AAATA’S FORMER CEO Michael Ford was hired because he had experience with light rail. In the end, he was unable to do little more than spend money on staff time, studies, marketing and consultants aimed at determining when and how the WALLY light rail system between Ann Arbor and Livingston County should be implemented. Never mind that Livingston County politicians have repeatedly refused to partner on the costs of operating the WALLY, AAATA’s CEO nonetheless budgeted funds for the project because the AATA and then AAATA Board members instructed him to pursue light rail. They did so because former Mayor John Hieftje had appointed to the AATA and then AAATA Boards his political allies who were prepared to take their marching orders from an individual with an undergraduate degree in political science from EMU and no professional experience or education in the field of transit.
Michael Ford is off to run the Regional Transit Authority (RTA), whose last director resigned because legislators refused to allocate money sufficient to implement regional transit. The AAATA was made a part of the RTA by Gov. Snyder thanks to the political efforts of County Commissioner Conan Smith. Now, the AAATA Board is searching for a new CEO.
We believe any individual considered for the position must have extensive experience running a bus transit system economically and efficiently. While the individuals appointed to the AATA and AAATA Boards prefer to look 10 years down the road, Ann Arbor residents recently approved a new transit millage which is supposed to increase the frequency of service. It appears, however, AAATA Board members did not anticipate, or were not told of all of the additional costs associated with any increased frequency. For instance, the law requires rides for handicapped passengers to be increased. This means AAATA was obligated to purchase the services of taxis to provide those rides at a cost of over $10 million total over the next three years.
We believe AAATA must hire a CEO who has the education, skill and experience to implement the transit plan AAATA’s Board and former CEO sold to the public in exchange for the new millage. The public was sold enhanced transit and must get the services promised for the time period additional tax dollars are paid.