The Rapid mass transit may get $14.7 million in tax dollars for Silver line, after getting $92.7 million millage in 2011…

The Grand Rapids Press 02/16/12 – Zane McMillin

“The Rapids’s Silver Line may get $14.7 million boost”

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/02/the_rapids_silver_line_gets_14.html

The Rapid bus system's Silver Line project could get a $14.7 million boost following a funding recommendation today by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

LaHood gave a nod to the Silver Line, which, once complete, will be the city's first Bus Rapid Transit line, as part of $2.2 billion in federal funding recommendations for new or continuing transit projects across the nation during the 2013 fiscal year.

The Silver Line is included in a 20-year master plan meant to provide a framework for the Interurban Transit Partnership, or ITP, which operates The Rapid in Grand Rapids and five surrounding communities.

GR Press 05/03/11 – Kyla King

The Rapid millage increase approved by 136 votes

http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/news_impact/print.html?entry=/2011/05/the_rapid_millage_increase_app.html

The improvements will be made gradually over the next five years with the full millage levy eventually raising $15.6 million a year. One-third of the millage increase will go toward operating the Silver Line route

Common Sense Review

Unfortunately this happens more times than not.  The Rapids came to the people last year for a mileage to create the Silver line, which against my beliefs, passed.  Then the fed govt give them a grant. 

In 2011 the Rapid through the vote, was given $92.7 million over 5 years.

HERE'S WHAT THE MILLAGE BUYS:

Total annual cost of proposed improvements: $3.7 million

The money would be used to pay for these improvements over five years:

• Increase weekday bus frequency to 30 minutes on all routes from 5 a.m. To 7:15 p.m.

• Run all routes until 11:15 p.m. weekdays

• Extend weekday evening service to 12:15 a.m. on the seven most productive routes

• Improve weekday peak frequency service to 15 minutes on the six next most productive routes

• Add Bus Rapid Transit on Division Avenue

• Extend Saturday evening service to 10 p.m. on all routes except Woodland Mall/Airport Route 17

• Extend GVSU Campus route to Central Station on weekdays at current frequency

• Increase weekday evening frequency to 30-minutes on six next most productive routes to 11:15 p.m.

• Increase weekday evening frequency to 30-minutes on seven most productive routes to 12:15 a.m.

Now the Fed govt may give them $14.7 million for the Silver line, so should we expect to get $14.7 million back to the taxpayers? 

I doubt it.  In 2011, the Rapid stated that one-third ($30,591,000) of the millage increase will go toward operating the Silver line.  So now two-thirds ($61,109,000) plus $14.7 million goes into an account for WHAT?

Can anyone say Slush fund?