Funding Transit Operations and Coalition Building 2009 Transit Initiatives and Communities Conference Kevin Wisselink The Rapid June 2009
A New Plan Six area mayors came together and agreed to create a new transit authority with the power to levy taxes Funding was through property taxes for operation of the transit system Agreed to a funding rate that basically doubled local transit funding This was in an area that had never had a dedicated transit tax before
A Coalition is Built Business Leaders Non Profit Organizations Elected Officials Religious Community
Faith in Motion An interfaith coalition of 65 religious communities in the greater Grand Rapids area Main goals are to: – raise awareness of the importance of public transportation to the community – work towards the creation of a comprehensive public transportation system in the greater Grand Rapids area Coalition worked with “Friends of Transit” group to make sure its message coordinated with the transit campaign message
Member Organizations ACCESS Calvin CRC Catholic Human Development Outreach Catholic Information Center Church Council of Plymouth Congregational UCC Church of the Servant CRC City Restoration Ministries Clancy Street Ministries Community Rebuilders Comstock Park Congregational UCC Congregational Ahavas Israel Diocese of Grand Rapids (Catholic) Divine Grace Ministries Church Eastern Avenue CRC East Congregational UCC Faith United Methodist Church First Church of the Nazarene First (Park) Congregational Church First United Methodist Church Grand Rapids Area Center for Ecumenism Grace Episcopal Church Grand Rapids Dominicans Grand Rapids Friends Meeting Grand Valley Deanery of the Episcopal Diocese of West Michigan Guardian Angel Homes, Inc. Guiding Light Mission Heartside Ministries Hope Lutheran Church Holy Cross Episcopal Church Immanuel Lutheran Church Ivanrest CRC John Knox Community Food Pantry John Knox Presbyterian Church Madison Square CRC Messiah Baptist Church New Life Church of God in Christ Olivet United Methodist Church Orchard Hill Reformed Church Plainfield United Methodist Church Reconciliation Metropolitan Community Church St. Alphonsus Catholic Church St. Andrews Cathedral St. Andrews Episcopal Church St. John Vianney Catholic Church St. Luke’s Lutheran Church St. Mark’s Episcopal Church St. Mary’s Catholic Church St. Stephens Catholic Church St. Pius X Catholic Church St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church SECOM Ministries Servant’s Community Church Sherman Street CRC South United Methodist Church Steepletown Ministries Temple Emanuel The Other Way Ministries Trinity Lutheran Church Trinity Reformed Church United Methodist Community House United Methodist Ministry of Greater Grand Rapids West Michigan Conference, United Methodist Church Westminster Food Pantry Westminster Presbyterian Church Wyoming Park Bible Fellowship
The Result? 65% vote of support! Allowed for the formation of The Rapid, a new transit agency Transit service expanded greatly: • Service until 11: 30 PM on weeknights • New Sunday service and expanded Saturday service • New Routes create • Dedicated funding base
Perceptions of The Rapid 89% of voters and 86% of riders rate The Rapid’s job performance as either “very good” or “good”. Voters’ Perception of The Rapid’s Service Riders’ Perception of The Rapid’s Service
2004 Transit System of the Year The Rapid received the prestigious Outstanding Public Transportation System of the Year Award for 2004 from the American Public Transportation Association. The Rapid was selected over nearly 80 peer systems across the country. The award is based on such things as ridership levels, service efficiency, safety, and customer service.
The Result: Ridership more than doubles 10, 000 9, 000 8, 000 7, 000 6, 000 5, 000 4, 000 3, 000 2, 000 1, 000 0 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Funding Renewal and Increase Funding questions were placed on the ballot in 2004 and 2007, both for funding renewals with a small increase Both passed easily, by 65% in 2004 and 59% in 2007 This allowed for further expansion of The Rapids’ services
2009 Bus Rapid Transit Election – More supporters than ever… Mayor Cindy Bartman - City of East Grand Rapids Ellen James - GRCC Board of Trustees Mayor James R Buck - City of Grandville James Jendrasiak - Grand Rapids City Commissioner Mayor George Heartwell - City of Grand Rapids David La Grand - Grand Rapids City Commissioner Mayor Rick Root - City of Kentwood Elias Lumpkins - Grand Rapids City Commissioner Mayor Carol S. Sheets - City of Wyoming Stan Ponstein - Kent County Commissioner Mayor Rob Ver. Heulen - City of Walker Amna Seibold - East Grand Rapids City U. S. Congressman Vern Ehlers Commissioner Senator Bill Hardiman Arneada Smith-Alexander - Grand Rapids School Senator Mark Jansen Board Member. Bob Synk - Kent County Rev. Robert Dean - State Representative Commissioner Kevin Green - State Representative Jim Talen - Kent County Commissioner Tom Pearce - State Representative James Vaughn - Kent County Commissioner Roy Schmidt - State Representative William Ver Hulst - City Commissioner & Mayor Pro Tony Baker - Grand Rapids School Board Member Tem, Wyoming Rosalynn Bliss - Grand Rapids City Commissioner James W. White - Grand Rapids City Commissioner M. Scott Bowen - State Lottery Commissioner Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired Sharon Brinks - Kentwood City Commissioner Auburn Hills Neighborhood Association Dick Bulkowski* - Kent County Commissioner Black Hills Citizens for a Better Community William R. Byl - Kent County Drain Burton Heights Business Association Commissioner Clean Water Action Richard Clanton - Kentwood City Commissioner Coalition to End Homelessness Amy Coretti - East Grand Rapids City Concerned Citizens for Improved Transit Commissioner Creston Business Association Robert D. Coughlin - Kentwood City Disability Advocates of Kent County Commissioner Division Avenue Business Association Keith Courtade - Kent County Commissioner Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids, MI Brandon Dillon - Kent County Commissioner Erhardt Construction Sandi Frost Parrish - Kent County Commissioner Essential Needs Task Force Food Subcommittee Walt Gutowski - Grand Rapids City Fair Housing Center of West Michigan Commissioner Faith in Motion Carol Hennessy - Kent County Commissioner Guardian Angel Homes Pete Hickey - Kent County Commissioner Grand Rapids Downtown Alliance Bill Hirsch - Kent County Commissioner The Grand Rapids Area Center for Ecumenism Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Grand Rapids City Commission Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness Grand Rapids Community College Board of Trustees Hansen-Balk Steel Treating Heartside Business Association Heartside Downtown Neighborhood Association Heartside Ministry Hoekstra Transportation Hope Network Independent Research Associates Inner City Christian Federation Justice and Peace Task Force of Plymouth UCC Kent County Democratic Party Kentwood City Commission Locus Development Metropolitan Hospital Michigan League of Conservation Voters Nantz, Litowich, Smith, Girard & Hamilton Neighbors of Belknap Lookout Plaza Towers Residential Condominium Association Board Progressive AE Progressive Women's Alliance Saint Alphonsus Saint Mary's Health Care Spectrum Health St. Anthony of Padua Steepletown Ministries Transportation Riders United UAW Community Action Program United Growth for Kent County Walker City Commission West Fulton Business Association West Michigan Environmental Action Council West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce
…But it results in a setback Even with substantial support from many parts of the community, an election setback can still occur The Rapid’s 2009 ballot question generated 47% support Reasons for the setback? • More complex question on the ballot • Economic situation in Michigan • Voters did not fully understand the questions and the implications for the region
Lessons in Community Collaboration Public transportation can enjoy wide support from many different parts of the community (Republicans, Democrats, businesses, churches, etc. ) Find which elements of your community will resonate with the voters Make sure that all elements of your coalition are speaking with a unified voice Ensure that voters fully understand the question they are voting on and its implications
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