The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority is getting a $1 million windfall in federal grant money to rebuild the Blake Transit Center downtown.
AATA and the city announced Monday that the funds will be used to build a new transit center on the same parcel of land, 331 S. Fourth Ave., replacing the current building with a new, two-story, 6,000-square-foot building. The current one story, 2,000-square-foot structure opened in 1987 and has had difficulties accommodating the increasing number of transit customers; ridership has grown by 60 percent in the last 23 years. About 5,000 bus riders pass through the station each day.
"Many of us -- the DDA, the city, AATA -- are collaborating to try to encourage more people to take advantage of more transportation choices," says Susan Pollay, executive director of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority. "We have a strong use of transit in our town, and what this new transit center will give us is a more attractive building to encourage even more people to take advantage of transit."
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.
The funds come through The State of Good Repair Grant, from the U.S. Department of Transportation, which Congressman John Dingell (D-Dearborn) helped secure. The funds require a state or local match of $253,000.
AATA estimates that the project will cost about $4 million. Construction is expected to start in the spring and be completed around summer of 2012. The current building will remain open during construction.
Source: Ann Arbor Transportation Authority and Susan Pollay, executive director of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority
Writer: Kristin Lukowski
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