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4 GROUNDCOVER NEWS TRANSIT Is the Fare Deal, fair? Increasing non-car transportation is a priority of the City of Ann Arbor. (Strategy 4 of A2ZERO focuses on reducing the vehicle miles we travel by at least 50%.) It has abundant positive outcomes, from helping achieve carbon neutrality to reducing traffic congestion. A group of shelter volunteers, staff and community members have identified that a key group of potential bus riders are being left behind in the bus system's recent investments and expansions: people experiencing homelessness in urban Washtenaw County. This group is attempting to negotiate free bus fare for guests of daytime and overnight warming centers. With the stated goal of making “the bus more accessible for folks who frequent the warming centers and beyond,” the group has sent email correspondence to TheRide and attended both the Ann Arbor Transit Authority's and the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority's meetings. The group’s ask from them is simple: free bus rides in the winter for anyone who needs transportation in the cold. In an email to TheRide, they articulated the situation as such: “Between the two Daytime Warming Centers, there are roughly 150-200 people who visit on any given day. Every day we are able to allocate just 20 tokens (10 at each location) to give out, but most days we give out 20-60 tokens, relying on unpredictable donations. We buy the 20 from donated funds, and any extra is from community members who buy tokens on their own accord, or warming center staff who buy tokens from their own paychecks. “For context, the warming centers' day to day expenses rely solely on donations. The Shelter Association pays staffing costs. This year, we have budgeted for $5,000 in donations; this is for tokens as well as any supplies we need to buy or unforeseen expenses. If 100 people needed a token per day, this would cost $150 per day. This is $750 per week, $3000 per month or $15,000 from November through March. As it stands, even with just 20 tokens per day, over half of our operating costs go towards bus tokens. Evidently, even with popular community support for the warming centers to exist, we simply cannot afford the transportation costs. “That we can only afford 20 tokens per day creates a daily situation in which warming center guests struggle to make it to their next location. The inconsistency is really difficult for our guests and even being able to consistently give out a baseline of 40 tokens a day instead of 20 would dramatically and has just stuck to the resources accessible on foot in Ypsilanti. Still, even when people can overLINDSAY CALKA Publisher improve guests' ability to get out of the cold and maintain the daily functions of living. Cost aside, we also find that the AAATA is often in short supply of tokens when we are able to go and buy them; this means warming center staff and volunteers are making very frequent (multiple times a week) trips to buy tokens. When we are out of tokens, staff and volunteers may drive guests to their next location, but the need for transportation is something we are not able to meet in a sustainable way.” If TheRide cannot fufill their request, the group requested alternative supports until TheRide can secure a longer term, fare-free program in Washtenaw: 100 free tokens per week from the AAATA, 50% off tokens if they purchase in bulk, and free rides on bus routes that the warming centers operate on. Existing reduced fare programs are not accessible The Ride already offers many programs that make riding the bus lowcost, depending on age, income and disability. GoldRide is a service for seniors aged 65 or older that allows them to travel for free on fixed route buses with a GoldRide I.D. card. Most prominent in the homeless community is TheRide's Fare Deal Card program where individuals who qualify and have the corresponding AAATA I.D. can ride at half the cost. In order to obtain a card one must drop off an application and other eligibility documents at the AAATA's main office on Industrial Hwy. — not the downtown transit centers. The four warming center guests I interviewed while writing this article are all eligible for either the Fare Deal or A-Ride program, but none have been able to acquire the AAATA I.D. needed to access the discounted fare. For Jay, he needs a doctor to sign off paperwork verifying his disabilities. "That requires getting the paperwork together, making an appointment with a doctor and then getting to the AAATA office," he clarified. Ray is unfamiliar with Ann Arbor come the barriers of "providing proof," half-fare ($0.75/ride or $3.00 day pass) is unaffordable to many people experiencing homelessness in Washtenaw County. The Daytime Warming Center's practice of distributing bus fare to guests is not unique. Local agencies, nonprofits, community organizations and generous individuals are barely able to fill this transportation gap. What other local agencies provide MISSION's Weather Amnesty program at Purple House provides one full-fare token to each guest per day. This ensures they are able to safely leave the shelter in the morning, which is located on the east side of Ann Arbor. MISSION reported being on pace to spend $1,500 during the 2025-26 winter season. Groundcover News offers Go!Passes to vendors who sell 75 or more copies of each issue, as they are downtown workers — no different than those who the program was designed for. Groundcover vendors report being able to irregularly access bus fare at the Delonis Center and Community Mental Health Annex on 4th Avenue. The Ypsilanti District Library provides bus tokens and passes through their Library Care Coordination program. From June 2 to Dec. 9, at least 1,175 bus tokens and passes were requested by patrons and distributed. Library Social Worker Kay Layton has taken strides to overcome patrons' barriers to access reduced fare programs by training YDL librarians so more people can authorize AAATA eligibility paperwork. What other cities do Monroe County (Rochester, N.Y.): The RTS Code Blue program in Monroe County, New York provides transportation to warming centers for unhoused individuals during extreme cold weather, specifically when temperatures drop below 32 degrees. During "Code Blue months," individuals can request free transportation via RTS to a warming shelter in Rochester at any bus stop. If the nearest shelter is on a bus route, the bus will transport them directly there; if not, they will be taken to the RTS Transit Center, where an employee will assist them to the appropriate shelter. This program aims to ensure that no one is left out in the cold during harsh winter conditions. "Each year, our focus is simple; no one should be left out in the cold,” said Monroe County Department of Human Services Commissioner Thalia Wright. “Since July, our DHS team has worked tirelessly with government and community partners, meeting biweekly with a dedicated planning team, including the City of Rochester, Partners Ending Homelessness, health systems, outreach programs and homeless service providers to prepare for this Code Blue season. These continued collaborations, including our partnership with RTS to offer free transportation to warming shelters, reflect the compassion and coordination of our community response.” More information about this initiative here: www.monroecounty.gov/ news-2025-11-19-blue Eugene, Ore. (Lane Transit District) offers free rides when the temperature drops under 30 degrees. Free rides are available for people going to and from a warming center, only during days and times that the warming center is open. In Tacoma, Wash. "Free round trips are available throughout the day and evening for passengers who tell the driver they are traveling to or from a warming center or shelter," said Rebecca Japhet, Communications Manager for Pierce Transit. More than just a warm ride I asked what warming center guests what they would do if they had free bus transportation around Ann Arbor and Ypsi. The responses suggest free fare would be life-saving beyond just the winter months. Jay: "Get around to apply for jobs, and get there on time." Fred: "Work." D: "Seek a job." Ray: "Get to and from my many medical appointments." Take action The group invites Groundcover readers to join them Tuesday, January 27, 5-7 p.m. at Detroit Street Filling Station for GetDowntown, TheRide, DDA and the City of Ann Arbor's "Conquer the Cold Challenge Midpoint Mixer" to share support for these proposals. Experiencing homelessness poses more barriers than just being low-income, aging or living with a disability. Urge decision-making parties to include people experiencing homelessness in the conversation on accessible local transportation. JANUARY 9, 2026

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