When Manchester's County Commissioner Shannon Beeman was running her campaign in 2018, she continually heard about the need for public transit in our area. "Western Washtenaw County tends to be missing from the table at these discussions," she said. "I'm working to change that dynamic."

It was with this in mind that Beeman, who represents Freedom, Sharon, Manchester, Bridgewater, and Saline Townships, along with fellow commissioners Jason Maciejewski (who represents Lyndon, Scio, and Sylvan Townships) and Jason Morgan (who represents the central portion of the City of Ann Arbor), came together to look at creating an effective plan that addresses the transportation challenges facing our area.

The three commissioners are holding a listening session THIS Wednesday, March 11, at 7 pm at the Sharon Township Hall located at 18010 Pleasant Lake Road. This is an excellent opportunity for residents to share their perspectives and concerns about public transportation with our local commissioners.

According to Beeman, this session was brought about not only by recent failed discussions in the Michigan House of Representatives that would have potentially created a Regional Transit Authority to surrounding counties east of us, but also by the changing landscape and needs of western Washtenaw County. "There is a need for expanding access to public transportation," Beeman commented, "from our aging population to connecting (residents) to job opportunities and higher education."

The flyer that was distributed late last week describes it well: "The right transportation system is critical for any community. With continued growth in Washtenaw County, we’re facing transportation challenges that must be addressed with intention, transparency, and full participation from our residents. Creating an effective plan begins with the opportunity for everyone who touches our transportation system to provide valuable input."