In a press release from Cascade Township, the route that runs along 28th street, will end on Aug. 27. This comes after the township’s transportation committee, its Downtown Development Authority and The Rapid failed to reach an agreement over the route.
The three had been in talks for several months after the township determined Route 29 was not serving the needs of its riders.
The township says its DDA hired McKenna, a Northville-based planning, design and building services firm to conduct a survey on Route 29.
The firm found the route cost the township around $218,000 a year and ridership was large. In an effort to save money the township proposed The Rapid end Route 29 and instead extend another route, Route 28.
“The Township, through its Downtown Development Authority and Transportation Committee, offered a variety of alternatives to the Rapid to preserve bus services for residents and businesses — they were all flatly refused,” Grace Lesperance, a Cascade Township Supervisor, said in the same release.
“Alternative services for our residents and for workers are available and we will continue to support those providers and to direct our residents and workers to them,” she said.
The township said it will pursue other options including adding additional financial support to Hope Network transportation services. The township has also expressed interest in participating in a LyftPass rideshare program that would subsidize Lyft rides within a specific area.
In response to the end of Route 29, The Rapid said on its Facebook page that it will extend Route 5 to cover the Kentwood portion of the soon-to-be-defunct Route 29 starting Aug. 28.
