Funding Transit Operations and Coalition Building

1. Funding Transit Operations and Coalition Building • 2009 Transit Initiatives and Communities Conference Kevin Wisselink The Rapid June 2009

2. A New Plan • Six area mayors came together and agreed to create a new transit authority with the power to levy taxes • Funding was through property taxes for operation of the transit system • Agreed to a funding rate that basically doubled local transit funding • This was in an area that had never had a dedicated transit tax before

3. A Coalition is Built • Business Leaders • Non Profit Organizations • Elected Officials • Religious Community

4. Faith in Motion • An interfaith coalition of 65 religious communities in the greater Grand Rapids area • Main goals are to: • raise awareness of the importance of public transportation to the community • work towards the creation of a comprehensive public transportation system in the greater Grand Rapids area • Coalition worked with “Friends of Transit” group to make sure its message coordinated with the transit campaign message

5. Member Organizations ACCESS Calvin CRC Catholic Human Development Outreach Catholic Information Center Church Council of Plymouth Congregational UCC Church of the Servant CRC City Restoration Ministries Clancy Street Ministries Community Rebuilders Comstock Park Congregational UCC Congregational Ahavas Israel Diocese of Grand Rapids (Catholic) Divine Grace Ministries Church Eastern Avenue CRC East Congregational UCC Faith United Methodist Church First Church of the Nazarene First (Park) Congregational Church First United Methodist Church Grand Rapids Area Center for Ecumenism Grace Episcopal Church Grand Rapids Dominicans Grand Rapids Friends Meeting Grand Valley Deanery of the Episcopal Diocese of West Michigan Guardian Angel Homes, Inc. Guiding Light Mission Heartside Ministries Hope Lutheran Church Holy Cross Episcopal Church Immanuel Lutheran Church Ivanrest CRC John Knox Community Food Pantry John Knox Presbyterian Church Madison Square CRC Messiah Baptist Church New Life Church of God in Christ Olivet United Methodist Church Orchard Hill Reformed Church Plainfield United Methodist Church Reconciliation Metropolitan Community Church St. Alphonsus Catholic Church St. Andrews Cathedral St. Andrews Episcopal Church St. John Vianney Catholic Church St. Luke’s Lutheran Church St. Mark’s Episcopal Church St. Mary’s Catholic Church St. Stephens Catholic Church St. Pius X Catholic Church St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church SECOM Ministries Servant’s Community Church Sherman Street CRC South United Methodist Church Steepletown Ministries Temple Emanuel The Other Way Ministries Trinity Lutheran Church Trinity Reformed Church United Methodist Community House United Methodist Ministry of Greater Grand Rapids West Michigan Conference, United Methodist Church Westminster Food Pantry Westminster Presbyterian Church Wyoming Park Bible Fellowship

6. The Result? 65% vote of support! • Allowed for the formation of The Rapid, a new transit agency • Transit service expanded greatly: • Service until 11:30 PM on weeknights • New Sunday service and expanded Saturday service • New Routes create • Dedicated funding base

7. Perceptions of The Rapid 89% of voters and 86% of riders rate The Rapid’s job performance as either “very good” or “good”. Riders’ Perception of The Rapid’s Service Voters’ Perception of The Rapid’s Service

8. 2004 Transit System of the Year • The Rapid received the prestigious Outstanding Public Transportation System of the Year Award for 2004 from the American Public Transportation Association. • The Rapid was selected over nearly 80 peer systems across the country. • The award is based on such things as ridership levels, service efficiency, safety, and customer service.

9. The Result: Ridership more than doubles

10. Funding Renewal and Increase • Funding questions were placed on the ballot in 2004 and 2007, both for funding renewals with a small increase • Both passed easily, by 65% in 2004 and 59% in 2007 • This allowed for further expansion of The Rapids’ services

11. 2009 Bus Rapid Transit Election – More supporters than ever… Grand Rapids Community College Board of TrusteesHansen-Balk Steel TreatingHeartside Business AssociationHeartside Downtown Neighborhood AssociationHeartside MinistryHoekstra TransportationHope NetworkIndependent Research AssociatesInner City Christian FederationJustice and Peace Task Force of Plymouth UCCKent County Democratic PartyKentwood City CommissionLocus DevelopmentMetropolitan HospitalMichigan League of Conservation VotersNantz, Litowich, Smith, Girard & HamiltonNeighbors of Belknap LookoutPlaza Towers Residential Condominium Association BoardProgressive AEProgressive Women's AllianceSaint AlphonsusSaint Mary's Health CareSpectrum HealthSt. Anthony of Padua Steepletown Ministries Transportation Riders UnitedUAW Community Action ProgramUnited Growth for Kent CountyWalker City CommissionWest Fulton Business AssociationWest Michigan Environmental Action CouncilWest Michigan Hispanic Chamber of CommerceWyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce • Mayor Cindy Bartman - City of East Grand Rapids Mayor James R Buck - City of GrandvilleMayor George Heartwell - City of Grand RapidsMayor Rick Root - City of KentwoodMayor Carol S. Sheets - City of WyomingMayor Rob VerHeulen - City of WalkerU.S. Congressman Vern EhlersSenator Bill HardimanSenator Mark JansenRev. Robert Dean - State RepresentativeKevin Green - State RepresentativeTom Pearce - State RepresentativeRoy Schmidt - State RepresentativeTony Baker - Grand Rapids School Board MemberRosalynn Bliss - Grand Rapids City CommissionerM. Scott Bowen - State Lottery CommissionerSharon Brinks - Kentwood City CommissionerDick Bulkowski* - Kent County CommissionerWilliam R. Byl - Kent County Drain CommissionerRichard Clanton - Kentwood City CommissionerAmy Coretti - East Grand Rapids City CommissionerRobert D. Coughlin - Kentwood City CommissionerKeith Courtade - Kent County Commissioner Brandon Dillon - Kent County CommissionerSandi Frost Parrish - Kent County CommissionerWalt Gutowski - Grand Rapids City CommissionerCarol Hennessy - Kent County CommissionerPete Hickey - Kent County CommissionerBill Hirsch - Kent County Commissioner • Ellen James - GRCC Board of TrusteesJames Jendrasiak - Grand Rapids City CommissionerDavid La Grand - Grand Rapids City CommissionerElias Lumpkins - Grand Rapids City CommissionerStan Ponstein - Kent County CommissionerAmna Seibold - East Grand Rapids City CommissionerArneada Smith-Alexander - Grand Rapids School Board MemberBob Synk - Kent County CommissionerJim Talen - Kent County CommissionerJames Vaughn - Kent County CommissionerWilliam Ver Hulst - City Commissioner & Mayor Pro Tem, WyomingJames W. White - Grand Rapids City Commissioner • Association for the Blind & Visually ImpairedAuburn Hills Neighborhood AssociationBlack Hills Citizens for a Better CommunityBurton Heights Business AssociationClean Water Action Coalition to End HomelessnessConcerned Citizens for Improved TransitCreston Business Association Disability Advocates of Kent CountyDivision Avenue Business AssociationDwelling Place of Grand Rapids, MIErhardt ConstructionEssential Needs Task Force Food SubcommitteeFair Housing Center of West MichiganFaith in MotionGuardian Angel HomesGrand Rapids Downtown AllianceThe Grand Rapids Area Center for EcumenismGrand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce Grand Rapids City CommissionGrand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness

12. …But it results in a setback • Even with substantial support from many parts of the community, an election setback can still occur • The Rapid’s 2009 ballot question generated 47% support • Reasons for the setback? • More complex question on the ballot • Economic situation in Michigan • Voters did not fully understand the questions and the implications for the region

13. Lessons in Community Collaboration • Public transportation can enjoy wide support from many different parts of the community • (Republicans, Democrats, businesses, churches, etc.) • Find which elements of your community will resonate with the voters • Make sure that all elements of your coalition are speaking with a unified voice • Ensure that voters fully understand the question they are voting on and its implications