$5 million federal grant to modernize The Rapid bus fleet in Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The U.S. Department of Transportation announced that the local Interurban Transit Partnership (ITP), also known as The Rapid, will receive $5,056,798 to replace aging buses that service the Grand Rapids area. This grant is the final installment in a series of grants secured by Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers.

      “Keeping a modern, safe, and efficient fleet of buses is one of the most costly, but important, functions of our local transit provider, and I am very pleased that this grant has helped toward that end,” said Congressman Ehlers. “Reliable public transit is a critical service for many residents of the Grand Rapids area. People use The Rapid every day to get to and from work, events, childcare, and other functions. I will continue to work to improve access to affordable and efficient transit options in West Michigan.”

      This grant completes an effort to replace 32 aging buses in The Rapid system. “Replacing buses in our fleet is a constant concern,” said The Rapid CEO Peter Varga. “This grant program will help us reduce our average fleet age to 4.6 years, and will help our system continue to operate without any new bus purchases for the next three years. It also means greater comfort for our riders and greatly reduced operating costs.”

      The grant awarded this week is the final installment of $12 million in federal funding for this effort, which was secured by Congressman Ehlers in legislation in 2005.