go!pass Participation 

* Note: The Go!Pass program was offered to businesses at no charge the first for fiscal year 2000-2001. Beginning fiscal year 2001 participating businesses are charged $5 for each person employed at the company. This explains the high initial ridership.

What is a go!pass?

The go!pass is an unlimited usage bus pass available to employees who work within the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) boundary (excluding UM employees and students). With their go!pass, downtown employees are entitled to unlimited rides on all AATA routes, including routes servicing all AATA Park and Ride lots in Ann Arbor.

Businesses in the DDA district may purchase go!passes for their employees at an annual cost of only $5.00 per employee. To participate in the program, businesses must be located within the DDA district and be willing to purchase go!passes for all full-time employees (including owners & managers). Businesses are welcome, but not required, to purchase go!passes for part-time employees.

In addition to be able to use your go!pass to ride all AATA buses for FREE, you can also get discounts at a number of different downtown businesses simply by showing your pass.

For more information about go!passes, visit the getDowntown program website.

How does riding the bus affect the Ann Arbor environment?

AATA has been a pioneer among transit operators nationwide in pursuing cleaner air. From the late 1980s through 1995, AATA voluntarily converted its entire fleet to a "clean diesel" system using low-sulfur diesel fuel - years ahead of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency directives for federal emissions standards that require buses to meet low-sulfur levels by 2004.

In 2002, AATA became the first transit system in the Midwest to begin using ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel in all its buses. When coupled with new engine technology, AATA cut its emissions by as much as 90 percent.

In 2007, AATA began to convert its entire bus fleet to hybrid electric technology. The AATA fleet currently includes 27 hybrid electric buses. Hybrid electric buses reduce fuel consumption and AATA's dependence on foreign oil by more than 30% while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The new technology reduces particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons by 90% and carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide by up to 50%.

As of August 2007, all AATA vehicles, including the hybrid electric buses, run on B-10 biodiesel. Biodiesel fuel reduces hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulate matter. The overall ozone (smog) forming potential of hydrocarbon exhaust emissions from biodiesel is nearly 50% less than regular diesel fuel.

Source: Ann Arbor Transportation Authority

How do I get a Go!Pass?

For complete information on Go!Passes, including ordering information, visit the getDowntown program website.

More information

• Ann Arbor Transportation Authority
• getDowntown

Last Updated: July 2009