The Rapid mass transit system based in Grand Rapids will break ground this year on a $32.4 million expansion of its operations center and bus garage, a long overdue project kick-started with the help of $10.6 million in federal stimulus funds.
Located at 333 Wealthy St. SW, the center's bus capacity will grow from about 100 buses to up to 170 when the two-year project is completed. The Rapid's center was built in the 1970s and is now bursting at the seams with a fleet of 122 buses.
According to excerpts from the story:
"We have a young fleet, the average age is 4.6 years," said Peter Varga, executive director of the agency that runs The Rapid. "Previously, we had to store up to 10 buses outside."
The money we got from stimulus was the reason why we could advance this project earlier," Varga said. Without the money, the project would be another two years out, he said
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