By: Deborah Johnson Wood
On December 10, the Public Transportation Tomorrow Taskforce and the Interurban Transit Partnership’s Strategic Planning Committee agreed on a nine-point plan to move Grand Rapids’ proposed streetcar project forward. By summer 2012 transit leaders hope to have both the streetcar system and the proposed $40 million bus rapid transit line operational.
Appointed members from the taskforce and the ITP board will serve on a committee to form a nonprofit organization that will manage a capital campaign under the leadership of a special steering committee.
“Everything starts from the feasibility study (completed May 2008),” says Peter Varga, The Rapid executive director. “There could be changes; the committee will develop the plan and an agreement between the nonprofit board and The Rapid board so everyone knows the details of the streetcar project.”
Varga points out that the feasibility study was not an in-depth analysis of costs or final mapping of the streetcar’s route, proposed as a 3.2-mile loop from Newberry Street south along Monroe Avenue to The Rapid Central Station. The nine-point plan stipulates an agreement for an additional analysis involving city officials, business leaders and others.
The plan also calls for an implementation plan, including environmental reviews, preliminary engineering and design, and operations and costs.
According to The Rapid, a typical investment of $12 million to $15 million per mile of streetcar line spurs 10 to 20 times that in private investment in retail, restaurants, entertainment, commerce and residential along the route.
Source: Peter Varga, Jennifer Kalczuk, The Rapid
Related Articles
Grand Rapids transit on track for big changes, 21st Century growth
Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.