Grand Rapids' $29 million Rapid Bus leads Michigan's mass transit movement

With a $29 million boost from the feds, Grand Rapids' sleek train-like Bus Rapid Transit line will bring riders to the central city in style, increasing mass transit options and further accelerating the revitalization of Michigan's second largest urban area.

According to excerpts from the story:

Greater Grand Rapids has just gotten a $29 million dollar pledge from the federal government to beef up it’s public transit system. The goal is not just to buy the most environmentally friendly buses but to liven up downtown. And judging from what the city has done so far, public transit is a good economic development tool.

The Bus Rapid Transit system will include 10 hybrid electric buses on a 10 mile route downtown. 19 new bus stations will have message boards showing the next bus will arrive in 10 minutes or less. It’s supposed to feel permanent and powerful, like a train.

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