Stop the RAPID

Welcome to Stop the RAPID. We are a group of concerned citizens who are working to defeat the 18% transit tax increase that voters in Grand Rapids, East Grand Rapids, Grandville, Kentwood, Walker, and Wyoming are being asked to approve on Tuesday, May 8th.

Those who are supporting the tax increase aren’t telling the whole story. The Interurban Transit Partnership (also known as the RAPID) is asking for a $2 million annual increase in tax revenues. Is it worth it? Consider the quick facts below:

• The average transit bus only gets 3.65 miles per gallon¹
• Transit buses spew 50 times more pollution and 279 times more soot than a passenger car.²
• Each RAPID bus costs $9.40 per mile to operate.⁴ A typical car costs about $0.36 per mile to operate.³
• For each passenger that rides a RAPID bus, the RAPID loses $5.82.⁵ Taxpayers (that’s us!) make up that amount to the tune of $30.7 million a year!⁶
• Only 1.1% of workers in the Grand Rapids area use public transportation to get to work. Compare this to 9.6% who carpool, which is free to taxpayers.⁷

The proponents of the RAPID tax increase call it an investment. Sounds like a losing investment.

The Rapid No campaign opposes the requested tax increase. It is important to note that if the requested tax increase fails, current Rapid bus services will continue unaffected because the current Rapid tax doesn’t expire until 2008. The Rapid No campaign wishes to ensure that current tax dollars are spent well before a tax increase is requested.

We encourage everyone to learn more about how the RAPID is neither cost effective nor helping the environment. Continue to the Myths vs. Facts page to read more.

UPDATES:

• Read The Rapid as Corporate Welfare.
• What Happens if the Transit Tax Increase Fails?.

 Email This Page to a Friend