Yesterday in the upstairs portion of The Rapid transit station in downtown Grand Rapids, members of the Friends of Transit made a formal kick-off to a campaign to get a Transit Millage for the area passed on May 8. The millage includes a renewal cost and an enhancement cost that together is 1.12 mills, a cost that averages out to $4.66 per month for the owner of a $100,000 home.

The campaign, which is called "Moving People Forward," featured several speakers from the community, such as the Mayor of Wyoming, a representative from the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, Rev. Smith from the Inter-denominational Ministerial Alliance, and a senior citizen who is a bus rider. The speakers emphasized the importance of having a good transit system for people to get to work, for accessibility, for community building, and as a matter of justice. According to one of the members of Friends of Transit the bus system saw an increase of 1 million rides in 2006, a 15% increase, which is nearly 5 times the national average.

If the millage passes on May 8 it will also mean expanded weekday evening services, expanded weekend services, increased frequency on five main routes, new regional transfer points, and a new bus route to northwest Grand Rapids and Union High School. Helen Marshall, a senior citizen, told her story of how important a vibrant bus service is to people. Her husband died a few years ago and she never learned to drive, so she started to use the buses to get around. Within months not only was she able to use the bus system for doctor appointments, she began volunteering at the VA hospital. Helen said that her discovery of the bus system "changed her life."

For more information about ways to support the campaign go to www.rapidyes.org.