After years of planning, transportation officials gathered Monday at the Rapid’s Central Station to unveil the first, long awaited “Laker Line” bus, a new service from The Rapid that will connect Grand Valley State University students from its Allendale Campus to its Pew Campus in downtown Grand Rapids as well as the medical mile, home to the university’s Kerkhof School of Nursing.
The Laker Line will replace The Rapid’s current Route 50 – GVSU’s Campus Connector with a 60-foot “accordion-style” bus that will accommodate 50 percent more riders on each trip. Grand Valley President Thomas Haas said Wednesday, that students have been complaining about overcrowded buses for years.
“This is a great step forward for the region, and I am thrilled with the planning of this," Haas said.
Meanwhile, Rapid CEO Andrew Johnson told those in attendance Monday that the Laker Line is not just for students, as more people will have better access to Grand Rapids along the route’s 14 scheduled bus stops.
“Families will be taking the Laker Line to the John Ball Zoo,” Johnson said.
“Someone’s grandmother living in the Grandview Apartments on Lake Michigan Drive will getting out on the Laker Line to meet her grandkids for lunch on Michigan Street. And all passengers throughout the Rapids 6-city service area will benefit from the Laker Lines enhanced service.”
That enhanced service includes platforms with well-lit shelters, level platform boarding, off-board fare collecting, real-time arrival signage, security phones and cameras.
The Laker Line will make its first trip in 2020.
