[Transit Updates for Greater Grand Rapids]

I have heard that the Monroe-Market St. corridor has been selected as the final routing. I'm disappointed. I liked the Ottawa-Ionia corridor better.

[Transit Updates for Greater Grand Rapids]

Federal transit panel urges gas tax increase to pay for transportation/transit infrastructure

Some of the recommendations:

_Work to cut traffic fatalities in half over the next 17 years by urging states to embrace new strategies to improve safety.

_Ease traffic congestion by expanding state and local public transit systems and highway capacity.

_Protect the environment by smoothing traffic flow, encouraging alternative commute options such as carpooling and public transit and promoting energy-efficient construction and lighting in transit systems to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

_Seek to develop new energy sources with new research programs costing $200 million annually over the next decade.

Under the proposal to raise gas taxes, the current tax of 18.4 cents per gallon would be increased by 5 cents to 8 cents annually for five years and then indexed to inflation afterward to help fix the infrastructure, expand public transit and highways as well as broaden railway and rural access.

Agree/Disagree? Do these recommendations have more of a chance under a Republican or Democratic administration?

That kind of funding could lead to a resurgence in intercity railroads, not to mention more rail for public transit systems nationwide. Frankly, if we did this 20 years ago, we wouldn't be in the situation we are in now.

[Transit Updates for Greater Grand Rapids]

Ouch, pretty harsh words for a disabled woman. Not saying that she's in the right, because I don't know her circumstances.

There's an old silly (I mean city) ordinance against it. The city was actually discussing nixing it with the advent of the two new pedicab businesses. I say begone with that ordinance. Especially with the addition of more and more bars and restaurants downtown, easy access to cabs is pretty important.

Does anyone know what Grand Haven's Mayor is referring to?

Bergman also announced a plan to create a regional mass transit service for the Tri-Cities, Holland, Muskegon and Grand Rapids. He said West Michigan manufacturing leaders have requested the idea be pursued, and the mayors of Holland and Grand Rapids have already expressed support for it.

http://www.grandhaventribune.com/paid/302184142881566.bsp

Disabled or not she's in the wrong. If the Rapid made exceptions for every person who was just over the boundary line it would ruin their budget. She has known about this issue for three years and isn't facing up to the reality of the situation. If she wants relief, she should get her local government to join the Rapid. Or, move back into the service area.

[People talking about Grand Rapids]

I lived in Detroit, in-fact I grew up over there. I can say with absolute certainty that Grand Rapids is way more of a city than Detroit can ever hope to be. Sure Detroit gets most the national and international press for cities that reside in this Great State but the truth is it's a dying city whos only hope for economical upturn is in the hands of 3 casinos.

I don't however think that comparing our relationship to Detroit with Philadelphia and Pittsburgh's is entirely accurate. Grand Rapids is a new kind of city, a modern city with modern thinking. A city with a future. A city who's residents still have the power to shape and mold its culture. Detroit's History has been written and the city is in ruins. Grand Rapids is a City with hope in a state that desperately needs it.

I say keep the good press coming for my adopted home and hope that we can keep distancing ourselves from the black cloud that is Detroit.

In the words of Mark Twain, "news of my death is greatly exagerated".

[Transit Updates for Greater Grand Rapids]

Unfortunately only the disabled appear to be at these meetings. Someone needs to explain to me why the blind lady doesn't qualify for the $2.60 or whatever cheap rate the GO bus charges for the disabled?. Where are the shakers & movers in the town that can make transit happen? They didn't show up at the meeting at the RAPID nor does it sound like like they showed up at the County Commission. Transit has to appeal to and be attractive to more than those groups to be successful.

She lives outside the funding district and the service district. She made a bad decision moving out to BFE, not thinking about her mobility needs, and now is trying to lay the blame on the Rapid. She's one of those wacko's who are oblivious to the world around her and needs to blame someone else for her troubles.

[Transit Updates for Greater Grand Rapids]

I noticed that too and I wondered how they would handle two alignments on Monroe, the streetcar and the BRT.

More photos from Charlotte's LRT system that started revenue service this week:

http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/index.ph...st&p=898494

(just after a sporting event downtown)

http://www.urbanplanet.org/forums/index.ph...st&p=898843

By combing the alignment over that piece of Monroe they can save the cost of building additional stations. I'm not a big favorite of this alignment. I would have preferred something up Ionia or Ottawa, splitting the downtown more in half. It would give more incentive to develop lots 4 and 5. I think this alignment favors certain wealthy property owners in the Market corridor.

[Transit Updates for Greater Grand Rapids]

ITP has moved on properties south of (and under) Wealthy that look to be adequate for a car barn and small maintenance facility. ITP looks to be killing two birds with one stone as Pere Marq will probably be rerouted under Wealth St. into the boarding terminal. The startup costs should be lower as ITP is in possession of quite a bit of space in that area.

Commuter light-rail may be a different story, transit operators can contract maintenance and storage through public-private partnerships. Both CSX and NS (and smaller rail operators) operate considerable storage yards that can be contracted (leased) to house, or maintain HRVs or LRVs. This of course can alleviate capital costs need for new land and facilities and result in lower startup costs.

The property south of the current RCS is for a future move of the AMTRAK line, not for streetcars.

[Medical Mile/Michigan Street Developments]

MSU medical school's cost rises by $20 Million

...to $90 Million total. Sounds like they are trying to trim costs now, but local fundraisers including Grand Action and Peter Secchia don't think it will be a big deal to overcome. Some interesting tidbits:

"It's a solid go," MSU board member Nugent said. "The stake has been put in the sand, the clock is running, the timetable has been set, and we're going to meet it. It's just too important and too significant a program for the people of Grand Rapids, and for all of West Michigan."

...Simon and others also attributed some cost increase to beautifying the parking decks that serve as the building base. Sweet!

Peter Secchia, said he has seen the most recent blueprints for Secchia Center. He called them "spectacular."

And this from the timeline:

Fall 2013: Expansion is complete, with 800 students.

Wow, I was expecting maybe 400 - 500 at the most. 800 would be astounding!

The new designs to be unveiled in October.

I think the 800 student number is spread between the East Lansing and Grand Rapids campuses.

[Transit Updates for Greater Grand Rapids]

The folks on the GVMC yahoo group are now on here admiring Rizzo's photo mocks.

Here in Houston, my bro calls their new line "the train to nowhere." Will go snag some pics.

Weslin's cost per passenger trip can be calculated as follows: $2,000,000 annual cost divided by 1,500 daily passengers divided by 255 weekdays of operation equal $5.23 per trip. Since I do not have the actual numbers from the report, this number is reasonably close to the $5.39 per passenegrs figure quoted in the Executive SUmmary. I do not understand your comment about the "corresponding reduction in capital costs". What reduction in capital costs?

[Medical Mile/Michigan Street Developments]

I think we're talking about just a building. It's only the MD medical school.

[Transit Updates for Greater Grand Rapids]

MDOT can do a good job. I was heavyily involved in the redesign of Grand River (M-43) through East Lansing about 7-8 years ago. While MDOT wouldn't buy parking on the street, the citizens group, through a charette process was able to get MDOT to reduce the number of lanes, add generous sidewalks and beautiful landscaping. There is hope. But the key is citizens involvement. In East Lansing, the citizens were often better informed than the MDOT staff on the project. Eventually, they had to listen to the truth.