WAVE requests additional funding

Screenshot of shuttle driving across Manchester Main Street Bridge from video highlighting WAVE shuttle service between Chelsea and Manchester.

by Marsha Chartrand

Funding is always a concern for transportation programs in the western Washtenaw area, but with recent federal and state cuts coming ever closer to home, the Western Washtenaw Area Value Express (WAVE) finds itself even further in jeopardy as they face the coming year. Marie Gress, executive director of WAVE, visited the Manchester City Council meeting on February 17 to request that the City help share funding for the program, which is seeing an ever-increasing ridership from Manchester residents to date.

In 2024, WAVE requested, and received, a contribution of $2,500 from the City. This year’s ask has doubled to $5,000.

“The current buy-in rate (for new users to the WAVE service) is $10,000,” Gress explained, “but we didn’t feel that it was fair to request that large of an increase in one year. Our (actual) need is for an investment of $27,000 per year.”

From one vehicle servicing the western Washtenaw area in 1976, WAVE now operates 15 vehicles with door-to-door services to reach all of western Washtenaw County and beyond. They have recently expanded their hours from 5:30am to 9:30pm and their ridership to Grass Lake, Waterloo, Unadilla, Putnam Township, and Pinckney.

In the 2022 fiscal year (FY), Manchester residents (living in Manchester Township and the-then Village combined) took 586 rides on the WAVE bus. In FY 2023, that number nearly doubled, with a recorded number of 1,115 rides. For FY 2024, that number made a healthy increase to 1,262 with 88% of riders coming from within the City. Manchester is the fifth-most utilized community of all the areas served by WAVE. Trips are taken for wellness and medical purposes, groceries, work, and education. Four out of 10 riders were 60+ in age and about half of all riders have a disability.

“Young to old, able-bodied to people with disabilities, single to family, wealthy to low-income — all have access to transportation,” says the WAVE website. Reasons given for riding WAVE include cost savings, safety, and maintaining a community connection. It can even be used for group trips on a limited basis.

There are no barriers at WAVE — give them a call at 734-475-9494 or email bookmyride@wavebus.org to make your reservation.

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.