The Rapid

About The Rapid

The Interurban Transit Partnership was formed in 2000 to operate a public transportation system they named The Rapid to provide services for the Grand Rapids metro area and beyond. 

 

ITP is organized and operated under Michigan Public Act 196 of 1986 with a 15-member board of directors representing the six municipalities in the service area.

Beyond its fixed routes, The Rapid also operates demand response services for people with disabilities, and for those living outside the fixed-route service area, car and vanpool programs.

 

  • The Rapid’s service area is 185 square miles.
  • The Rapid has 28 fixed routes.
  • The Rapid has 249 vehicles including 149 fixed-route buses, 10 DASH buses, 67 GO!Bus vehicles, and 23 vanpools.
  • In 2019, The Rapid provided 10 million rides.
  • The Rapid is home to Michigan’s first bus rapid transit line, the Silver Line.
  • Ridership has nearly tripled since 2000. In 2014, The Rapid provided over 12.5 million rides and daily weekday ridership averaged 43,000.
  • There were 1.47 million rides taken in October 2014, the highest ridership month ever for The Rapid.
  • Based on surveys of riders, 80 percent use public transportation to get to and from work. Lack of reliable, economical transportation is a barrier to many people trying to transition off public assistance. Giving people the tools to be successful is essential to reducing welfare costs.
  • Based on an economic model developed for MDOT, the current operating investment in The Rapid creates 754 jobs and returns more than $88 million to the economy.
  • The Rapid’s fixed-route bus cost per passenger is $3.17. The average among peer systems (similar service area and population – 400,000-500,000) is $5.03.* The Rapid’s average revenue-recovery from fares and contracts on regular routes is 26%.
  • The Rapid’s current property tax millage rate is 1.47 mills. The current rate in Lansing is 3.79 mills, Ann Arbor is 2.75 mills, and Saginaw is 3.00 mills.
  • Since the opening of the Silver Line in August 2014, ridership has been up in the corridor by 34.4 percent. Each weekday there is an average of 4,430 people traveling the Division Avenue corridor.
  • The Rapid launched Michigan's second bus rapid transit (BRT) line, the Laker Line, in Aug. 2020. This line enhanced connectivity between Grand Valley State University and downtown Grand Rapids, mitigate traffic and encourage development along the route.
  • The Rapid has been awarded American Public Transportation Association’s Outstanding Mid-Sized Public Transportation System in North America in 2004 and 2013.

*Based on FY2016 NTD data.

Financial reports can be found in Board of Director's packets.

The Protecting Local Government Retirement and Benefits Act (PA202 of 2017) & Public Act 530 of 2016 Pension Report - FY 2024

The Protecting Local Government Retirement and Benefits Act (PA202 of 2017) & Public Act 530 of 2016 Pension Report - FY 2023

The Protecting Local Government Retirement and Benefits Act (PA202 of 2017) & Public Act 530 of 2016 Pension Report - FY 2022

The Protecting Local Government Retirement and Benefits Act (PA202 of 2017) & Public Act 530 of 2016 Pension Report - FY 2021

The Protecting Local Government Retirement and Benefits Act (PA202 of 2017) & Public Act 530 of 2016 Pension Report - FY 2020

The Protecting Local Government Retirement and Benefits Act (PA202 of 2018) & Public Act 530 of 2016 Pension Report - FY 2019

The Protecting Local Government Retirement and Benefits Act (PA202 of 2017) & Public Act 530 of 2016 Pension Report - FY 2018

Local Government Retirement System Annual Report Form

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Our Mission and Vision
Our mission is to create, offer, and continuously improve a flexible network of regional public transportation options and mobility solutions.
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Board of Directors
The Interurban Transit Partnership is the organization that is responsible for The Rapid and all of its transportation services in the Grand Rapids area. Its board of directors comprises representatives of all six municipalities in The Rapid service area.
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Performance & Accountability
The six cities in the Grand Rapids metro area opted to partner with each other to support The Rapid, and The Rapid, in turn, promised to provide a return on that investment by delivering service as effectively and efficiently as possible.
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Accessibility & ADA
The Rapid fully complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and related statutes and regulations in all programs and activities.
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Rules of Conduct
A little courtesy goes a long way. Life's better if we all do the right thing.
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Safety & Security
Daily life and travel can involve certain risks to passengers and transit employees alike, therefore, making your ride as safe and secure as possible is The Rapid’s number one priority.
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Careers
We offer competitive pay, great benefits, and the opportunity to work with a group of people who take pleasure and pride in making an important difference in the lives of others.
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Reports & Publications
The Rapid has established measurable performance goals and we report to the public regularly on how well we are meeting them. View our most recent Ridership & Productivity Reports for daily averages and total ridership numbers.
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Freedom of Information Act - FOIA
The Rapid is committed to transparency. As such, the public may request a copy of public records maintained by The Rapid in compliance with the Michigan Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA"), Public Act 442 of 1976.
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