interurban transit partnership
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nearly an hour of chanting and singing broke out at an interurban transit partnership public meeting on wednesday .
the rapid interurban transit partnership approved their end of the silver line pilot program on wednesday by near - unanimous vote .
rapid central station (also known as the transit center) is an intermodal transit station in downtown grand rapids, michigan. it is operated by the interurban transit partnership and serves as grand r
interurban transit partnership officials descended on the campus of grand valley state university to solicit ideas for a new bus rapid transit line between the school and downtown grand rapids .
» the interurban transit partnership (the rapid), grand rapids, mi, is looking for a deputy ceo - finance and administration. [ more ]
for the interurban transit partnership (the rapid) in grand rapids, michigan, the need to make a change in service was spotted more than a decade ago .
the interurban transit partnership board announced it has reached agreement on a new three - year contract with the labor union representing the public transportation system’s bus operators and maintenance workers .
the interurban transit partnership (the rapid), in cooperation with the federal transit administration (fta), proposes to operate a bus rapid transit system (silver line brt) in the cities of grand rapids, wyoming, and kentwood, michigan .
tags: grand rapids grand rapids green roof market development symposium interurban transit partnership liveroof mi surface transportation center the international greenroof & greenwall projects database the rapid central station u. s. transportation facility
the silver line is included in a 20 - year master plan meant to provide a framework for the interurban transit partnership, or itp, which operates the rapid in grand rapids and five surrounding communities .
interurban transit partnership, the local transit authority that operates the rapid system, began studying the m - 45 / lake michigan drive corridor in october 2011. it concluded existing service on routes 50 and 51 are overcrowded during peak times and inconsistent with schedules .
the rapid (interurban transit partnership) is the authority that provides a variety of public transportation services for the grand rapids metro area and beyond. it is organized and operates under michigan public act 196 of 1986 .
an awful lot of what we do is the result of wanting to make sure people can get to jobs ,
said peter varga, executive director of the six - city interurban transit partnership that operates the rapid .
the interurban transit partnership (the rapid) board voted unanimously wednesday to ask voters in grand rapids, east grand rapids, grandville, kentwood, walker, and wyoming to put a millage renewal proposal on the nov. 7, 2017
a 12 - mile
laker line
between grand valley state university and downtown grand rapids on lake michigan drive has been studied by interurban transit partnership leaders for years, aiming to introduce a more efficient system along the existing route .
students can also utilize public transportation through the interurban transit partnership (itp) or
the rapid
including the use of go - bus rapid' s special lift equipped transportation vehicle, which offers door - to - door service .
the interurban transit partnership on wednesday green - lit what is expected to be a 15 - month study into the feasibility of a 12 - mile
laker line
between grand valley state university and downtown grand rapids on lake michigan drive .
interurban is a demand response public bus system providing transportation for saugatuck, douglas and saugatuck township .
despite having announced the route between downtown grand rapids and grand valley state university ’s allendale campus more than three years ago, officials with the interurban transit partnership known as the rapid say plans for the proposed laker line are stuck in a holding pattern .
year: 2008 owner: interurban transit partnership location: grand rapids, mi, usa building type: municipal / government type: extensive system: single source provider size: 16, 000 sq. ft. grade: 1% access: inaccessible, private
the interurban transit partnership (the rapid) and the city of grand rapids unveiled a plan monday to roll out what will become michigan' s largest fleet of environmentally friendly buses which will soon be cruising along the streets of downtown and greater grand rapids .
with previous transit projects underway, the align transit improvement study will build upon the silver line and laker line bus rapid transit (brt) systems to identify opportunities to advance and potentially expand transit service within the urbanized area .
grand rapids’ interurban transit partnership (the rapid) needed an innovative transit solution to inspire growth and modernize its transit system. division avenue stood out as a prime area to invest in, based on its population and employment density. more than a decade after the project was conceived, grand rapids is now home to michigan’s first bus rapid transit (brt) system and reaping the benefits of reduced commute times and increased economic development .
monoyios, the long - range planner for the interurban transit partnership (the rapid) and the project manager for the laker line, said the necessary funds for the project could potentially be split up into different years but depends on how the federal appropriations process proceeds .
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in 2010 the interurban transit partnership, known to its passengers as the rapid, launched an industry - wide search for a technologically advanced mobile video surveillance solution. the agency’s requirements: a proven, reliable system for high - quality recordings and an easy - to - use fleetwide management platform .
all routes on the rapid are free for gvsu students, faculty, and staff, including routes to and from the allendale campus, pew grand rapids campus, and cook - devos center for health sciences. our partnership has helped the interurban transit partnership (itp) achieve its top national ranking for its size among other urban transit systems with more than two million bus rides per year. for more information on grand valley' s bus routes and schedules, click here .
the interurban transit partnership was formed in 2000 to operate a public transport system they named the rapid to provide services for the grand rapids metro area and beyond. it is organized and operates under michigan public act 196 of 1986 with a 15 - member board of directors representing the six municipalities in the service area .
we talk interurban transportation: mobile gr and the new park once downtown district. our guests are joshua naramore and mike nowlin .
and the interurban transit partnership — the transit authority that operates the regional public bus system known as the rapid — is not stopping with the silver line. it’s in the design and engineering stages of a 13. 3 - mile, $ 64. 2 million bus rapid transit (brt) route connecting downtown with grand valley state university ’s allendale campus. officials hope that route, known as the laker line, will be operational by late 2017 or early 2018 .
these organizations, along with silver and bronze recipients, will be honored on july 29 at the sustainability and public transportation workshop, which is being held at the westin st. francis hotel in san francisco. cdm smith will receive silver level recognition at its headquarters. the three bronze level recipients are amtrak, interurban transit partnership (grand rapids, mich .) and the dallas area rapid transit .
glacier community media © copyright 2013 - 2018 tc publication limited partnership. all rights reserved. unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited .
grand rapids — political pressures in washington, d. c. have created uncertainty for transit officials looking to fund west michigan’s second bus rapid transit line .
nick monoyios, a long - term planner for the interurban transit partnership and project manager for the laker line, said the rapid took a deliberate approach to make brt stations look appealing. other amenities like precision docking, wi - fi on the buses and multiple doors for entering and exiting the bus contribute to brt’s appeal compared to traditional routes, he said .
the interurban transit partnership (itp) provides citizens with regular bus routes, parking lot shuttles, and dial - a - ride service. gerald r. ford international airport, the state' s 2nd largest airport, handles over 170 flights a day and provides service to over 5, 000 passengers each day. three freight carriers and amtrak provide rail service .
a rendering of the silver line, a bus rapid transit project in development .
welcome to the only conference to address the special transportation needs of university communities created for you! apta’s 2016 public transportation and universities conference, hosted by the interurban transit partnership (the rapid) is a great opportunity to visit one of the country' s premier public transportation providers serving grand valley state university, listed among the
top 100 universities
in the united states .
the city of walker collects property taxes on behalf of the following taxing authorities: comstock park public schools, grandville public schools, kenowa hills public schools, state of michigan state education tax (set), kent intermediate school district (kisd), grand rapids community college (grcc), interurban transit partnership, kent county, kent district library and the city of walker .
the rapid is home to michigan’s first bus rapid transit line, the silver line .
the silver line is the first bus rapid transit line in the state of michigan .
mefford - miller appointed interim exec. dir. of st. louis' metro transit
grand rapids, mi — transit officials kickstarted a roughly $ 600, 000 study this week that could result in a second bus rapid transit line in greater grand rapids .
» blacksburg transit, blacksburg, va, requests proposals for bus graphics. [ more ]
the interurban transit partnership (itp) or “the rapid” is the public transportation system serving the six municipalities in the greater grand rapids metro area. init' s execution of an account - based smart card and mobile ticketing solution on the rapid' s fixed - route lines is expected to improve the service offerings. the rapid provides over 12 million rides annually and was twice named the outstanding public transportation system in north america .
will be the first public transportation system in north america to receive platinum recognition level in the apta sustainability commitment program. three public transit systems attaining gold recognition level are va. - based hampton roads transit, seattle’s king county metro transit and the san francisco municipal transportation agency .
the interurban transit partnership (itp) is establishing an overall disadvantaged business enterprise (dbe) participation goal of 0. 840% for the fiscal years 2019 through 2021. the itp dbe plan and goal methodology are available for review during business days between the hours of 8: 00 am & 4: 00 pm in the offices of the itp, 300 ellsworth avenue sw, grand rapids, mi 49503. (616) 456 - 7514
the project was one of 10 similarly sized transit proposals from around the country to recently get recommendation from the federal transit administration (fta) for inclusion in president obama’s 2017 fiscal year budget .
a further two buses and 3, 600 hours will expand service connecting langford exchange and town centre with camosun college’s interurban campus, the royal oak exchange and the university of victoria .
the rapid has to educate grand rapids residents on what bus rapid transit is before it went online .
johnson currently serves as the chief operating officer at the champaign - urbana mass transit district in illinois .
two proposed pilot programs would make rapid transit tickets more cost - effective for certain agencies and students .
the increase applies to all fares in the rapid transit system, and takes effect on october 1 .
the position oversees all three metro transit operations: metrolink, metrobus and metro call - a - ride .
that’s the board that oversees rapid operations. its members include mayors and other local leadership from transit boundaries .
a total of 20, 000 new service hours have been added to the transit system for the fall .
the new silver line is operated by interurban transit partnership, known as the rapid. the 9. 6 - mile route operates primarily along division avenue, serving residential areas along the corridor and major employers such as st. mary’s medical campus, the michigan state university college of human medicine, and the cook - devos school of nursing. compared to non - brt service, the silver line is faster because it eliminates the need for transfers between stops and uses dedicated bus lanes for much of the route .
a master’s degree or equivalent preferred, as is 5 - 10 years of senior management experience in a transit environment .
the grand rapids press reports that federal transit administration acting administrator therese mcmillan promoted the project wednesday in a conference call .
michigan' s first - ever bus rapid transit system, the silver line, is providing superior travel for commuters .
however, they remain optimistic that the silver line bus rapid transit route has made public busing attractive to new riders .
init has worked closely with york region transit to develop, test and roll out the mobile - eco2 driver support system .
grand rapids, mi - - the wheels are beginning to turn for the area' s second bus rapid transit system .
at one point, participants were asked to construct their own system using elements of a bus rapid transit system at varying costs .
a judge says bus drivers in the grand rapids area can' t be punished for protesting near the homes of transit officials .
while the proposed grant was submitted in the summer of 2015 and approved this february by the federal transit administration (fta) to cover the proposed $ 71 million transit line, the plans remain on hold until congress passes a budget and appropriates the funds .
project name: the rapid central station year: 2008 owner: interurban transit partnership location: grand rapids, mi, usa building type: municipal / government type: extensive system: single source provider size: 16000 sq. ft. slope: 1% access: inaccessible, private submitted by: liveroof & urltoken designers / manufacturers of record: architect: progressive ae landscape architect: progressive ae modular greenroof system: liveroof waterproofing system: epdm by firestone slip sheet product: epdm by firestone installation: katerberg verhage landscaping grower: hortech / liveroof llc construction management: the christman company engineer: wendel duchscherer
the rapid (interurban transit partnership) is the authority that provides a variety of public transportation services for the grand rapids metro area and beyond. after extensive remediation in 2004, the $ 22. 7 million rapid central station is the first u. s. transportation facility to receive leed® certification. constructed on a reclaimed brownfield site, the 51, 000 sf station was inspired by the grand river rapids and features a white undulating fiberglass roof structure over the 17 - bus platform. a green roof covers the majority of the adjacent surface transportation center building, located on two separate sections of the roof .
a bus rapid transit (brt) system, connecting grand rapids, kentwood, and wyoming, mainly serving the division avenue corridor .
organizers say a $ 57 million federal grant should cover a big chunk of a rapid transit bus system in the grand rapids area .
steve goodreau is a leading bus rapid transit practitioner and provided essential visioning, design and construction support services for the silver line project .
lahood gave a nod to the silver line, which, once complete, will be the city' s first bus rapid transit line, as part of $ 2. 2 billion in federal funding recommendations for new or continuing transit projects across the nation during the 2013 fiscal year .
the addition of eight new buses and two new routes in greater victoria are part of the fall service changes at b. c. transit .
the interurban transit partnership (the rapid) proposes to build a bus rapid transit (brt) line between downtown grand rapids and the grand valley state university (gvsu) campus in allendale via fulton street and lake michigan drive. the project will serve 11 new laker line stations plus three existing stations on an existing silver line brt route in the downtown. the project will include short segments of dedicated lane on the gvsu campus and in downtown grand rapids, transit signal priority, the purchase of 16 high - capacity, articulated compressed natural gas buses, level platform boarding with precision docking of vehicles, off - board fare collection, and construction of a light maintenance facility. service will operate every six to 15 minutes during weekday peak periods, every ten to 40 minutes during weekday off - peak and evening periods, and every 30 to 60 minutes on weekends, with the longer headways in effect when gvsu is not in session and on weekend evenings .
the bus rapid transit line, which would ferry passengers north and south along a stretch division avenue, is meant to cut down on crosstown travel .
grand rapids officials are laying the groundwork for a larger, multi - modal transportation future. part of that work involves extending available mass transit options .
“this route will have students moving from kirkhof to downtown five minutes faster than the current routes, ” he said. “we are also working closely with grand valley to reconstruct the circle drive outside of kirkhof into a transit hub to maximize accessibility for transit and create a more comfortable experience for students. ”
don' t miss the opportunity to explore the rapid' s system and programs, including the first bus rapid transit line in the state of michigan .
for years, the standale master plan has guided the build - out of properties along the section of lake michigan drive in the city of walker, where officials believe better transit options would allow for better development patterns. in particular, a bus rapid transit system like the laker line could help shift development away from the commonplace strip malls in favor of denser, “transit - oriented development, ” according to frank wash, walker’s assistant city manager and community development director .
during this conference, meet others facing the same opportunities and challenges as you. explore partnerships and networking opportunities with university, transportation professionals, students and leading experts on university community transportation issues. the conference agenda provides multi – track sessions on innovative financing for transit services; marketing and communicating your transit services to students; technology; planning; sustainability; student engagement; safety and security - late night shuttle services; university - operated transit services; providing transit services for multi - university and college campuses; successful mitigation / intervention in university parking policies; effective policies to curb adverse interactions with bicylists; bike share programs; on - demand ridership models; strategies for when the money
dries
up; and building the next generation of transit' s workforce, among others. there are also interactive sessions specifically geared to universities and their transit partners interested in initiating new university transportation services, and those with new programs already underway .
completed on time and $ 5 million under budget, the silver line is inspiring cities near and far to consider how brt can provide convenient transit and rejuvenate communities. in fact, michigan is looking at its second brt—the laker line—to serve transit between grand valley state university and downtown grand rapids on lake michigan drive .
ben williams, president of unifor local 333, which represents transit drivers, expressed relief at the funding. “it’s badly needed. we haven’t seen expansion of hours in victoria for years. any expansion of transit is obviously a good thing and this will definitely start to address some of the running time issues. ”
the align transit improvement study is a new year - long project (beginning in june 2017) to identify, analyze and prioritize a set of transit improvements that can be made to the existing bus system to improve the overall transit experiences in grand rapids and the surrounding communities. this study will look for ways to add to and improve the network, recommend land use and other policies to help grow ridership and determine the improvements the public would like to see for the system .
“overall, our plan is to improve automobile traffic, while integrating the goals of the city to improve conditions for pedestrians, bicycles and transit, ” naramore said .
there are different levels of recognition — bronze, silver, gold and platinum — that are determined by specific measured achievements. only four other organizations have received gold level recognition: olympia, wash. - based intercity transit; sound transit, the southeastern pennsylvania transportation authority; and vancouver, b. c. - based translink .
he also said adding the laker line as a transit route will allow gvsu to invest less money in creating additional parking spaces on the expanding allendale and pew campuses .
to wash, enhanced transit options, the infrastructure that goes along with it and the zoning allowed in the area could prove attractive to potential commercial real estate developers .
“the rapid realizes that as the community grows, it’s vital for our transit system to adapt to the changing needs of users. the align study will help the rapid achieve its goal of providing safe and equitable service that connects people to jobs, promotes economic development and offer a first - class transit experience, ” venema said .
u. s. transportation secretary anthony foxx announced that president obama’s fiscal year 2017 budget includes $ 57 million for construction of grand rapids’ laker line bus rapid transit project .
the transit authority secured a $ 600, 000 federal grant last fall to conduct the study, which now is more than halfway complete in its 15 - month life span .
eighty percent of the proposed $ 71 million transit line will be covered by the fta, while the michigan department of transportation (mdot) will fund the remaining 20 percent .
another highlight that begins thursday, sept. 1, will allow downtown travelers to ride the silver line at no cost, all day long, from north of wealthy street and throughout downtown within the no fare zone. the new pilot project is a partnership between the city, downtown grand rapids inc. and the rapid .
situated within a 20 - minute walk from grand rapids amtrak station, amway grand plaza hotel provides guests with a convenient base when visiting grand rapids. it has a fitness centre, as well as outdoor tennis courts, free wi - fi and valet parking. this historic hotel provides a number of amenities, including a hair salon, a limousine service and 24 - hour room service. the spa offers a variety of treatments and a chance to relax. amway grand plaza hotel grand rapids has 682 modern rooms that are equipped with a range of essential facilities to ensure guests have a comfortable stay. amway grand plaza hotel is conveniently situated for sightseeing in grand rapids, with plaza towers and devos place convention center just a short walk away. interurban transit partnership and the gerald r ford presidential museum are within walking a distance .
the study' s approval comes less than two weeks after an official project groundbreaking for a $ 40 - million bus rapid transit silver line being built between wyoming and grand rapids .
b. c. transit' s expanded service offerings include the introduction of a route between the belmont park community and royal roads university and another between the westhills and esquimalt dockyard .
gvsu students, facility and staff — some enticed by pizza by the noon hour — spoke with transit officials to express their criticisms and ideas of the overall system and the one proposed .
allendale, mi — the first of many baby steps toward a second bus rapid transit line in greater grand rapids accelerated by leaps and bounds thursday as transportation officials solicited feedback from the community .
the $ 1. 63 million will cover the next fiscal year, and the transit commission “will continue to work with the province on a long - term funding solution, ” brice said .
grand rapids, mich. – the u. s. department of transportation’s federal transit administration (fta) today celebrated the grand opening of the silver line bus rapid transit (brt) system. the new system will significantly improve transit options in the greater grand rapids area and offer faster, more convenient access to major downtown employers along one of the city’s busiest commercial corridors. fta acting administrator therese mcmillan joined michigan department of transportation director kirk steudle, the rapid board chair barb holt and chief executive officer peter varga, and other local officials at a ribbon - cutting event .
holiday inn express grand rapids north is located in grand rapids and features complimentary wireless internet. it is ideally positioned for those wishing to sightsee in the area. holiday inn express hotel & suites north walker provides a golf course, laundry facilities and a 24 - hour business centre. a fitness centre is available to those wanting to keep up their exercise regimes while travelling. holiday inn express grand rapids north has 94 spacious rooms offering all the essentials to ensure a comfortable stay. guests of holiday inn express hotel & suites north walker can unwind at the in - house bar, conveniently located for socialising in the evening. there is a range of breakfast options to choose from every morning. the hotel provides easy access to fred meijer white pine trail state park and the gerald r ford presidential museum. interurban transit partnership, grand valley state university and amway world headquarters are easily reached by car .
started in 2009, 105 public transit agencies and businesses have participated in the apta sustainability commitment program by implementing processes and actions that will lead to continuous improvement on environmental, social and economic sustainability .
the laker line bus route is one of 10 similarly sized transit proposals across the u. s. to receive a grant from the fta as part of president barack obama’s 2017 fiscal year budget .
it first was identified as a potential bus rapid transit corridor during years - long planning that resulted in the silver line, and is included as such in the rapid' s 20 - year master plan .
four of the buses and 12, 800 hours are earmarked to “address immediate overcrowding and reliability issues by increasing the frequency and timing of existing scheduled trips, ” a b. c. transit document says .
according to federal documents, the fta plans to fund 80 percent of the proposed $ 71 million transit line, while the michigan department of transportation (mdot) is expected to fund the remaining 20 percent .
haley bracken, a senior at gvsu who commutes from the allendale and pew campuses, likes the idea of the new transit line as it will give students a more comfortable experience when shuttling across the different campuses .
as for grand rapids, kamstra said bus routes “can be pretty impactful in development of those neighborhood services that help boost the whole area. … we’re excited about all of these conversations happening with mass transit. ”
this handout from the rapid shows the route the proposed laker line would take between downtown grand rapids and grand valley state university’s allendale campus. federal funding for the bus rapid transit route has yet to be appropriated .
often described as a cheaper alternative to light rail, bus rapid transit (brt) generally offers riders enhanced bus stations, dedicated lanes and other amenities intended to provide faster, more reliable service on set routes .
still, conrad venema, the rapid' s strategic planning manager, told itp members the agency' s success with the silver line primes it for an easier road to getting a second bus rapid transit system going .
monoyios emphasized how the laker line bus rapid transit (brt) – which will travel to and from the allendale to pew campuses, with stops on the medical mile – will be faster than the current route 50 .
passengers line up for a bus heading for the university of victoria, one of the region' s busiest routes. the province has boosted funding to b. c. transit in an attempt to cut wait times .
the goal not only is to see how transit officials can make commuting more comfortable for riders but to build a case for the federal government in securing funding when it comes time to build the actual system, varga said .
the investment demonstrates an important collaboration of innovative partners within our community, using more sustainable, clean, cost - effective and safe products on the market for transportation solutions, said grand rapids mayor rosalynn bliss .
through a strong partnership between the city and the rapid, we can use these new vehicles to continue our efforts that improve the quality of air we breathe and the environment we enjoy .
before the news conference was over, close to a dozen members of a protest group interrupted the presentation. the group was from the amalgamated transit union, which claims drivers of the rapid buses haven' t been fairly compensated .
while the funding remains at the whim of national politics during a presidential election year, monoyios remains upbeat about the prospects for the brt route, largely because of the accolades the proposed route has already received from federal transit experts .
analysis of a second bus rapid transit (brt) line, the laker line, is underway. this line will enhance connectivity between grand valley state university and downtown grand rapids, mitigate traffic, and encourage development along the route .
“the room for development comes in those areas in between, ” she said. “that’s where that argument is strong. for any kind of rapid transit system to be successful, you have to have a base to start with. ”
greater victoria residents who are forced to stand on crowded buses, missing connections and facing delays due to traffic congestion can breathe easier thanks to a $ 1. 63 - million injection from the province to the greater victoria transit commission .
officials expect work to begin six or seven years from now at a cost that has yet to be determined. however, officials broke ground this spring on a $ 40 - million bus rapid transit silver line between wyoming and grand rapids .
according to project reports, the division avenue corridor had the highest total population, highest density and transit dependent population compared to other routes studies. the corridor is also abutted by several blighted “renaissance zones, ” designed to lure in development .
people at the grand valley state university downtown grand rapids campus get on a bus headed for the gvsu allendale campus at front street nw. the rapid is considering bus rapid transit service between the campuses. (mlive. com file photo )
the rapid has been investing in bus rapid transit lines that differ from their traditional buses (shown here) in that they use a dedicated station and off - board ticketing, making for a more “dignified” passenger experience, according to officials .
the contract for members of the amalgamated transit union local 836, which represents rapid union employees, was set to expire a year ago last june. after a two - month extension was granted, it officially expired at the end of august .
given the decade it took the itp to get its first bus rapid transit line going, the laker line is years out, holt said. it could take as many as five or six year to get the laker line up and running .
fares were increased in april 2016, bringing in an extra $ 2 million by february 2017. during that period, despite higher fares, there were more riders, with 100, 000 additional passenger trips recorded, b. c. transit said .
after reduced transit service during the summer, regular schedules will be reinstated on routes serving high schools and post - secondary institutions such as the university of victoria, camosun college and royal roads university. classes resume at most greater victoria schools on sept. 5 .
that
bigger city feel
is the goal of the 21 - month - old silver line bus - rapid transit route, perhaps the biggest transit amenity added with the increased property tax. launched in august 2014, the $ 40 million, 9. 6 - mile route shuttles passengers between its southern terminus at 60th street and division avenue, and downtown, with stops as far north as michigan street. part of the vision is to get people in and out of downtown without taking up city space for car parking .
the commission has lobbied to increase the transit portion of the gasoline tax in greater victoria from 3. 5 cents per litre, which raises $ 11. 7 million a year. it wants a 5. 5 - cent tax, raising a further $ 7 million .
“so that could be anything from carpooling, biking, walking, access to transit – riding the bus downtown. or parking in a remote lot a little bit further from downtown and utilizing either the dash, the silver line or any of the other bus services. ”
transit relies on bus fares, property taxes and the gas tax for two thirds of its budget, with the province paying for about one third. the 2017 - 18 budget has $ 128. 5 million in spending, up from $ 120. 6 million last year .
“we want that uniformity, ” monoyios said. “we recognize the value of the consistency in design and aesthetic. we want to create a brt network. similar to how people understand highways, that’s the expressway to get places. brt is the expressway for transit users. ”
apids' main city bus station as well as a station on the silver line bus rapid transit. it is located on grandville avenue between cherry street and wealthy street, and is the brt' s northern terminus. it is just yards north of the new amtrak station on century avenue .
the rapid has enhanced and added to its video surveillance system since the initial installation in early 2012. now, with the recent addition of wireless connectivity, pouget, transit supervisors, law enforcement personnel and other first responders to have access to real - time video footage out in the field .
varga said economic development has been a key part of the silver line and while the city didn’t add in tax credits to build around stations, it has put a preference for transit - oriented development. developments have been popping up near some stations, but it’s not directly attributed to the line .
the city of walker made transit - oriented zoning changes a number of years ago for the area along lake michigan drive between kinney and wilson avenues. so far, developers have not brought any concrete plans for projects to the city, but wash said he believes building a brt could facilitate that .
“we did realize there was an existing silver line in boston, but we figured we weren’t really competing in the same transit market. it turns out that the other silver line, that was one of the important things for them too — to give it a special name that says high quality. ”
the deputy ceo will also provide strategic vision, analysis, planning and direction, advising the ceo, board, and other stakeholders using measurable metrics. this person will remain current on emerging industry practices and technologies to maximize the efficiency and service while maintaining the rapid’s position as a leader in the national transit industry .
“there are so many elements to it that are beneficial, ” said debra alexander, manager for lansing’s brt project and assistant executive director of cata. “the overarching goal is: how can we as a region facilitate continued growth of housing, economic development, transit utilization and automobile utilization in a fixed environment? ”
the rapid, an innovative and award - winning transit system headquartered in michigan’s second largest city, provides over 11 million annual rides with 28 fixed routes, as well as paratransit, vanpool and brt service, to a metro area with over a million residents. ridership, up over 230% since 2000, is expected to remain strong .
activity on and around the rapid vehicles is captured through six interior - and two exterior - mounted cameras. if a vehicle is involved in any abnormal event, such as a collision that triggers an on - board accelerometer and a transit supervisor or police vehicle is in range, the wireless technology allows first responders to monitor and download video remotely .
grand rapids, mi - five years ago, residents of grand rapids and five surrounding suburbs passed a tax increase by 136 votes - out of more than 34, 000 cast. since then, property owners have paid $ 71 million in transit taxes, the silver line has opened for business and margo dean has had an easier time getting to work .
dean is among thousands of riders who have benefited from the 2011 voter approval of a 1. 47 - mill transit tax, up from a previous 1. 15 - mill levy. the additional revenue increased weekday frequency with service every half - hour - every 15 minutes on the busiest routes - and extended busing later into the night during the week and on weekends .
public transportation is a vital part of grand rapids and its surrounding communities—whether you ride the rapid daily, once in a while, or have yet to try public transportation. while the rapid has helped connect thousands of people across our community for years, there’s always room for improvement. it’s time to work together and align for better public transit in grand rapids metro region .
this case demonstrates the way many transit agencies are procuring state - of - the - art technology. by extending the technical capabilities onboard the rapid vehicles, the agency is increasing safety, improving efficiency and saving money. as this agency’s fleet continues to mature, the apollo video system will grow with it and continue to provide on - board video surveillance and fleet management tools .
if you own a $ 150, 000 house in grand rapids, east grand rapids, grandville, kentwood, walker or wyoming, you' ve paid about $ 120 in additional property tax to the rapid over the past five years - about $ 550 overall. that revenue, along with rider fares, contracted services, state funding and government grants, covers the transit system' s $ 70 million annual budget .
“i think in terms of a larger scope and brt’s…there has been a shift in looking at brt very positively as a transit investment and the focus for many years has been on the development of light rail, ” varga continued. “now in consideration of brt vs light rail, you’re starting to see it in the large urban areas, the new york cities, the chicago’s, that now look at it instead of a rail option. ”
“the silver line is an excellent example of bus rapid transit that’s done right—offering a convenient and reliable travel option for thousands of residents in the grand rapids area, ” said fta acting administrator mcmillan. “this new service will cut commuting times nearly in half for many workers, students and seniors in kent county who are traveling to jobs, school and medical facilities in downtown grand rapids and the medical mile, while helping to reduce congestion on us 131. ”
the silver line connects downtown grand rapids, the city’s medical mile with two other municipalities, wyoming and kentwood, as it moves south on division avenue toward 60th street. riders include a mix of both working professionals and students. a vital component of grand rapids’ public transit system, the silver line decreased travel time along the route from 45 minutes to 27 minutes and increased ridership by an estimated 2, 300 riders per day (or about 40 percent) since it opened in august 2014. dedicated lanes, which separate buses from traffic, ensure a speedy commute even during rush hour times .
the most recent monthly ridership data, available from the federal government’s national transit database, shows that the silver line is attracting fewer than 2, 300 riders per day, a far cry from the 7, 200 per day that the rapid promised. but, even more spectacularly, ridership across the entire system has dropped below where it was in 2011, when the tax issue first passed. so not only has the silver line failed to attract new riders, the entire purpose of the tax hike seems to have failed. indeed, the ridership decline has been steady for the last three years, with no end in sight .
the rapid central station is located at 250 grandville ave sw, grand rapids, mi 49503; visit their website and their the rapid & the environment page. watch the 2: 11 video the rapid central station - project of the week 3 / 24 / 14 from urltoken on the greenroofstv channel on youtube. see the greenroof on google maps and the project profiles from the christman company; u. s. green building council west michigan chapter and liveroof. read about the original project write up from the november / december 2005 past, present and future converge to ride the rapids at transit facility in dcd. read about liveroof in the greenroof and greenwall directory .
traveling to rapid central station in grand rapids has never been so easy. use moovit to get detailed step by step directions as you travel from your current location or from a top attraction or any major public transit station. view detailed routes on a map, see bus and train schedules, arrival times, and service alerts so you know exactly how to get to rapid central station. when traveling to rapid central station use moovit' s live directions with get off notifications to know exactly where and how far to walk, how long to wait for your line, and how many stops are left. moovit will alert you when it’s time to get off — no need to constantly re - check whether yours is the next stop .
the proposed silver line brt project is approximately 9. 6 miles in length. the brt vehicles would be street running along division avenue from the grand rapids central business district (cbd) to 60th street (which is the current boundary of the service area for the rapid). in the cbd, the route includes the three highest employment concentrations, the grand rapids community college, and central station (the downtown hub for existing radial local buses). a key goal of the project is providing access for the population surrounding division avenue, an economically distressed corridor with a high percentage of transit dependent population, to job and educational opportunities especially in the grand rapids cbd. this is the prime reason the routing downtown circulates directly to st. mary’s heath campus, grand rapids community college, medical mile, and the core of downtown employment .
the greater cleveland regional transit authority (rta) recently rebranded two healthline brt stations as “museum stops” to assist riders looking for nearby museums in the university circle neighborhood. rta chief executive officer and general manager joe calabrese said the branding is intended to make it easier for customers to know which stops to use when they want to visit the ­museums, gardens and other institutions. “this branding is not only important for our customers who reside in greater cleveland, but will make planning the trip simple, especially for the many tourists that come to cleveland to visit these world - class institutions, ” he said. “every weekday, there are 266 trips on the healthline to and from these museum stops, ” he said. “university circle has become one of the premier destinations in northern ohio … [ with ] the world’s greatest concentration of education, medical, arts and cultural institutions—all located in one city neighborhood. ”
at the end of august, several rapid routes will undergo changes to routing, schedules, and stop locations. the following changes will go into effect on august 31, 2015 :
route 2: schedule times will be adjusted along the route in an effort to enhance schedule adherence .
route 8 & 44 stop relocation: the bus stop at rivertown crossings is being relocated to the east end of macy’s on the front side of the mall .
route 28: the westbound routing will be changing to the following: westbound: 28 th street west to cross over ivanrest, right on wallace to chicago dr. , left on chicago dr. , to wilson, left on wilson to grandville library .
route 44: route will be changing to the following: westbound: wilson to 44 th, left on 44 th to canal, left on canal to lowes. eastbound: canal to 44 th, right on 44 th to wilson, right on wilson to rivertown crossings .
lafayette to hastings, left on hastings to coit, left on coit to michigan, right on michigan to monroe, left on monroe to fulton, right on fulton to laker michigan to allendale gvsu campus (kirkhof) .
campus drive to lake michigan, lake michigan to fulton, right on fulton to monroe, left on monroe to michigan, right on michigan to lafayette, left on lafayette .
westbound stops: center for health sciences, michigan & bostwick, monroe & devos place, monroe & louis, pew campus: fulton & mt. vernon, fulton & garfield, lake michigan & covell, lake michigan & oakleigh, lake michigan & collindale, lake michigan & bayberry apartments, lake michigan & kinney, lake michigan & wilson (meijer), north campus & ravine center, north campus & mackinac hall, kirkhof center
eastbound stops: kirkhof center, north campus & ravine center, lake michigan & wilson (meijer), lake michigan & kinney, lake michigan & collindale, lake michigan & bona vista drive, lake michigan & covell, fulton & garfield, pew campus: fulton & mt vernon, monroe & louis, monroe & devos place, michigan & bostwick, lafayette at chs .
route 51 hill dash: this route will now run from 6: 30 a. m. – 6: 00 p. m. on a 15 - minute cycle. hill dash will no longer travel to the chs building. the new routing will include travel on michigan to barclay, turn right on barclay, and continue on current routing back to seward .
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the interurban transit partnership operates a public transit system called the rapid , which provides bus service to the grand rapids , michigan metropolitan area and beyond . the rapid was recognized in 2004 by receipt from the american public transportation association of an " outstanding public transportation system award " . formed by the city of grand rapids in 1963 as the grand rapids transit authority , the system became a regional authority in july 1978 and was renamed the grand rapids area transit authority , or grata . in january 2000 , the itp was formed , which soon adopted the moniker , the rapid , as its branding . 
the interurban transit partnership operates a public transit system called the rapid, which provides bus service to the grand rapids, michigan metropolitan area and beyond. the rapid was recognized in 2004 by receipt from the american public transportation association of an " outstanding public transportation system award ". formed by the city of grand rapids in 1963 as the grand rapids transit authority, the system became a regional authority in july 1978 and was renamed the grand rapids area transit authority, or grata. in january 2000, the itp was formed, which soon adopted the moniker, the rapid, as its branding.
the interurban transit partnership operates a public transit system called the rapid, which provides bus service to the grand rapids, michigan metropolitan area and beyond. the rapid was recognized in 2004 by receipt from the american public transportation association of an " outstanding public transportation system award ". formed by the city of grand rapids in 1963 as the grand rapids transit authority, the system became a regional authority in july 1978 and was renamed the grand rapids area transit authority, or grata. in january 2000, the itp was formed, which soon adopted the moniker, the rapid, as its branding.