WAVE announces positive service change thanks to support, but door-to-door still reduced

Screenshot of shuttle driving across Manchester Main Street Bridge from video highlighting WAVE’s first service in Manchester, a shuttle service to Chelsea. Mirror file photo.

submitted by WAVE staff

Western-Washtenaw Area Value Express (WAVE) recently announced significant updates to its service schedule, prompted by rising costs and ongoing reductions in federal and state funding. Thanks to some creative support from Chelsea Retirement Community, WAVE will temporarily reinstate the weekend Chelsea Community Ride starting August 30, 2025. This service will remain in place through September 30, 2025, the end of WAVE’s current fiscal year. Continuation beyond that date is dependent on receiving a pending grant from a community foundation as well as the Washtenaw County Older Persons Millage funding in Fiscal Year 2026.

Chelsea Retirement Community (CRC) Executive Director Kathy Russell said, “We are grateful for WAVE and see firsthand how important WAVE services are to support the quality of life for older adults who no longer drive, both those in the community as well as our residents at CRC. Working with WAVE on a short-term solution, we have decided to reallocate nine hours of our monthly Life Enrichment outing hours to the weekend Community Ride share hours. This will allow WAVE to reinstate its weekend Community Ride share hours through September 30.”

Please note services that are still reduced or modified that took effect on July 26, 2025:

• Weekday routes for the Community Connector, Jackson Road Connector, and Chelsea Community Ride are modified.
• The Community Connector and Jackson Road Connector will operate as a combined route on weekends.
• The Door-to-Door, demand-responsive service remains down from 10 vehicles to 9 vehicles; expect delays.
• Riders who live near fixed routes may be encouraged to use those when feasible, instead of Door-to-Door service.

“These changes are difficult but necessary in light of funding constraints,” said Marie Gress, WAVE Executive Director. “We remain committed to doing everything we can to maintain service for those who rely on us.”

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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.