vexom

Sorry I don't have time to go through the thread to see if this is new information but at msu.edu I saw a news article on the Secchia Center that includes some new renderings - http://newsroom.msu.edu/site/indexer/3227/content.htm

No surprise here but it is official now, GVSU and MSU have become partners for the project - http://statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=39398

Doesn't that imply that there will be a new building on top of the current development? I'm confused too I guess we will have to wait until Thursday. Eh nevermind, I think I was mistaken.

For those interested I caught an article in the State News today about the move of MSU's medical school to GR. You can read the article here - http://www.statenews.com/article.phtml?pk=38027

I think our entire mass transit system should be a roller coaster I'm only joking of course although it wouldn't be terrible considering how smooth coasters are now. Millenium Force at CP cost 25 million 6 years ago and a system in GR wouldn't have to go over 300 ft in the air with 90+ mph or provide any thrill twist and turns. Considering MDOT contemplating $450 million it doesn't sound like such a crazy idea

Thats awesome, like I said I think its a great marketing move. It leaves a really good impression to college students and what better people to impress than young and potential high salary future shoppers. Thumbs up to whoever at Meijer thought that one up. It seems that Meijer is often being considered the more in place to go when compared to Walmart, Target, and KMart with college students thanks to things like this.

btw, Meijers Midnight Madness to welcome back college students is awesome and a great marketing idea for Meijer. I went to it here at MSU and they had all kinds of free food from hot dogs, pizza, chicken fingers, pop, and energy drinks. They had a raffle were they gave away a prize to everybody with some winning big prizes. In the store they had a live band (yes inside of Meijer) and another stage with kareoke with prizes. Outside they had a rock climbing wall and 6 of the Coca-Cola NASCAR team cars. I was really impressed with it all and I know they did well cause the place was packed and everybody was buying stuff with the 10% off general merchandise that they also gave to students. Luckily they had it at both Meijers around MSU or it would have been too packed. The line to check out was long even though they had every single lane open which I'm not sure I have ever seen at a Meijer.

Hopefully they get some E85 pumps in the north side of the city soon. Not that I have a car that can take E85 but hopefully I will in my next car.

I personally like it. I think the shades of green work well here.

Is there a petition or something to let those in charge know what we want? Is this getting looked at again or what is the status on aproval for the MDOT plan?

All I have to say is that article is awesome, glad to see the subject getting more attention. 400 million is a lot of money and I think it can be much better spent than the current plan.

Grand Rapids has commercial rail along US 131 and from downtown to the airport, some of which has abandoned rail that goes along side it but is in bad condition. Even if they had to rebuild the track though it would seem that it would avoid a lot of the land clearing and traffic right of way issues and costs and may be a good way to get us started.

Thats actually what I was thinking, I wonder if they are planing on combining the projects in some way if thats even possible.

That is excellent news, the only way we are going to increase funding for mass transit is by using what we have now. The numbers speak for themself, and higher numbers surely look better when looking at which cities need more funding. How much of this increase though was due to Grand Valley? Can the increase continue at this rate? Hopefully with the addition of MSU's Medical school and Grand Valleys Engineering we will see more students taking buses around. I truly feel that the need for mass transit is going to come faster than we think and there is no better time to act then now. I'm not sure if we will get federal funding any time soon but if we hit them up enough times eventually they may give in.

lets see who can get a picture with the most cranes in it! I don't know if you could get more than two.