Mobile Metro 2030 Task Force and Technical Advisory Team
A Transit Master Plan or TMP is a comprehensive, 20-year plan that will guide the future development of The Rapid transit system. The following is a section pulled from the approved TMP. Download the full Transit Master Plan from The Rapid's TMP website.
Mobile Metro 2030 Task Force
The Mobile Metro 2030 Task Force (MM2030)was activated as part of the TMP to play a key role as regional advisors. Their mission was to ensure that key stakeholder groups were appropriately represented and that, going forward, they continue to act as conduits between their constituency group and The Rapid. The Task Force was made up of representatives from the business community, residents, local governments, educational and healthcare institutions, nonâprofit agencies, environmental advocates, young professionals, transit riders, and representatives for seniors and people with disabilities.
[IMAGE '380' /]The Mobile Metro 2030 Task Force, beginning in October 2009, met throughout the course of the TMP’s development and its members were critical conduits between the community and civic organizations and The Rapid as needs and potential projects were identified. Because the Task Force captured a crossâsection of the greater Grand Rapids community, they were an excellent sounding board as the project team bundled the projects in possible implementation scenarios.
On February 16, 2010, The Rapid and the project team held a visioning workshop with the Task Force to discuss short and long term needs, conduct a voting exercise allowing MM2030 members to identify issues of key importance, and then concluded with a group discussion on areas of consensus. The areas of consensus were as follows and echoed the sentiments we heard from the community workshops:
• Expansion of The Rapid service area to provide regional service, beyond the current six cities.
• Improvements in the current service (e.g. more frequent service, more stops, improved GO!Bus service).
• Advancement of BRT service on Division Avenue and possibly elsewhere.
• Identification of key suburban areas & to serve those areas with Park & Ride lots and commuter bus service.
• Encouragement of transit development via public policies, parking rates in downtown GR, site design, etc.
• Greater emphasis on attracting new “choice riders” (those who have access to a car, yet choose transit).
After consideration of the public input, an examination of the technical analysis, and their own deliberations, on May 26, 2010, the MM2030 recommended a Preferred Scenario to The Rapid’s Board for adoption at its June 30, 2010 meeting. An adopted Preferred Scenario will guide transit service improvement and expansion in the greater Grand Rapids area over the next 20 years.
Technical Advisory Team
The coordination between The Rapid and the Metro Mobile 2030 Task Force was also complemented by a Technical Advisory Team (TAT). The TAT was comprised of officials from the six cities, Kent County Road Commission, Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Grand Valley Metropolitan Council (GVMC) and the Michigan Department of Transportation. The TAT met biâmonthly to review project progress, coordinate the TMP with other ongoing regional plans, and provide a perspective of local issues and concerns.
See the Full Master Transit Plan
