GET INVOLVED!
Past and Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
Spring Public Meeting
Details coming soon!
The Rapid will host a public meeting in Spring 2024 to share findings from technical tasks, stakeholder feedback, and draft TMP recommendations.
Rapid Roadshow
We’ll come to you!
Rapid staff are coordinating with over 150 stakeholder organizations and community groups as part of the project’s Spring 2024 public engagement efforts. Contact us to invite Rapid staff to present on the TMP at your community meeting.
Past Events
View images and highlights from previous events below.
October Open House
An open house was held on Thursday, October 19, 2023 at the Rapid Central Station Platform and Second Floor Conference Room. The open house was held from 7 to 9 AM, 12 to 2 PM, and 6 to 8 PM for a total of six hours.
Open house attendees were asked to share feedback on short and long term goals for The Rapid. Feedback was collected via interactive maps and boards, online survey and ideas wall, and comment cards. A full summary of activities and feedback are available below.
Stakeholder and Focus Group Meetings
Stakeholder meetings included community members and technical staff representing the six jurisdictions of The Rapid and representatives from adjacent city and county jurisdictions, including Grand Rapids, East Grand Rapids, Walker, Wyoming, Kentwood, Hudsonville, Kent County Road Commission, Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), Grand Valley Metropolitan Council (GVMC), and Ottawa County, among others.
Focus group meetings were held during Summer 2023 and Fall 2023 to discuss ideas and challenges facing different community groups. Focus groups were made up of a variety of community group representative from the Disabled Community and Advisory Committee, current Rapid riders, students, employers, health institutions, state and government officials, developers, tourism industry representatives, local communications, non-transit riders, real estate professionals.
Stakeholder and focus groups will reconvene in Spring 2024.
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• Doug LaFave, City of East Grand Rapids
• Layla Aslani, City of Grand Rapids
• Tyler Kent, City of Grand Rapids
• Tyler Dotson, City of Hudsonville
• Terry Schweitzer, City of Kentwood
• Frank Wash, City of Walker
• Patrick Waterman, City of Wyoming
• Michelle Baker, G.R. Ford Intl. Airport
• Laurel Joseph, GVMC
• Mark Rambo, Kent County
• Rick Sprague, Kent County Road Commission
• Dennis Kent, MDOT
• Erick Kind, MDOT
• Tyler Kent, MDOT
• Erin Evenhouse, Mobile GR
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• Bethany Christian Services
• Cherry Health
• Christman Co.
• Disability Advocates of Kent County
• Grand Rapids Airport
• Grand Rapids Children’s Museum
• GRCC
• GVSU
• Kent County
• Kent County Welcome Plan
• Michigan Immigrant and Refugee Council
• Rapid Customers
• Trinity Health Rise Up Program
Steering Committee Meetings
The Steering Committee includes executive level public and private stakeholders within the community and surrounding jurisdictions. The committee’s role is to provide guidance on key milestones, review the needs and goals, and ensure that the plan reflects the vision and values of the region. The Steering Committee meets on a quarterly basis.
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• Alex Andrews, TalentFirst
• Alex Pitt, Corewell Health West
• Alison Freas, The Source
• Amaad Hardy, NAACP
• Bridget Cheney, Grand Rapids Public Schools
• Casey Ries, Gerald R. Ford International Airport
• Bruce Goodman, Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett
• Dan Butler, SCORE
• Dave Bulkowski, Disability Advocates of Kent County
• Eddie Tadlock, ASM Global
• Eric Brown, Grand Rapids Urban League
• Eric Mullen, Grand Rapids Community College
• Greg Meyer, Univeristy of Michigan Health - West
• Jamiel Robinson, GRABB
• Janet Korn, Experience Grand Rapids
• Jesse Bernal, Grand Valley State University
• Joe Chamberlain, West Michigan Whitecaps
• Jorge Gonzalez, Start Garden
• Josh Lunger, GR Chamber of Commerce
• Kara Wood, Grand Action 2.0
• Kareem Scales, Scales Consulting
• Keith Morgan, Wyoming/Kentwood Chamber
• Kendrick Heinlein, Area Agency on Aging
• Kevin Ricco, Grand Valley State University
• Lindsey Reames, Grand Rapids Housing Commission
• Matt Levitt, Meijer
• Michelle Rabideau, St. Mary's Foundation
• Mike Morin, Seamless Ventures
• Mike Verhulst, Acrisure
• Minnie Morey, W. Mich. Asian American Asso.
• Nyal Deems, Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett
• Paul Karsten, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health
• Raymond Higbea, Grand Valley State University
• Ryan Anderson, Herman Miller
• Ryan Kilpatrick, RDV & Housing Next
• Sarah Latta Rainero, MEDC
• Tawana Brown, West Michigan Works!
• Tim Fischer, State of Michigan - Infrastructure Office
• Tim Kelly, Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.
• Tim Mroz, The Right Place
• Tim Steinmeier, Hope Network
• Torrance Richardson, Gerald R. Ford International Airport
• Vera Beech, Community Rebuilders
• Wende Randall, Kent Co. Essential Needs Task Force
