News Release
Media Contact: Jennifer Kalczuk, The Rapid, 616-456-7514, Jennifer.kalczuk@ridetherapid.org
Clare Wade, Clare Wade Communications, 616-644-1090, clare@clarewade.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Public invited to develop new Transit Master Plan at six November workshops
Meetings to be held in East Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids, Grandville, Kentwood, Walker and Wyoming
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., October 19, 2009 – In 1998, local leaders approved a long-range transit plan for the Grand Rapids metro area.
Eleven years later, the vision in that plan has been realized so The Rapid is embarking on a similar process to guide public transportation development for the next 20 years. The Rapid’s Mobile Metro 2030 task force is leading the charge, inviting the public’s input to develop a new transit master plan (TMP), with a series of workshops to be held November 4-18 in the six local communities that make up The Rapid’s service area:
• November 4 – Wyoming, Public Library, Room B, 3350 Michael Avenue, 6-8 p.m.
• November 5 – Kentwood, Commission Chambers, 4900 Breton Avenue, 6-8 p.m.
• November 11 – East Grand Rapids, Community Center, Room 101, 750 Lakeside Drive, 6-8 p.m.
• November 12 – Grand Rapids, Development Center, #2, 1120 Monroe Avenue NW, 7-9 p.m.
• November 17 – Grandville, Council Chambers, 3195 Wilson Avenue, 6-8 p.m.
• November 18 – Walker, Fire Station #2, 4101 Lake Michigan Drive, 6-8 p.m.
People also can provide feedback at www.ridetherapid.org or leave comments on The Rapid’s information hotline, 616-774-1298.
“The last long-range plan involved a great deal of public input and reflects what people told us they wanted at that time. We encourage people to step forward again to help us establish a new transit vision,” said Peter Varga, CEO of The Rapid. “The new transit master plan will give us an understanding of the transit services people want and need. Like any successful organization, we need a vision of where we’re going and the business plan that will get us there.”
The workshop agenda includes an overview of the planning process and a timeline of activities from October 2009 to June 2010. “We encourage people to come to the workshops prepared to talk about their ideas for transit,” said Taiwo Jaiyeoba, director of planning and program development. “That can range from the frequency of a specific route, to high-speed corridors and connections beyond the metro area.”
The TMP will include a review of the most recent comprehensive operational analysis, the development of a fleet management plan to determine vehicle needs, and a review of the existing paratransit service (GO!Bus). It will link land use and transportation decision-making, optimize means to match transit services with projected land use patterns, identify existing and future transit needs, examine alternatives, and specific recommendations and steps to address funding gaps.
The Transit Master Plan is funded through federal and state planning grants. HDR Engineering of Atlanta and LSL Planning in Grand Rapids are managing the study with The Rapid.
Bob Roth, president of RoMan Manufacturing, leads the Metro Mobile 2030 task force. Other members of the task force are:
Task Force Members
| Chris Bailey, Project Manager Facilities | Spectrum Health |
| Rae Bower, Board President | Disabilities Advocates of Kent County |
| Jonathan Bradford, President/CEO | Inner City Christian Federation |
| Mayor James Buck | City of Grandville (Mayors’ representative) |
| Scott Buhrer, Finance Director | City of Grand Rapids |
| John Canepa | Grand Action |
| Casey Dutmer, Chair | Consumer Advisory Committee |
| Sandra Ghosten-Jones, | Area Agency on Aging |
| John Green, Partner | Locus Development |
| Brandon Griffin, | Butterball Farms |
| Lisa Haynes, ITP Board Member and Asst. VP-Operations Pew Campus and Regional Centers | Grand Valley State University |
| Rachel Hood, Executive Director | West Michigan Environmental Action Council |
| Bob Horn, Industrial Advisor | CB Richard Ellis |
| Fred Keller, Chairman/CEO | Cascade Engineering |
| Ron Koehler, Assistant Superintendent | Kent Intermediate School District |
| Rabbi Al Lewis | Faith in Motion |
| James Moyer, Asst. VP- Facilities Planning | Grand Valley State University |
| Mike Mraz, Director of Properties | Jade Pig Ventures |
| Don Stypula, Executive Director | Grand Valley Metro Council |
| Rick Treur, Community Service Director | Congressman Vern Ehlers Office |
| Barb VanDuren, ITP Board Member and Deputy City Mgr. – Economic Development Coordinator | City of Wyoming |
| Mike VanGessel, President/CEO | Rockford Construction Co. |
| Francisco Vega | Citizen |
| Curt Wells, Sr. VP, Private Financial Group Regional Manager | Huntington Bank |
Information about the Transit Master Plan project is posted at www.rapidtmp.org.
About The Rapid
Operated under the auspices of the Interurban Transit Partnership, The Rapid serves East Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids, Grandville, Kentwood, Walker, Wyoming and portions of Alpine, Byron, Cascade and Gaines Townships. Last year, The Rapid provided over 9.3 million rides, an all-time high in public transportation trips in the greater Grand Rapids metro area. Website: www.ridetherapid.org