TheRide's getDowntown initiative is inviting commuters to take part in its spring challenge.

The annual challenge by TheRide's getDowntown Program encourages commuters to get to work without driving during the cold winter months.

Two construction projects will result in a lane shift on the west side and a road closure downtown through the middle of November.

Here's which sidewalks and roads will be under construction this year, according to the City.

Division between Huron St. and Ann is closed for emergency repairs.

We’ve all felt the effects of the worker shortage. Maybe it’s strange hours at your favorite restaurant or services you rely on, that end up disappearing altogether.

Concordia University Ann Arbor students continued the school's tradition of placing flags along Geddes Road in remembrance of 9/11.

Ann Arbor made CommercialCafe's 'Top 20 Most Underrated Cities in the Country' list.

See when changes to traffic patterns will take place downtown.

Several streets will be going down to one lane through the first week of August for road improvements.

For those with a vision, Ann Arbor's Southside is bursting with opportunity for reinvention.

For those with a vision, Ann Arbor's Southside is bursting with opportunity for reinvention.

Several streets in downtown Ann Arbor will temporarily close between 8-9 p.m. to make way for the 43rd annual Take Back the Night Ann Arbor rally and march.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Drivers in downtown Ann Arbor will have to find alternative routes as scheduled road work around North and South Ashley streets will close several streets over the next few months. Ashley Street from Liberty to Huron: March 8 to May 31On Monday, South Ashley Street was reduced to one lane from just south of Liberty Street to Huron Street. Ashley Street at Washington Street: March 8 to March 20Both Ashley and Washington streets leading up to the Ashley and Washington intersection are closed, according to the city. Westbound traffic will travel south on First Street, west on North Street and then south on First Street. Ashley Street from Liberty to Washington: March 11 to March 20AdBeginning at 7 a.m. on March 11, Ashley Street will close from Liberty to Washington Street.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Starting at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, downtown Ann Arbor drivers will experience longer commutes as traffic over Broadway Bridge is reduced to one lane in either direction. Lanes will be closed between Swift Street and East Summit Avenue for preventative maintenance repairs to the bridge over Depot Street, the Huron River and the Wolverine Line railroad tracks. Access to the Amtrak long-term parking lot located on the east side of the railroad tracks will be maintained. Signage will direct other pedestrian traffic along Broadway to use the opposite side of the street so that the repairs can continue. Related: Island Drive bridge closed through April 30Want to see more Ann Arbor traffic?

FILE - In this March 11, 2013, file photo, former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick leaves federal court after being convicted in Detroit, of corruption charges. (David Coates/Detroit News via AP, File)DETROIT – Current Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan supports President Trump’s decision to commute former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s prison sentence. Kilpatrick has served seven years of a 28-year federal prison sentence for a long list of charges including racketeering and bribery. Here’s the original Kilpatrick commutation statement from the White House:“President Trump commuted the sentence of the former Mayor of Detroit, Kwame Malik Kilpatrick. Thankfully, under Michigan law, he cannot hold state or local public office for 20 years after his conviction.”More: Kwame Kilpatrick section

Former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was just seven years into a 28-year federal prison sentence when President Trump decided to allow him to walk free Tuesday night. It was Trump’s final night in the White House before he leaves Wednesday to make way for President-elect Joe Biden and his new administration. Here’s the statement from the White House:“President Trump commuted the sentence of the former Mayor of Detroit, Kwame Malik Kilpatrick. U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider was definitely not in support of a shortened sentence or pardon for Kilpatrick. Kwame Kilpatrick has earned every day he served in federal prison for the horrible crimes he committed against the People of Detroit.

Quick facts:Kilpatrick is seven years into a 28-year sentence to federal prison for racketeering and bribery. He was sentenced to federal prison in 2013 after being convicted of a long list of charges. Here’s the statement from the White House:“President Trump commuted the sentence of the former Mayor of Detroit, Kwame Malik Kilpatrick. He was sentenced to federal prison in 2013 after being convicted of racketeering, mail fraud, and wire fraud, among other charges. He filed another motion in 2017 to vacate his prison sentence, and that was denied by a district court judge.

DETROIT – Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick will be released from prison after serving seven years of a 28-year sentence for his role in a major corruption scandal after President Donald Trump commuted his sentence late Tuesday night. UPDATE Jan. 20: US releases former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick from prisonHere’s the statement from the White House:“President Trump commuted the sentence of the former Mayor of Detroit, Kwame Malik Kilpatrick. Kwame Kilpatrick has earned every day he served in federal prison for the horrible crimes he committed against the People of Detroit. He filed another motion in 2017 to vacate his prison sentence, and that was denied by a district court judge. Before serving as mayor, Kilpatrick served in the Michigan State House of Representative.

ANN ARBOR – Downtown area associations have joined an annual campaign to encourage visitors to continue shopping and dining in the city throughout the month of January. Typically a slow time of year for business, the pandemic has only exacerbated the lack of customers at local establishments. The Main Street Area Association, State Street District, Kerrytown District Association, and South University Area Association have partnered with the getDowntown Program for “Conquer the Cold - Pandemic Edition.”The annual challenge by getDowntown -- in partnership with the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide), the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority and the City of Ann Arbor -- is designed to encourage and educate commuters to use alternative modes of transportation during the cold winter months. Many restaurants will be participating in the Comfort Food Challenge, and users can get prizes for dining outdoors, ordering curbside and shopping downtown. “The Downtown Districts are excited to be partnering with GetDowntown for Conquer the Cold this year,” Sandra Andrade, executive director of the Main Street Area Association said in a statement.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – On Thursday, Nov. 26, the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide) will not offer any of its fixed-route bus service, FlexRide East/West or A-Ride services during the Thanksgiving holiday. Community members needing to get around that Thursday can use TheRide’s FlexRide Holiday Service -- a shared-ride service that operates on designated holidays. The holiday service will operate from 6 a.m. to 9:15 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 26. Trips can be taken to designated areas in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti andFind designated FlexRide Holiday Service areas here. TheRide does not operate service on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide) is getting eight replacement buses for its fleet. The first of the new buses has arrived and TheRide is inviting the Ann Arbor community to give feedback on what they like and don’t like about the new bus. Manufactured by Nova Bus, each new bus has larger windows, a back window, more spacious seating, a designated stroller area, floor markings, full-sized windows on the rear doors and antimicrobial seats. The replacement buses include USB charging ports, push buttons instead of pull cords, internal and external security cameras and destination headsigns. Riders will notice that the bodies of the Nova Bus buses have been designed to reflect the TheRide logo and have large front windshields and front-side windows.

ANN ARBOR – The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (TheRide) announced this week that it has launched a new contactless mobile ticketing app called EZfare to make riding public transit more convenient and safer amid the global health crisis. TheRide joins 13 other transit agencies from around the Midwest that use the mobile payment system which is powered by service provider Masabi. EZfare is now the largest mobile ticketing platform in the country. Users can download the app for free from the App Store or Google Play. The app operates as a Ticket Wallet and upon boarding, users simply have to show the driver their active ticket on their phone screen.