a manner that is both safe and convenient for both the public and our employees,” Ford said.

Questions on the BTC project may be directed to AATA at aatainfo@theride.org.

The latest information on AATA routes, schedules and detours is available at 734.996.0400 and on the AATA Routes and Schedules page.

The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority was chartered in 1969 by the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan, as a special-purpose unit of government. AATA is supported through local, state and federal funds, and fare box revenues. AATA operates 27 public transit routes, paratransit services and carpool-vanpool matching and other transportation services to facilitate mobility throughout the urbanized areas of Washtenaw County.