It's almost spring, and transit centers are sprouting in Ann Arbor

Wednesday, February 24, 2010 | Source: Concentrate

Transit centers are now development du jour in Ann Arbor. The University of Michigan recently unveiled plans to develop its own student-transit center. This plan joins others in the works for the Blake Transit Center, Fuller Road Station and the new stop for the Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter rail line.

"Having these stations really transforms our community," says Nancy Shore, executive director of the getDowntown program. "It's really changing the environment so people can be more comfortable when they use these other forms of transportation."

The Central Campus Transit Center plan consists of rebuilding the bus shelters and widening North University between Fletcher and Church streets (next to the U-M Chemistry building). The wider street will accommodate an extra lane of traffic for bus-drop-offs, bikes and pedestrians. It will be utilized by both the university bus system and the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority.

The $4.5 million project was designed by the U-M Dept of Architecture and Hubbell, Roth & Clark. Construction will begin shortly and finish by this fall.

Other anticipated projects include a recreation of the city's Depot Street Amtrak train station on the city's near north side to accommodate traffic from the Detroit-Ann Arbor commuter rail line; a multi-modal transit center on Fuller Road next to U-M Hospital to serve trains, buses, cars, bikes and pedestrians; and a redevelopment of AATA's downtown Blake Transit Center.

Source: University of Michigan and Nancy Shore, executive director of the getDowntown program
Writer: Jon Zemke