[Transit Updates for Greater Grand Rapids]

I live on Wealthy Street. I hate the idea of my long time residence being encroached or eliminated due to The Rapid's Airport Corridor. As the houses now exist, there is no room to widen the road to accomodate the light rail. That is where all the Brownstone conversations come into play. It would fit into everyone's plans. Raze the old homes on the road, build the brownstones higher and further off the road to allow the light rail system. Progress? I don't think so. Putting 2 lbs. of baloney in a 1 lb. bag is more like it. East Grand Rapids is NOT an urban area. It is a village. City on paper, but a village in reality.

Put the airport corridor somewhere that does not encroach upon existing homes.

I know that the Pig(Jade)wants Gaslight Village to be a destination but that's crap. No one who lives in this area wants Gaslight to become even more crowded - light rail or not. People outside the business area too often forget that three schools are all packed in the area. Too dangerous for all involved.

Mr. Scott

[The Watering Hole]

Also, what places in town have the best Christmas activities?

[Transit Updates for Greater Grand Rapids]

The Feds these days have two programs for funding fixed rail transit in this country. New Starts and Small Starts. Some details:

[*]New Starts are for systems that cost more than $250M and more than $75M is requested from the Feds.

[*]Small Starts are for smaller systems that cost less than $250M and less than $75M is being requested from the Feds. The Small Starts evaluation process is less stingent.

[*]There is no such thing as matching funds from the Feds. Instead, any amount up to 80% can be requested but the more that is requested, the more difficult it is to get the system funded.

[*]The Feds will specify the total amount that can be spent on the project. Localities are not allowed to go over this amount without being subject to a congressional review and possible withdrawal of the federal funding.

Excellent info and thank you! When was this enacted? Did the "big dig" fall under these guidelines or were the guidelines born out of the Boston taxpayer massacre?

[Transit Updates for Greater Grand Rapids]

Can you believe the levels of behind the scenes politicking going on with this? Unless the governor appoints a specific individual, non-partisan, to oversee this entire project/process, then the cost overruns and pork spending that we saw in Boston will be seen again right here! Every community in the state will want in! Every State Senator and Representative will have to win something for their district or they will lose their political rear ends!

As an involved member of a local Grand Rapids community, I will not support any stated obligation to match federal funds unless a cap is placed on the true dollar amount spent! And, unless the language specifies that overruns must also be voted on. In other words, no open hand policy with this project! Every monetary decision must be approved step by step. The taxpayer must be given some accountability.

Mr. Scott