City Of Grand Rapids: City Purchases 35 Bus Shelters In Its Quest To Further Equity For All

Press release from the City of Grand Rapids:

October 14, 2021

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The City Commission Tuesday approved the transfer of $250,000 from the City’s Mobile GR Department to the Interurban Transit Partnership “The Rapid” for the purchase of 35 transit stop shelters to be placed along the Rapid’s existing routes in the City of Grand Rapids.

Mobile GR and The Rapid maintain a long-standing partnership to provide transit services to the City of Grand Rapids. The Rapid operates its own fleet of buses on a primarily fixed-route system in the City and surrounding areas. Mobile GR also contracts with The Rapid for the operations and maintenance of the City-owned Downtown Area Shuttle (“DASH”).

Justin Kimura, assistant Mobile GR director, said the Rapid will use the funding to purchase transit stop infrastructure through its existing contract with Tolar Manufacturing.

“Our goal is to provide clean, modern, and accessible transit stop infrastructure to the riders of The Rapid and The Dash,” Kimura said. “This consistent infrastructure allows for greater transit user familiarity and standardizes parts inventories and maintenance services. It also will encourage greater ridership of public transit across the city, but specifically in our historically underserved communities.”

The shelters will be installed at transit stops only within City limits and be equipped with solar-powered lighting where lighting is necessary. There will be 13 shelters installed in Ward 1, seven in Ward 2, and 15 in Ward 3. Nineteen shelters will be installed in the neighborhoods of focus. Installations are expected to be complete by next October.

The purchase aligns with the City’s vision and values of equity and inclusion as identified in the City’s Strategic Plan. Specifically, the measure meets Mobility, objective 1 – to create an accessible multi-modal transportation experience and reduce single-occupant vehicle travel. It also fits Mobility objective 4 strategies – to operate and maintain the City’s transportation network by coordinating transportation investments with regional partners and to develop, operate and maintain transportation infrastructure.

This press release was produced by the City of Grand Rapids. The views expressed here are the author’s own.