Feds green light $32M for bus rapid transit Silver Line in metro Grand Rapids

[LMich]

It's BRT-lite, but it's good to see at least one city in this state with its act together well enough that it can start on something that vaguely resembles rapid transit:

The Rapid

Feds green light $32M for bus rapid transit Silver Line in metro Grand Rapids

By Zack McMillin | Mlive.com

October 18, 2012

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — The Rapid's forthcoming bus rapid transit Silver Line on Division Avenue got its final nod from the federal government on Thursday, Oct. 18, to the tune of nearly $32 million.

At a wet, cold and windy gathering at Rapid Central Station on Grandville Avenue SW on Thursday morning, Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff announced a project construction grant agreement.

It was the last piece needed for the $39.8 million Silver Line to get off the ground, or on it. Once complete, it will be the first bus rapid transit line in Michigan.

...

With construction expected to begin next year, and completion in 2015, the Silver Line will travel a 9.6-mile stretch of Division between 60th Street and the Medical Mile in downtown Grand Rapids.

As a bus rapid transit line, the buses run in dedicated lanes and will be able to ferry passengers between its termini in 27 minutes, Rapid leaders said.

The buses will be given signal preference down Division Avenue, meaning a traffic light would turn green for an approaching bus to ensure a swifter-than-normal trip.

Rogoff's announcement secures $31.8 million in federal funding for the project, with state dollars atop that totaling to roughly $7.9 million.

Some $700,000 will be generated from a narrowly passed May 2011 millage to help pay for operational costs of the Silver Line, such as driver salaries and gas, according to Rapid figures.

The system's administrators expect annual operating costs to fall around $2 million, with the difference expected to be made up with fare revenue and state help.

...

[JonathanGRR]

Grand Rapids' new multi-million-dollar economic boon? The Silver Line BRT construction begins
Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor | Thursday, March 28, 2013

The long-anticipated construction of what could be Grand Rapids' biggest economic generator yet begins in two weeks as Michigan's first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line breaks ground on the first three of 33 high-tech bus stations.

If Grand Rapids reaps the economic boons that other cities like Cleveland, OH and Eugene, OR experienced with construction of their own BRT lines, property values along the line could soar 30 percent to 150 percent in three years, according to research referenced by The Rapid regional transit agency.

Grand Rapids' BRT, The Silver Line, is an express transit service much like light rail. It will operate with eight hybrid electric buses and run in dedicated bus lanes. The buses, equipped with technology that senses an approaching traffic light, will "hold' green lights to reduce stoppages and wait times. They will also travel in lanes that are reserved for the buses and right turn drivers only during peak hours.

Buses will pick up passengers at the stations every ten minutes during peak hours (6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) and every 20 to 30 minutes off-peak.

The route runs mostly along S. Division Avenue from 60th St. in Wyoming, north through Kentwood to Wealthy St. SE. There it turns east, then loops north along Jefferson SE and Ransom NE. The route makes a quick jog west on Crescent St. NE, then back north on Bostwick to Michigan St., west to Monroe Avenue N., south to Market SW/Grandville SW to The Rapid Central Station. Then the route reverses.

As buses get close to downtown, they'll have stations at or near new apartments along S. Division and at Tapestry Square, the new University Preparatory High School, Saint Mary's Health Care, Grand Rapids Community College, Van Andel Institute, the Medical Mile, the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, DeVos Place Convention Center, and in downtown Grand Rapids near restaurants, shops, and banks. Some stations are just a few blocks from Cooley Law School, Kendall College of Art & Design, and Grand Valley State University. And the buses will also pass miles and miles of vacant land, underused buildings, abandoned buildings, and decaying urban properties.

It's along this route, two or three blocks deep, that millions of dollars of economic development is projected.
...

http://www.rapidgrowthmedia.com/feat...Lining+Edition

[llamaorama]

it does look like it has dedicated lanes though, does that count as BRT-lite?

[Lakelander]

Are they taking lanes out of Division and making them bus only? If it's BRT-lite, Grand Rapids should be prepared to not see the amount of economic development mentioned in the article. More likely, you'll get the Kansas City or Charlotte version of BRT at the cost mentioned. Nevertheless, it should be a big transit improvement for Grand Rapids.

[ardecila]

Slightly better than KC or Charlotte. The Silver Line will have rush-hour dedicated lanes, off-board fare payment, and high-level platforms. KC just has express buses with nice shelters.

The thing about rush-hour dedicated lanes is that there's really very little benefit to dedicated lanes outside of rush hour, especially in a small city like Grand Rapids. Dedicated lanes will not improve travel times outside of rush hours, because population densities are low, traffic is very light and buses will already be moving quickly. If the BRT does inspire lots of new development along the route, that may create additional off-peak traffic and force the bus lanes to become dedicated full-time.

[Lakelander]

I seriously doubt it generates a ton of new economic development. If it does, this will be one of the first BRT-lite systems in the US to do so.

[JonathanGRR]

I think that development could pour into the area north of 28th St, as that is where most of the walkable (albeit somewhat hollowed-out) development already exists. Anything south of that is purely auto-oriented post-WWII suburbia. The hard part about developing 28th St to Wealthy, though, is that it will have to be a cultural and economic change. Division is still known as the place that you drive through with the doors locked, unless of course you're stopping for a lady at the corner (generalizations that I hear often). For development to occur, people must feel comfortable with the area.

[Jasonhouse]

Originally Posted by Lakelander

Are they taking lanes out of Division and making them bus only? If it's BRT-lite, Grand Rapids should be prepared to not see the amount of economic development mentioned in the article. More likely, you'll get the Kansas City or Charlotte version of BRT at the cost mentioned. Nevertheless, it should be a big transit improvement for Grand Rapids.

Hopefully, they don't wind up with the joke version of BRT that Tampa is developing. It's simply a bus route with BRT style wifi buses and ticketing kiosks at the stops. Afterall, anyone else ever heard of BRT that has 15/30 headways, and travel times almost identical to the existing bus line this new 'BRT' will be bolstering?

[Lakelander]

To be honest, they sound about the same. We've got a similar BRT-lite project proposed for Jax too.

[JonathanGRR]

Here's an interactive map with details and site plans for each of the stops:

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid...528c889d7f6b72

[Nexis4Jersey]

Originally Posted by Jasonhouse

Hopefully, they don't wind up with the joke version of BRT that Tampa is developing. It's simply a bus route with BRT style wifi buses and ticketing kiosks at the stops. Afterall, anyone else ever heard of BRT that has 15/30 headways, and travel times almost identical to the existing bus line this new 'BRT' will be bolstering?

Thats what NJT is proposing aswell , its a joke...why even bother calling it BRT when its just a enhanced bus route?

[ardecila]

You call it BRT so you can get Federal funding to enhance the bus, even if you're not gonna do whole-hog BRT. It's pretty obvious.

It's unfortunate that transit agencies are so cash-strapped they have to run to the Feds for even minor projects, but there's nowhere else to get the money. Most state DOTs are heavily pro-highway and do not fund transit projects. Special ballot issues like LA's Measure R or Atlanta's T-SPLOST are still pretty rare, because state governments don't want to give cities the power to tax themselves.

[Lakelander]

You call it BRT so you can get Federal funding to enhance the bus, even if you're not gonna do whole-hog BRT. It's pretty obvious.

That's pretty much the reason why these "enhanced" bus routes are being called BRT. The major capital cost is the purchasing of the new buses themselves. The problem I've always had is the local transit agency's false promotion of these things being just like LRT and selling their communities on their economic development aspects. The results of existing BRT-lite projects in the US strongly suggest otherwise. You get better bus service (which is great) but you'll be disappointed if you really expect TOD to bloom along the corridor or for it to look and feel like LRT. I'd hope, at some point in the near future, we treat BRT-lite as what it really is......reliable bus service.

[Jasonhouse]

^I was gonna say, this BRT-lite crap is just marketing BS for tolerable bus service.

[LMich]

It has opened:

Grand Rapids to open $40M rapid bus system


Associated Press

August 25, 2014

Grand Rapids — Grand Rapids is launching a $40 million rapid transit bus system that connects the city center with southern suburbs.

The Grand Rapids Press reports the 9.6-mile Silver Line Bus Rapid Transit system will kick off this week with free rides to attract commuters. About $32 million came from the federal government, while the state paid almost $8 million.

Transportation planners say the system cuts a typical 45-minute drive to a 27-minute commute. They say it’s the city’s first mode of transportation to compete with cars.

...

Maps

[Busy Bee]

As expected, like most US BRT projects, the sexy futuristic bespoke buses shown in renderings and promised to taxpayers in fact just end up being an ugly bulbous New Flyer with an RV paint job.

[waltlantz]

Originally Posted by ardecila

You call it BRT so you can get Federal funding to enhance the bus, even if you're not gonna do whole-hog BRT. It's pretty obvious.

It's unfortunate that transit agencies are so cash-strapped they have to run to the Feds for even minor projects, but there's nowhere else to get the money. Most state DOTs are heavily pro-highway and do not fund transit projects. Special ballot issues like LA's Measure R or Atlanta's T-SPLOST are still pretty rare, because state governments don't want to give cities the power to tax themselves.

Is there any way citizenry can push for changes to state DOTs to have a more balanced focus?

And why are states so against local taxation, even republicans in my state of VA are against it. It's local jurisdiction and local issues so you'd think that would fit with their get out of my way mantra but I dont get it.

[Perklol]

Arkansas couldn't come up with a measly $35 million? Of course, they'll do "whatever it takes" to get that freeway overpass built ASAP.

[eleven=11]

Originally Posted by Jasonhouse

^I was gonna say, this BRT-lite crap is just marketing BS for tolerable bus service.

better service is always a good idea
like wifi / GPS & electric tickets
what % of public transit is plain old bus.

kind of like HSR high speed rail. maybe just
better slightly faster rail is good enough.
in most of the USA that's all your gonna get
with the governments that we get stuck with.

[Jasonhouse]

^Which is why I'm in the process of planning to move.

I turned 40 this year. Florida and Tampa haven't changed one bit. Time's up.