Michigan gives The Rapid $6 million for downtown event transit service

Overview

Updated Oct 24

Michigan is giving The Rapid $6 million to buy up to six buses and run more frequent service on nights when downtown Grand Rapids hosts big events. The money targets crowds at Acrisure Amphitheater, Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place, DeVos Performance Hall and the Amway Soccer Stadium now under construction.

Jeffrey King, who handles governmental and external affairs for The Rapid, said the plan grew out of the amphitheater's first season, when the agency studied where crowds and delays built up. The agency has not picked which routes get extra buses, though the Silver Line and Routes 2, 4, 9 and 11 already see heavier demand on event nights. A second grant, about $3 million, is expected in 2027 or 2028 to pay drivers and other costs of running the extra service.

Why it matters

If event-time transit works, Grand Rapids moves big crowds without more parking and other Michigan cities get a playbook.

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Key Indicators

$6M

State grant for event-time transit

From the Infrastructure Projects Authority Fund, enough to buy up to six buses.

$3M

Expected follow-on grant

Second state award, expected in 2027 or 2028, to cover drivers and operating costs during events.

130

Buses in The Rapid's fleet

Agency fleet size, before the up to six buses the grant would add.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

People Involved

Deborah Prato

Chief executive officer, The Rapid

Leads the agency receiving the $6 million grant

Jeffrey King

Governmental and external affairs, The Rapid

Described how The Rapid plans to use the $6 million event-service grant

Organizations Involved

The Rapid (Interurban Transit Partnership)

Public transit authority

Recipient of $6 million state grant for event-time downtown service

Grand Rapids' regional bus authority and operator of Michigan's only two bus-rapid-transit lines.

Michigan Department of Transportation

State agency

Granting agency distributing the infrastructure fund

Michigan's state transportation agency, which administers the infrastructure fund backing the grant.

Timeline

August 2014 October 2026

4 events Latest: October 13th, 2026 · 4 weeks ago

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October 2026
MDOT announces $6 million for event-time transit
Latest Funding

State infrastructure money will bolster The Rapid's service during major downtown Grand Rapids events, including Acrisure Amphitheater, Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place and DeVos Performance Hall, plus the planned Amway Soccer Stadium. The grant is part of a $65 million state package.
October 13th, 2026
August 2020
Laker Line BRT begins service
Launch

The 13.3-mile line connects Grand Valley State University in Allendale to downtown Grand Rapids.
August 24th, 2020
2016
Federal funding approved for Laker Line
Funding

$57 million in federal grant money is approved for the second BRT project.
2016
August 2014
Silver Line opens in Grand Rapids
Launch

Michigan's first bus-rapid-transit line debuts along South Division Avenue.
August 25th, 2014

Scenarios

Rapid rolls out expanded event-day service downtown

Likely Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Local transit officials and MDOT

The Rapid uses the $6 million to add buses, staff and extended hours on downtown event days, building on existing routes. Success would show ridership gains and less event parking pressure, and could open the door to more state transit funding across Michigan.

Grant scaled back or redirected

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: State budget watchdogs

State budget pressure, delays or low uptake could see part of the $6 million reallocated to other transit needs. The grant was announced but not yet spent, leaving room for adjustments before services launch.

Event service launches but ridership disappoints

Possible Resolves by End of 2028

Discussed by: Bridge Michigan and local transit critics

Following the Silver Line pattern, the service could launch but draw far fewer riders than projected. That would revive questions about whether public transit spending in Grand Rapids delivers on its promises.

Second state grant covers event-night operating costs

Likely Resolves by End of 2028

Discussed by: The Rapid and the Michigan Department of Transportation

The $6 million buys buses, but running them on event nights costs money for drivers and fuel. A second award of about $3 million, expected in 2027 or 2028, would pay those costs and let the expanded schedule continue past the initial rollout.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

August 2014

Silver Line BRT launch (2014)

Grand Rapids launched the Silver Line, Michigan's first bus-rapid-transit line, along South Division Avenue with about $35 million in funding. Backers predicted 5,000 weekday riders and $160 million in new development.

Then

Four years later, daily ridership was roughly half the forecast, and the promised development had not materialized, per Bridge Michigan.

Now

The line became a cautionary tale for Michigan transit projects and a focus for critics of public transit spending.

Why this matters now

The same agency now receives new state money for event transit, and local skeptics are likely to measure it against the Silver Line's shortfall.

2008

Cleveland HealthLine BRT (2008)

Cleveland opened the 6.8-mile HealthLine bus-rapid-transit route along Euclid Avenue, a roughly $200 million project connecting downtown to University Circle.

Then

The line drew strong ridership and was credited as a catalyst for about $6 billion in development along its route.

Now

It became the national model for BRT as an economic-development tool.

Why this matters now

BRT backers point to Cleveland as proof that well-placed transit can pay off, the counter-case to Grand Rapids' Silver Line.