Today, the Community Research Institute released a brief report examining public transportation usage in West Michigan. The report describes how interest in public transportation is increasing in West Michigan, citing Congressional funding for public transit projects, the opening of The Rapid's Central Station, and the recognition of The Rapid as 2004's "Outstanding Public Transportation System" by the American Public Transportation Association. The report's statistics are based on survey responses solicited by the Community Research Institute as part of the 2005/2006 Greater Grand Rapids Community Survey.

Among the issues examined in the report is the link between a person's race and the likelihood that they use public transportation. Only 0.7% of white, non-Hispanic workers use public transportation to travel to work, whereas 5.2% of African American and 2.6% of Hispanic workers used public transportation. While 15% of Kent County residents declared that transportation is a problem, these numbers are heavily skewed along racial lines. 33% of Native Americans and 32% of African-Americans indicated that transportation is occasionally a problem, compared to only 12% of whites. The report cites the 2000 US Census as further proof transportation issues have a more substantial impact on people of color, with Native Americans and African-Americans (82.1% and 80.9%) being less likely than whites (94.3%) to have access to a second vehicle. Transportation was also more likely to be a problem for urban rather than suburban residents.

In a section titled "Kent County's Million Dollar Commute," the report examined the costs associated with the daily commutes of workers in Kent County. The report cites the United States Census to show that the average community for Kent County residents is 21 minutes for a daily total of 190,621 hours. Of those commuting to work each day, 83% travel alone by private vehicle. The report estimates that these daily commutes use 398,720 gallons of gasoline and cost $917,000 in fuel alone.