Investing in modern mass transit is no longer an experiment. Several cities have proven, for example, that spending to build modern streetcar systems can spur economic development that far exceeds the costs of the new infrastructure. Grand Rapids leaders understand that, but they are still conducting a study of the idea before laying the first track. Potential private investment, ridership, development potential, utility impacts, and route destinations are a few of the factors under consideration.
According to excerpts from the story:
The Public Transportation Tomorrow Taskforce and consultants DMJM Harris have been analyzing ridership potential, development potential, possible alignments and destinations for a streetcar system, and have been looking at various factors including alternative corridors, utility impacts, vehicle design and other issues.
The task force has selected a 1.6-mile streetcar alignment that runs along Monroe Avenue from the Sixth Street Bridge south to where Monroe turns into Market Avenue and continuing to south of the U.S. 131 overpass. It turns off at Bartlett Street.
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