Comments on: Rapid Silver Line – Another Waste of Money http://www.grpundit.com/2009/04/13/rapid-silver-line-another-waste-of-money/ Politics | Economics | Society | Grand Rapids, Michigan Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:32:09 +0000 hourly 1 By: The Rapid Silver Line is Back…. again. | Grand Rapids Pundit http://www.grpundit.com/2009/04/13/rapid-silver-line-another-waste-of-money/#comment-727 The Rapid Silver Line is Back…. again. | Grand Rapids Pundit Mon, 28 Feb 2011 21:56:07 +0000 http://www.grpundit.com/?p=338#comment-727 [...] Rapid Silver Line – Another waste of money [...] [...] Rapid Silver Line – Another waste of money [...]

]]> By: Orwellian Redneck http://www.grpundit.com/2009/04/13/rapid-silver-line-another-waste-of-money/#comment-464 Orwellian Redneck Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:41:14 +0000 http://www.grpundit.com/?p=338#comment-464 To answer the question by John about Rapid ridership being up here's what it's all about: The numbers are jacked up because the Rapid is being used as a school bus system for the city. The numbers are also up because GVSU pays the RAPID to run students back and forth. That where the increased ridership is from. The high school busing makes the RAPID almost unrideable at certain times of days. There's also a violence issue at Central Station, as a result, that requires police to be on hand on a daily basis. To answer the question by John about Rapid ridership being up here’s what it’s all about:

The numbers are jacked up because the Rapid is being used as a school bus system for the city. The numbers are also up because GVSU pays the RAPID to run students back and forth. That where the increased ridership is from.

The high school busing makes the RAPID almost unrideable at certain times of days. There’s also a violence issue at Central Station, as a result, that requires police to be on hand on a daily basis.

]]> By: Orwellian Redneck http://www.grpundit.com/2009/04/13/rapid-silver-line-another-waste-of-money/#comment-463 Orwellian Redneck Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:34:21 +0000 http://www.grpundit.com/?p=338#comment-463 The last I read Granholm was refusing to answer questions about the money the State of Michigan was supposed to kick in for this project. Since the State has no money, it's easy to figure out why. The deal is they have to pass this thing to get the funds. But if the State is broke who knows? Does it make sense to add a redundant "business class express line" (where it isn't really needed) when there are other areas of GR that don't even have regular bus service? If anyone knows where I can get a SILVER LINE TO NOWHERE - VOTE NO sign, do something to stop this, or make a donation let me know! The last I read Granholm was refusing to answer questions about the money the State of Michigan was supposed to kick in for this project. Since the State has no money, it’s easy to figure out why. The deal is they have to pass this thing to get the funds. But if the State is broke who knows?

Does it make sense to add a redundant “business class express line” (where it isn’t really needed) when there are other areas of GR that don’t even have regular bus service?

If anyone knows where I can get a SILVER LINE TO NOWHERE – VOTE NO sign, do something to stop this, or make a donation let me know!

]]> By: Rapid Silver Line - Bus “Slow” Transit | Grand Rapids Pundit http://www.grpundit.com/2009/04/13/rapid-silver-line-another-waste-of-money/#comment-461 Rapid Silver Line - Bus “Slow” Transit | Grand Rapids Pundit Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:03:17 +0000 http://www.grpundit.com/?p=338#comment-461 [...] Rapid Silver Line - Another Waste of Money [...] [...] Rapid Silver Line – Another Waste of Money [...]

]]> By: Mary caldwell http://www.grpundit.com/2009/04/13/rapid-silver-line-another-waste-of-money/#comment-459 Mary caldwell Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:37:46 +0000 http://www.grpundit.com/?p=338#comment-459 VOTE NO Think beyond the HYPE I live on this busline. There is a bus stop at the corner here in Wyoming near Kentwood line and I am AMAZED as it is ALWAYS empty. Empty Empty Even supporters have noticed this, but they are business owners who think this HYPE will inflate their property values temporarily. Don't subsidize the businesses that hope to cash in on this B.S. Think of all the GOOD that could be done with this money to help homeowners in foreclosure, parks,education, police, fire, you name it. THIS IS A WASTE. The current route runs till nearly midnight and the darn thing is EMPTY. Come on people look past the hype. And remember all the cities they talk about that have this rapid transit are HUGE compared to Grand Rapids. They have the POPULATION to support it. We don't have the numbers. An Empty bus is your money and mine WASTED. There is a great empty bus system that services anyone that needs it on Division now. It is fine. It worked to get me downtown and to GVSU for years. More PORK and Waste during a recession is unthinkable! VOTE NO www.grandrapidsbustonowhere.homestead.com www.silverlinerapidtransistgrandrapids.com VOTE NO Think beyond the HYPE
I live on this busline. There is a bus stop at the corner here in Wyoming near Kentwood line and I am AMAZED as it is ALWAYS empty. Empty Empty
Even supporters have noticed this, but they are business owners who think this HYPE will inflate their property values temporarily. Don’t subsidize the businesses that hope to cash in on this B.S.

Think of all the GOOD that could be done with this money to help homeowners in foreclosure, parks,education, police, fire, you name it. THIS IS A WASTE. The current route runs till nearly midnight and the darn thing is EMPTY. Come on people look past the hype.

And remember all the cities they talk about that have this rapid transit are HUGE compared to Grand Rapids. They have the POPULATION to support it. We don’t have the numbers. An Empty bus is your money and mine WASTED. There is a great empty bus system that services anyone that needs it on Division now. It is fine.
It worked to get me downtown and to GVSU for years. More PORK and Waste during a recession is unthinkable! VOTE NO

http://www.grandrapidsbustonowhere.homestead.com
http://www.silverlinerapidtransistgrandrapids.com

]]> By: cenzo http://www.grpundit.com/2009/04/13/rapid-silver-line-another-waste-of-money/#comment-456 cenzo Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:44:43 +0000 http://www.grpundit.com/?p=338#comment-456 I would like to see some real numbers from the RAPID. How many people would be paying the new tax and of that number, how many would direclty use/benefit from this new service? I would like to see some real numbers from the RAPID. How many people would be paying the new tax and of that number, how many would direclty use/benefit from this new service?

]]> By: MisterP http://www.grpundit.com/2009/04/13/rapid-silver-line-another-waste-of-money/#comment-455 MisterP Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:34:16 +0000 http://www.grpundit.com/?p=338#comment-455 I guess I don't understand what this will solve. There are already bus lines up and down Division Ave. If the current schedule isn't efficient enough, who's job is it to make sure that any bus changes are timed properly? Additionally, why wouldn't we just replace our current fleet with the new buses? And like John, I'm always extremely frustrated with any commute where it's completely obvious that no traffic planning has been done. Cross streets are empty yet the light gives a green to no one, making dozens of cars idle while they wait. I feel that we already have too many transit issues to address and don't need yet another expensive project that is being touted by unproven social planning, and unproven "investment return" numbers. I guess I don’t understand what this will solve. There are already bus lines up and down Division Ave. If the current schedule isn’t efficient enough, who’s job is it to make sure that any bus changes are timed properly? Additionally, why wouldn’t we just replace our current fleet with the new buses?

And like John, I’m always extremely frustrated with any commute where it’s completely obvious that no traffic planning has been done. Cross streets are empty yet the light gives a green to no one, making dozens of cars idle while they wait.

I feel that we already have too many transit issues to address and don’t need yet another expensive project that is being touted by unproven social planning, and unproven “investment return” numbers.

]]> By: The Rapid Silver Line - More Concealment and Deceit | Grand Rapids Pundit http://www.grpundit.com/2009/04/13/rapid-silver-line-another-waste-of-money/#comment-449 The Rapid Silver Line - More Concealment and Deceit | Grand Rapids Pundit Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:32:28 +0000 http://www.grpundit.com/?p=338#comment-449 [...] is the Silver Line really? As we’ve previously reported, it is a Bus Rapid Transit line that will dedicate one lane each way on Division Avenue from 60th [...] [...] is the Silver Line really? As we’ve previously reported, it is a Bus Rapid Transit line that will dedicate one lane each way on Division Avenue from 60th [...]

]]> By: John http://www.grpundit.com/2009/04/13/rapid-silver-line-another-waste-of-money/#comment-448 John Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:23:34 +0000 http://www.grpundit.com/?p=338#comment-448 I do not believe the Silverline is a good idea and would like to know where one might get "Vote No On the Silverline" signs?. I keep hearing bus ridership is up, but is it all paid ridership? Lots of ozone day free rides are given. What is the average cost per ride for GRATA? As the proposed SilverLine will be given priority at all cross streets this system will trash the City's attempts at traffic control, and disrupt travel for thousands of cars on cross streets. That result could cause more fuel to be burned then if a buss stopped for signals that are properly timed. As the right lane will be for busses only, how will right turns be accomplished? Does all the traffic stop while a car waits for a pedestrian?. Maybe those thousands of cars will need to go left to go right, that too will save a lot of fossil fuel. I do not believe the Silverline is a good idea and would like to know where one might get “Vote No On the Silverline” signs?. I keep hearing bus ridership is up, but is it all paid ridership? Lots of ozone day free rides are given. What is the average cost per ride for GRATA? As the proposed SilverLine will be given priority at all cross streets this system will trash the City’s attempts at traffic control, and disrupt travel for thousands of cars on cross streets. That result could cause more fuel to be burned then if a buss stopped for signals that are properly timed. As the right lane will be for busses only, how will right turns be accomplished? Does all the traffic stop while a car waits for a pedestrian?. Maybe those thousands of cars will need to go left to go right, that too will save a lot of fossil fuel.

]]> By: bob http://www.grpundit.com/2009/04/13/rapid-silver-line-another-waste-of-money/#comment-447 bob Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:36:19 +0000 http://www.grpundit.com/?p=338#comment-447 Okay, just one more: What do you feel is a good spending of your tax dollars? How do you feel about the cameras installed on the expressways? Okay, just one more:

What do you feel is a good spending of your tax dollars?

How do you feel about the cameras installed on the expressways?

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