University transportation officials met community members at the Michigan League yesterday to solicit feedback on the possibility of increasing their amount of cooperation with the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority.

University community members expressed concern for what they said was University transportation management"s poor communication with bus service staff and failure to initiate discussion in the community when discussion about an increased partnership began in December 1999. Attendees of the meeting requested an integrated task force composed of students and drivers. They also implored University officials to consider other opportunities for improved transportation.

University bus driver Cybele Blood said the University Board of Regents should adopt certain standards for outsourcing jobs, so the integrity of the bus service can be upheld. Blood said although the University has proposed to make changes to three smaller routes, major routes must be effected in order for the University to attain its projected savings with an AATA partnership.

"A large amount of outsourcing is necessary in order to get the gains they are promoting," Blood said.

Bus drivers said they fear communication between drivers will change.

"We have radios to look out for one another AATA does not have this," student driver Chris MacKechnie said. "We can deviate from routes to make sure someone gets to their car safely."

AATA does not allow its buses to diverge from its routes. Drivers are not directly in contact, and changes in routes are done through a dispatch.

"Are we really going to change the way they do business?" Blood asked.

The questions were posed to University Associate Vice President for Facilities and Operations Hank Baier, University Parking and Transportation Services Director Patrick Cunningham, University Administrative Manager of Bus Operations Dave Miller and AATA Manager of Service Development Chris White, who said they plan to use comments at yesterday and today"s town hall meetings in future decisions for the proposed partnership.

Many drivers and students said they felt left out of the process and that University Parking and Transportation Services appeared to deceive its employees and constituents, concerning student and union jobs, transfer hours and cost savings.

"The public has been left out from day one," said Ann Arbor resident Warren Jenkins. "You say you care about the community, but you have left the community. This is supposed to be an open body forum." He added that the current meetings were only a result of bus drivers" complaints.

LSA senior Michele Rudy asked how representatives would be involved in the process, and suggested a collaborative task force consisting of University transportation management and bus drivers. "Drivers have had to fight for information," Rudy said.

Baier replied that the University has not had the chance to talk with AATA concerning student involvement in partnership discussions.

Although there have been talks of an increase in partnership since 1999, Cunningham said serious talks did not begin until last fall, and that drivers were informed. "These have not been secret meetings," he said.

Cunningham said the University has an escape clause in many of its contracts in order to preserve service. Officials would monitor frequently and annually review service quality.

Cunningham said a six-month notice would be given to AATA if the service does not meet current bus service standards. He said savings, improved parking conditions and better access to the city would be among the major benefits of an expanded partnership.

First-year combined route service considerations are the Nite Owl bus service, Medical Center Information Technology shuttle and the North Ingalls Building/Kellogg shuttle.

Cunningham said in order not to compete with AATA, the University bus services will continue to remain confined to University destinations.

SNRE freshman Neil Greenberg said AATA and the University buses service different communities. "I"m not 100 percent confident in AATA"s ability to handle the University"s needs," he said. "They are two different communities."

Cunningham said primary routes are not under consideration for adjustments and on quicker routes a 10-minute frequency will be maintained. "Nobody is going to take away your buses." Another meeting is set for 7 p.m. today in the Pierpont Commons East Room.