Numerous studies tell us that as oil prices rise, major population shifts begin. But most importantly, our personal transportation choices are subject to change -- especially in urban areas.
If you have traveled abroad, then you know very well what cities have excellent public transportation and you know which ones don't.
The lack of good public transportation is why you get a Houston, but once in a while, you get a Portland. Successful public transportation all comes down to planning.
The United Nations conducted a worldwide population study a few years ago, showing that by the year 2030, our urban centers will contain the vast majority of population growth. People will be migrating back to the cities because essential services are best served in dense regions.
?While the mega-cities will grab plenty of headlines and people, the significant new growth will be happening within the smaller cities. Without planning now, there will be a lack of critical resources needed to respond to the incredible magnitude of this change.
Ironically, our local bus service, The Rapid, has been conducting studies with the public on how best to serve the needs of the public in our growing region.
If you've just adopted our city, you may not remember that before The Rapid, there was the GRATA bus service, which was limited to only serving riders within the Grand Rapids city limits. Through collaboration with area communities, The Rapid was born out of GRATA and new routes were implemented 10 years ago to encompass cities like Kentwood, Wyoming, Grandville, Walker and East Grand Rapids.
This shift brought a new appreciation for mass transit and for once, we began to think about how we could consolidate costs to provide the greatest service to our community.
Public transportation impacts all of us. It has been proven over and over again that in cities like Grand Rapids, everyone benefits from public transportation including those who do not ride the bus.
One recent study from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) found that moving from a two-car to a one-car household would save the average homeowner nearly $10,000 a year. And who couldn't use extra cash these days?
What is on the table with this election is the adoption of the public-driven plan that will take us to the magical date of 2030. The first portion is a seven-year plan of increased services including the magic bullet for the nightlife crowd. Finally, a late night bus service that begins to make sense.
If late night downtown play is not on your dance card, consider this issue: How are we going to retain a youthful population who are making choices of where they will live based on access to public transportation?
I am even willing to bet my future Pulitzer that if I polled the young people in this demographic, Portland, as well as a host of other cities that have embraced public transportation as a critical community need, would be at the top of their list. Houston --a sprawling city with poor public transportation --would likely be at the bottom.
Why?
It is really quite simple. As cities revitalize, as Grand Rapids has in the past decade, a younger generation recognizes that public transportation provides a quality of life bump.
Grand Valley State University's Carolyn Callery is just one of the many students who took part in over 2 million bus rides that The Rapid provided to them. Without this service, our roads would have been more congested with commuting students.
Aside from more cars on the local roads, Callery offers this additional viewpoint. "This community does not want its students to leave for another city and the students want to be a part of Grand Rapids' growth and future," says Callery. "I feel at home here and know that I am living in a growing community whose future can go in so many directions. Public transportation is a huge factor in students deciding where to live."
The seven-year plan for The Rapid is critical to our region. On May 3, we will decide if we want to be a Portland or a Houston.
When you crunch the numbers for a person who owns a $100,000 home, the household contribution is less than $1.50 each month. And that is an amazing number when you consider what $1.50 does not buy you these days. The value of this upgrade is for the people and by the people.
Those of us on the ground who are a part of this city know the truth. Public transportation does the most good for the community and puts money back in the pockets of the masses.
"Public transportation is a service," says William Millar of APTA, "and we don't expect police and schools to pay for themselves."
So, get on the bus, people! The future rolls into the station on May 3.
The Future Needs All of Us (to get up on it)
Tommy Allen, Lifestyle Editor
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