U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Visits Grand Rapids
Deputy Secretary of Transportation John D. Porcari visited Grand Rapids, Michigan and made two key stops. His first stop was a visit to American Seating where he held a press conference.
May 12, 2011
Grand Rapids, MI -
Deputy Secretary of Transportation John D. Porcari visited Grand Rapids, Michigan and made two key stops. His first stop was a visit to American Seating where he held a press conference. At the event, Peter Varga, CEO of the Rapid, spoke about The Rapid’s plan to purchase 21 expansion buses due to the passage of their recent public transportation millage and introduced Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell. Mayor Heartwell addressed the group by highlighting the growth of The Rapid in the last decade and the meaning of the recent millage success with particular emphasis to the first New Starts project in Michigan, the proposed SilverLine BRT project. Ed Clark, CEO of American Seating spoke about the transit seating business and introduced Mr. Porcari to the audience. Mr. Porcari, in addressing the audience of mostly dignitaries and American Seating employees, spoke on the importance of the bus industry, the creation of jobs due to investment in transportation infrastructure, and the significance of Buy America provisions. Following the American Seating event, Mr. Porcari visited The Rapid and spoke to board members and staff, as well as toured The Rapid Central Station, the proposed Division Avenue SilverLine BRT Route and the $32 million Wealthy Operations Center expansion project which will open in December 2011 and is planned as a LEED Silver building.
[EXLINK '490']Read more about Deputy Secretary Porcari's visit here.[/EXLINK]
