public transportation - WKTV Journal

The Rapid’s new electric vehicles sport vibrant flower power designs (Courtesy, The Rapid)

By WKTV Staff

The Rapid is thrilled to share that they have added their first 12 fully electric vehicles to the Go!Bus ADA paratransit fleet.

The EVs help reduce public transportation’s carbon footprint in West Michigan (Courtesy, The Rapid)

The EVs mark another step forward in environmental sustainability, complementing The Rapid’s eco-friendly propane fleet and further reducing public transportation’s carbon footprint in West Michigan.

Distinctly vibrant

Each electric vehicle displays a groovy saying on the bottom right panel (Courtesy, The Rapid)

These distinctly vibrant vehicles hit the streets on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. Wrapped in a groovy 60s flower power theme, the design features bold, colorful patterns with nods to the future and sustainability, highlighting The Rapid’s commitment to a cleaner and greener community.

“Our decisions in vehicle propulsion and fuel type matter to The Rapid, our community and our future,” said Deb Prato, Rapid CEO. “Over 85% of our fixed route fleet runs on renewable natural gas, and the 12 new EVs show our ongoing commitment to decreasing greenhouse gas emissions in our service area.”

Fully electric vehicles bring numerous benefits to both riders and the community, including quieter operation, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and lower maintenance costs. The new Go!Bus vehicles are part of The Rapid’s larger commitment to sustainable and innovative practices, aligning with the goals outlined in its Transit Master Plan.

Empowerment through transit

Go!Bus ADA paratransit empowers seniors and individuals with disabilities across the six cities, enabling them to access employment, healthcare, and meaningful social connections. In the 2024 fiscal year, The Rapid celebrated a remarkable 7% growth in ridership, delivering 228,320 rides.

Federal resources funded this milestone venture (Courtesy, The Rapid)

During a community survey, the transit system consistently received high ratings for “providing transportation options to people with special mobility needs,” (including seniors and individuals with disabilities). In the Spring 2024 survey, 91% of respondents found the service to be very or extremely valuable in this respect.

Milestone funding

This milestone was made possible by earmarked federal funding secured by former Congressman Peter Meijer. His efforts ensured federal resources were directed toward enhancing sustainable transportation options in the Grand Rapids area.

An online survey and in-person events are scheduled as part of transit master planning process (Courtesy, The Rapid)

By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org

The TMP will help build a community-led transit system (Courtesy, Thriving)

The Rapid is asking for community input on the future of transit as part of its Transit Master Plan (TMP).

Titled “Thriving: A framework for the future of connectivity,” the TMP seeks to identify what the public needs from The Rapid and general transportation in both the short and long term.

Individuals can participate through an online survey or by attending an in-person community engagement workshop from now until Dec. 8. This feedback will help The Rapid strategically build a community-led transit system for the next 20 years.

The survey, along with additional information, can be found at www.transitthriving.org.

Everyone in the region is encouraged to participate, regardless of whether they use public transportation or not. The study area for this project extends well beyond The Rapid’s service zone with the intent to garner feedback from individuals who currently don’t have access to The Rapid.

Public transportation users as well as non-public transportation users are invited to participate in the survey (Courtesy, Thriving)

“As our region grows, so does the need to expand transit options,” said The Rapid CEO Deb Prato. “We need to create a plan that outlines how public transportation will meet the needs of all our residents. Gathering feedback from everyone, both users and nonusers, is crucial to the success of this plan.”

There will be an in-person open house event Thursday, Oct. 19 at Rapid Central Station, 250 Cesar E. Chavez Ave SW, Grand Rapids. There will be three sessions: 7 to 9 a.m., 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., and 6 to 8 p.m.

Once the public engagement period ends on Dec. 8, The Rapid and TMP project consultants from internationally recognized firm AECOM will develop the roadmap for implementing, improving and potentially expanding transit options in the future.