In September 2002, Grand Valley provided about 40,000 rides per month to students. In September 2004, the number of rides jumped to 120,000. This staggering increase is the result of months of work between Grand Valley and the Grand Rapids' public transportation system, and a communication campaign geared at students and the community. The success shows in the high number of students taking a survey conducted by the university, where 90 percent rated the bus service as good or excellent.
"We knew increasing transportation options for our students was critical," said Lisa Haynes, director of Operations for the Pew Campus and Regional Centers. "The Allendale Campus is 14 miles from our growing downtown campus. Both campuses are very connected and dependent on one another and many students take classes on both campuses."
Haynes said offering free and frequent transportation options for students makes the university stronger and it also makes sense financially to expand bus service each year to help limit investment in new parking structures.
Bus Ridership Increases:
- 2000-2001 98,821 riders
- 2001-2002 178,913 riders (81.05% increase from year before)
- 2002-2003 252,127 riders (40.92% increase from year before)
- 2003-2004 547,557 riders (117.18% increase from year before)
- 2004-2005 809,194 riders (47.78% increase from year before)
Grand Valley's "Campus Connector" runs between the Allendale and Pew campuses every 15 minutes, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday service runs from noon until 8 p.m. On Friday and Saturday nights, a "Weekend Connector" alternates between Rivertown Crossings Mall and the transit center.
Grand Valley is also conducting a six week trial in collaboration with the Allendale Chamber of Commerce that has buses stopping between the Allendale Campus and businesses along M-45 in Allendale.
For more information, contact Lisa Haynes at 616-331-6700, or Grand Valley's News and Information Services department at 616-331-2221.
