The Rapid, GVSU, and the City of Walker Open a New Park and Ride Lot in Standale

From left: Jim Fetzer, Peter Varga, Tim Schad, Krista Butler, Barbara Holt, Mayor Rob VerHeulen

At 9:00 a.m. on Monday, October 16, a ribbon-cutting was held to celebrate the opening of a new park and ride lot, located near the intersection of Lake Michigan Drive and Kinney Avenue, as part of the new Walker Fire Station and Community Center project (4101 Lake Michigan Drive). The new lot gives GVSU students and others in the Standale area easy, convenient access to The Rapid’s Route 50/Campus Connector without taking up parking spaces at local businesses or along neighborhood roads.

“This lot encourages the use of public transportation by giving riders more options,” said Peter Varga, CEO of The Rapid. “By partnering with the City of Walker and GVSU to build and promote this lot, we are giving people a new means to access the bus without inconveniencing their neighbors or risking a ticket.”

The lot capacity is 96 cars. It is open 24 hours a day. Once construction is completed on the fire station, bus shelters and information kiosks will be added. The project was funded through a grant from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality program.