Saint Mary’s Health Care expansion integrates proposed Bus Rapid Transit

By: Deborah Johnson Wood

Saint Mary’s Health Care in Grand Rapids has incorporated two platforms for The Rapid's proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) into its development plan for four acres along the west side of Jefferson Street, across from the hospital’s main campus.

The inclusion of the BRT platforms is more than just an idea: one goal for the city’s 2009 reconstruction of Jefferson is to lay the foundations for the BRT platforms, one just south of Maple Street and one directly across Jefferson.

What’s interesting is Saint Mary’s faith that the BRT will be established even though final approval and funding for it could be a couple of years away.

Environmental studies need to be completed and the project needs an $8 million state funding match to unlock some $30 million federal dollars for the project. So far that match hasn’t come.

“We look at it as a great opportunity for everybody, and we’re making changes to some of our plans and traffic flows to make this a reality on our campus and to accommodate the BRT northbound lane along Jefferson,” says Tom Stankewicz, spokesperson for Saint Mary’s.

“The return on investment has been about 400 percent with BRT projects in Ottawa, Canada, and other places. We are one of the largest employers in the city with 2,400 employees and we want to give them, our patients and visitors another transportation option. The BRT seems like a win/win for everybody and the environment.”

The plan calls for the demolition of the former Eerdman’s Publishing building across the street from the Saint Mary’s campus, and, in its place, a mixed-use development of retail, medical, coffee shops and residential.

“With what we are planning to do with this area,” Stankewicz adds, “along with Cathedral Square next door, the BRT seems like a wonderful fit.”

Source: Tom Stankewicz, Saint Mary’s Health Care; Jennifer Kalczuk, The Rapid

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Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].