BYRON CENTER, Mich. — After more than 30 years, The Rapid bus services will soon be coming to an end in Byron Township.
The township decided not to renew their 2022 contract last month, discontinuing the 'Big Bus' and 'Go! Bus' paratransit routes.
Don Tillema, the township supervisor, says the board felt it wasn't getting any value for its money.
The township paid a little over $32,000 dollars a year to The Rapid, and according to the supervisor, only 16 people out of 27,000 residents ride the 'Big Bus' every day; half of them come from Gaines Township.
Tillema said she was unaware of how many people utilized the 'Go! Bus' service.
"There's a lot of people in Byron Township with disabilities. Elderly people who have lost vision and who are unable to drive," said Brenda Bierens, who lives in Wyoming. "This decision not only affects people in Byron Township, but other areas as well."
Bierens' 21-year-old son Carson Ball has autism and also lives in Wyoming. He depends on The Rapid's 'Go! Bus' to travel and visit family members in Byron Township.
"I love the fact that I can be independent," said Ball. "Go to the places I want or need to go to. It's just a great thing."
Amanda Moore, a spokesperson with The Rapid, told 13 ON YOUR SIDE the ten 'Big Bus' stops within Byron Township averaged 64.2 rides per day pre-pandemic and most recently averaged 30.4 rides per day.
In response to the discontinuation of their services, Moore said they'll be reconfiguring Route 10 south of 54th Street Southwest that currently serves the City of Grand Rapids, the City of Wyoming and Byron Township.
They're required to provide the 'Go! Bus' paratransit service near their fixed route stops, and they'll share the new route 10 reconfiguration in mid-August.
The 'Big Bus' and 'Go! Bus' services in Byron Township will officially end on August 22.
"That's not a lot of time for people to find other options, especially if they're living in Wyoming and working in Byron Center and vice versa," said Bierens. "I hope they can come up with something."
Tillema said the township is considering other cheaper public transportation options, however nothing has been decided yet.
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