The Rapid wins most outstanding mid-sized transit agency in North America
Transportation dignitaries from Michigan and around the country gathered in Grand Rapids this week to announce that The Rapid had won the American Public Transportation Association’s Most Outstanding Mid-Sized Transit Agency in North America for 2013.
It is the second time The Rapid has received the award; the last time was in 2004. The APTA annual award is based on metrics that include operational efficiency, ridership growth, technology, and financial stability. APTA president and CEO Michael P. Melaniphy particularly mentioned The Rapid’s on-time ratings and consistent ability to “balance the budget” as its strong suits. The local transit agency beat out 78 other cities in their class for the award.
Ridership for the agency has more than doubled from 2000 – 2012, going from 4.5 million rides annually to nearly 11.9 million last year.
The six-city transit agency is touted at as a model for regional transit that is being looked at closely in Southeast Michigan. The Rapid started construction on its long-awaited Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Silver Line earlier this year — the first in Michigan — and is in early feasibility studies to add a second BRT line from downtown Grand Rapids to GVSU’s campus in Allendale.
CEO of The Rapid, Peter Varga, plans to accept the award formally at the APTA’s annual conference in Chicago on October 1st.
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