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 covers 155 square miles.
  • The Rapid has 26 fixed routes and 2 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes.
  • The Rapid operates 224 vehicles including 133 fixed-route buses, and 80 paratransit buses.
  • In 2025, The Rapid provided over 6 million rides.
  • The Rapid is home to Michigan’s first BRT, the Silver Line, which was launched in 2014.
  • The Rapid launched Michigan's second BRT, the Laker Line, in August 2020. This line enhances connectivity between Grand Valley State University in Allendale and downtown Grand Rapids, mitigates traffic, and encourages development along the route.
  • In the most recent reporting year, The Rapid’s cost per passenger is $7.80. The average cost among peer systems (similar service area, budget, and population) is $9.44.
  • The Rapid’s cost per vehicle hour is $102.49, while the average cost per vehicle hour for peer systems is $135.72.
  • The Rapid’s current property tax millage rate is 1.47 mills. The current rate for transit in Saginaw is 3.20 mills, Lansing is 3.67 mills, and Ann Arbor is 5.56 mills.
  • Every day, over 21,000 people rely on The Rapid to navigate our region, safely connecting them to jobs, schools, fresh food, and essential services.
  • Almost 100% of The Rapid’s fleet is now powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or Renewable Natural Gas (RNG). By aggressively moving away from traditional diesel, we are drastically reducing our carbon footprint and building a more sustainable future for public transit.
  • Getting around is easier than ever. A growing percentage of our riders have embraced the convenience of contactless payments, using their Wave card or smart devices to simply tap and ride without worrying about having cash/change.
  • Primary trip purpose: 42% of customers ride The Rapid to commute to work, 27% for college/university, 14% for social, church, personal, or entertainment activities, 8% for shopping, 6% for medical/doctor appointments, 2% for middle/high school, and 1% for other purposes.*
  • High customer satisfaction: 85% of riders rate The Rapid’s overall service as “Very Good” or “Good”.*

  • Above national benchmark: Customer satisfaction with The Rapid is 29 percentage points higher than the national average (85% vs. 56%).*

    *Source: ETC Institute customer satisfaction survey, Fall 2025

 

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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