Transit for Livable Communities

News

A Visit to Grand Rapids

07/29/2011

From Barb Thoman, TLC Executive Director

Even in the nation’s mid-sized cities transit is growing and new development is transforming downtowns into vibrant, pedestrian friendly urban centers. I was recently in Grand Rapids, Michigan and was amazed at the city’s transformation since I grew up there 30 years ago.

Grand Rapids has a population of 200,000 in a metropolitan region of nearly 800,000. Over the last two decades, dozens of the downtown’s historic buildings have been beautifully restored. A new modern transit center has opened providing a hub for a growing regional transit system called The Rapid. A property tax increase passed by voters earlier this year will provide new funding for transit expansion. The regional planning framework for the G.R metropolitan area (like the soon to be updated Twin Cities Development Framework) paints an appealing picture of that region’s future:

To provide more livable compact communities within our metro region
To frame our communities with open spaces, farmlands, and greenways
To provide sufficient regional business and employment centers and
To connect communities and centers with efficient multi-modal transportation

Amtrak is relocating its Grand Rapids station to provide direct service to The Rapid’s new bus facility. Michigan DOT provides financial support for Amtrak service and is a partner in projects to upgrade track between Grand Rapids and Chicago and Kalamazoo and Chicago. Amtrak trains on some rail segments in Michigan should reach speeds of 110 mph by the end of 2011.

Corporate leadership at major employers --Steelcase, Amway, and Meijer-- have contributed significantly to the civic and cultural infrastructure of Grand Rapids. The city’s new facilities include a public museum, art museum, botanical garden, public arena, and other facilities. A corporate philanthropist sponsors an annual art competition known as ArtPrize that draws nearly 2,000 artists and thousand of art enthusiasts to downtown. A number of the winning art projects have been permanently installed downtown making it an appealing and interesting place to walk.

Here are a few photos recently taken in downtown Grand Rapids.

Kalamazoo Transit Station