The Rapid reduces bus service beginning Tuesday, March 24, 2020

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The Rapid, the Grand Rapids metro area public transportation system, continues to adapt our operations and service in an effort to minimize exposure risks of COVID- 19. The health and safety of Rapid employees and customers remains our number one priority.

Beginning Tuesday, March 24, 2020, The Rapid will implement a reduced service schedule effective seven days a week. This schedule will remain in place until further notice. These changes are being posted on The Rapid’s website and social media channels, as well as through all our rider alert tools.

The reduced service schedule was created with the goal of continuing to provide critical transit access to medical destinations including local hospitals, pharmacy and grocery service, and employment centers for individuals that are still reporting to their place of work. In addition, core ridership locations and travel patterns have been tracked for the last 10 days and have been factored into this schedule to ensure that it matches current demand to the greatest extent possible. Schedule details are as follows:

• Service will run seven days per week from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

• Only the routes listed here will be in operation:

  • The following routes will be running on 60-minute (hourly) service

    • Silver Line

    • Route 1 (Division)

    • Route 2 (Kalamazoo)

    • Route 4 (Eastern)

    • Route 6 (Eastown/Woodland)

    • Route 7 (West Leonard)

    • Route 8 (Grandville/Rivertown Crossing)

    • Route 9 (Alpine)

    • Route 10 (Clyde Park)

    • Route 11 (Plainfield)

    • Route 13 (Michigan Fuller - North)

    • Route 15 (East Leonard)

    • Route 16 (Wyoming Metro Health Village)

    • Route 28 (28th Street)

  • Route 50 (GVSU Campus Connector) will operate on 50-minute service seven days per week from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

  • Route 85 (GVSU Campus Circulator) will operate on 25-minute service seven days per week from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

• DASH West will run on 30-minute (half-hour) service from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays only (Monday - Friday)

• DASH North will not run during this service reduction
  
  The Rapid has implemented remote work procedures for all employees and has a short-term plan in place for employees to preserve health care benefits and income for as long as financially feasible. Part of this plan includes potential temporary layoffs that may be necessary in order to maintain a level of minimum public transportation service and reduce exposure to COVID-19.

  The Rapid is monitoring current legislative developments at the federal level, including a potential emergency relief package for public transit. Depending on the outcome of this legislative package, funding may become available to avoid workforce reductions.

  Follow updates and news about The Rapid and COVID-19 at ridetherapid.org/coronavirus.