WAVE expands transportation options with new app, more routes, more services

The Western-Washtenaw Area Value Express (WAVE), which provides door-to-door shuttle service in Manchester, together with its technology partner, MUVE, a leader in mobility solutions, recently announced the launch of a new transportation app platform. This mobility ecosystem application integrates the full suite of MUVE’s technology offering, which includes dispatch mapping, driver in-bus real-time information updates, as well as rider on-demand bookings and fixed route scheduling.

“By collaborating with MUVE, we can now support our community’s options for e-reservations on both door-to-door and accessible fixed route transit,” stated Julia Roberts, WAVE’s Executive Director. “Along with the on-boarding of additional drivers, this new technology lets us now offer a more user-friendly service and try extended weekday demand-responsive service hours, both earlier in the mornings and later in the afternoons, throughout our area.”

“Working in conjunction with WAVE, we’ve been able to create an elevated mobility standard for Washtenaw County that improves access, reliability, and inclusivity in transportation solutions for people of all abilities,” said Anthony W. Shannon, co-Founder and Technology Lead of MUVE.

This project, part of the Michigan Mobility Challenge, was funded in partnership with the Michigan Department of Transportation and Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, enhances a variety of mobility solutions such as shared rides to work and non-emergency medical transportation services for everyone.

MUVE, (My Universal Vision for Everyone), a Canadian-based technology provider, has been working to help provide “crisper, smoother technology” to help create a more efficient and creative network for transportation for both disabled and able-bodied people. Peter Grande, co-Founder of MUVE, explained that after the past two years of social isolation, people really need to find reasons to get out, reestablish relationships with loved ones, businesses, and their communities. “It’s not unique to Michigan, but that’s where we are working to create that network,” he said. “We want to partner with the communities providing services, and give them a platform to collaborate on; an ecosystem to surround them.”

Grande acknowledges that this is a “big concept,” and that this is trying something brand new. “But when transportation is no longer a barrier, people can confidently start making plans, they can get involved … and things will start to happen,” he says. He sees Washtenaw County, and Michigan as a whole, as innovative and forward thinking, and a great place to start making this project a success.

Roberts, WAVE’s Executive Director, is equally happy to be partnering with MUVE as WAVE seeks to grow its services, including in Manchester.

“Our vision is that MUVE will assist WAVE in serving all communities, including Manchester, by providing passengers increased access to safe, accessible, and affordable transportation at their fingertips, while helping us to increase ridership,” she says. “Over recent months, WAVE has increased weekday door-to-door hours to from 6 am to 6:30 pm instead of our previous time of 8 am to 4:15 pm. In August 2021, we added new stops in downtown Manchester and at Chi Bro Park, expanded our area to serve people within a three-mile radius of downtown Manchester, and updated our bus stop signs to be larger for greater visibility. In the future we are looking into replacing our older diesel and gas buses with a fully electric fleet..

Roberts believes that the WAVE service is highly important to the Manchester community because, “Some of Manchester’s essential and community services went away during the COVID-19 pandemic — including fresh groceries — making it difficult for people here get to healthful support needed. WAVE recently partnered with the new Acorn Farmer’s Market in the fall of 2021 to welcome community engagement for greater awareness of free shuttle services to Chelsea with connections to rides throughout Washtenaw County, and planning ahead for the future. Having transit that connects people in Manchester with much needed resources in neighboring places, allows better quality of life, and we are happy that we can be of service for everyone.”

Roberts and WAVE’s new community relations coordinator, Kai Mann, explained that while WAVE currently does not have a social media presence, that is under development and in coordination with the MUVE app (which is available on both Apple and Android platforms), that will help to promote the services that WAVE provides — not only to seniors but to adults and young people who are using social media, just to get out awareness that their services are for everyone, and it’s not just trips to Chelsea that are available … although the Chelsea trips are free. Other connector trips anywhere in the county are also available for a very reasonable fee, and can be negotiated for those with income restrictions.

For more information about WAVE, call WAVE Dispatch at (734) 475-9494 to reserve a ride on the door-to-door buses. Dispatchers are available to take your calls Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4:15 pm. Hours are also being expanded shortly.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.