Cities asked to support transit study

Thu, Mar 27, 2008

WEST OLIVE — Excitement for a transit system connecting regional metropolitan areas is growing, and the West Michigan Transit Study Technical Committee is now asking for support of a formal study.

Funded through the Michigan Department of Transportation, the $110,000 study will provide bus route options linking the cities of Grand Haven, Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Holland — as well as smaller communities in Ottawa County.

"There's a lot of positive energy from the community," said Mark Knudsen, director of the Ottawa County Planning and Grants Department. "(Area officials) have heard clearly from constituents that there is a pent-up demand for people to get to other urban centers."

Knudsen said cities and townships involved should soon receive letters asking for approval of the Michigan Transit Linkages Study.

If the study shows a regional transit system is feasible, the municipalities involved are asked to consider collaboration with local governments, transit providers and road agencies to implement a regional transit system.

At the Ottawa County Planning Commission meeting Monday, Knudsen said it should be an easy decision for the cities involved because the study is already fully funded.

Grand Haven and Holland are conducting transit studies at this time to look at expanding services, Knudsen said, but the linkages study will look specifically at how best to connect the areas.

Grand Haven's Harbor Transit bus system can give people door-to-door transportation, but it has no regional service.

"We think that's a gap in our service package regionally," City Manager Pat McGinnis said. "I would just love it if a day came where a kid could hop on the bus and come to the beach for a day, or a Grand Haven resident could take the bus to a doctor appointment in Grand Rapids."

McGinnis said the city is interested in expanding the transit system's coverage to give residents easier access to jobs, higher education, recreation, hospitals and churches.

"The city and Harbor Transit are definitely looking at that to increase the customer services and connect the different cities," Harbor Transit Operations Manager Sue Thomae said.

Grand Haven Mayor Roger Bergman proposed the idea to the county Planning Commission in early February. Since then, area leaders have met at Grand Valley State University for discussions.

After the study is completed in 2009, officials will decide if a cooperative transit system is both necessary and feasible, and whether it should be implemented.