2024 TDM Excellence Awardee: Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority
Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority
2024 Transportation Provider TDM Excellence Awardee
ACT was thrilled to recognize 2024 TDM Excellence Award winner Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority at the TDM Forum in Charlotte, NC this week. Read below to learn about their impact and accomplishments!
The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority, also known as "TheRide," has been a vital transportation service provider in Ann Arbor, Michigan, since 1969. As a founding partner of the getDowntown program, TheRide has promoted sustainable transportation in the area for over 25 years.
In 1999, the Authority launched the getDowntown program with local government and business groups to address downtown parking limitations. The program's go!pass, distributed to over 400 businesses, helped reduce solo commutes and increase bus usage among employees. By 2001, it evolved to support multiple commuting options like walking, biking, carpooling, and telecommuting.
In 2009, getDowntown staff integrated with TheRide, and the program has since become a central resource for transportation solutions. Prior to the pandemic, over 600,000 trips were made using go!passes, significantly easing downtown parking demands. While flexible work and biking options have decreased bus demand, thousands of employees and hundreds of employers still participate in the go!pass program.
While participation and awareness of programs is still adjusting to the new flexible work environment, strong 2023 participation shows the program offerings are still utilized.
Between November 2022 – October 2023, the go!pass program had nearly 250 participating downtown organizations, more than 20,000 bus rides each month, and almost 1,800 go!passes used on buses.
The success of the go!pass program has led to similar initiatives in the Ann Arbor area including exceptional pass, which provides bus passes to high school students, MRide, which allows University of Michigan students and staff to ride Ann Arbor buses for free, and the MyCommuter Card, which was created with a relocated company to offer employees unlimited bus rides.
The Authority is a great example of how public transit agencies can be a catalyst for change within their communities. Congratulations to this year's Transportation Provider awardee!
Learn more about the TDM Excellence Awards
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2024 TDM Excellence Awards sponsored by:
