By Lisa Carolin
Beginning in January, the WAVE (Western-Washtenaw Area Value Express) free shuttle service will expand to include both morning and afternoon service in Chelsea. The Chelsea Community Ride shuttle is free and stops at locations along the route between major bus stops. The number of loops will increase from three to six daily.
Another change coming is that all buses will say WAVE on them. The currently used Chelsea Retirement Community (CRC) bus will be retired. WAVE, which has its headquarters in Chelsea, works in partnership with the CRC, which provides office space for WAVE employees.
“The WAVE is not only for senior citizens,” said Michaelene Pawlak, executive director of WAVE. “This is for everyone. We transport people to work, to school, for any purpose. Transportation is named as one of the most important elements in keeping a person healthy, employed and empowered to live their life as they would like to live.”
When does one pay for riding the WAVE bus?
“When you call dispatch and reserve a ride on one of our door-to-door bus programs,” said Pawlak, who says that for the first time in a long time, there will be an increase in a one-way reserved ride.
City fares for seniors and disabled people will increase to $2.50, and $5 for all others, with fares outside Chelsea increasing to $3 and $6, respectively.
Another example of when you pay to ride the WAVE is with the LifeLine Community Van program. Pawlak says the most popular destinations in Washtenaw County are to major medical facilities and to Briarwood Mall. She suggests reserving rides in advance just to guarantee that the van is available.
One more example of when you pay to ride the WAVE is the community connector that links Chelsea with Dexter and with AATA (Ann Arbor Transportation Authority) buses at Jackson and Wagner Roads. The first pickup is at 6 a.m. and the last bus arrives back in Chelsea at 7 p.m.
WAVE was created in 1976 as a non-profit service organization that provides affordable transportation to older adults, persons with disabilities, and other transit-dependent people in western Washtenaw County. Half of the WAVE’s budget is raised from cities and townships, personal donations and grants, and the other half comes from the AATA for what is called “rural funding”.
WAVE began with one van and now has a fleet of 10 vehicles-seven buses, two raised roof vans and one ramped minivan. In 1976, WAVE provided 8,500 rides a year. In 2013, that number was 44,373 rides.
Pawlak says that the need just keeps growing for public transportation.
“Chelsea is a mecca of senior living, and we’re just keeping up with the need, especially as the baby boom generation ages,” said Pawlak. “The most popular locations for our riders in Chelsea to go during 2013 were medical appointments, hair appointments, recreational and social activities, and Sunday services.”
For more information on fares and ADA accommodations, or to reserve a ride, call 734-475-9494. For weekday and weekend WAVE Community Connector Bus schedules, click here or here.
