GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The Rapid will be making some changes that will allow Kent County riders to board faster.
The bus system will be adding e-fare, which comes with two pass options.
“One thing is a smart card. You can use that to board – that’s going to be a lot quicker for people because you’ll be able to just tap it when you get on the bus, you don’t need to insert your card in anything. It doesn’t have to read anything, it’s just a quick tap and then you can sit down,” said Jennifer Kalczuk with The Rapid.
The transit organization will also allow riders to pull up their ticket on their cellphone so drivers can scan the bar code.
The changes are good news to riders who lose their card or paper ticket. Right now, they’re out whatever money was loaded onto the card or ticket; with the more durable smart card, that won’t happen.
Full story from 24 Hour News 8
Riders can weigh in on the e-fare system and potential fare structure change at any of the following public meetings:
Fare Structure Change Meeting #1 at Rapid Central Station
Tuesday, April 18, 20173 p.m. – 4 p.m.Central Station, Second Floor Community Room250 Grandville Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Fare Structure Change Meeting #2 at Rapid Central Station
Wednesday, April 19, 20177 a.m. – 8 a.m.Central Station, Second Floor Community Room250 Grandville Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Fare Structure Change Meeting at Kentwood City Hall
Thursday, April 20, 20174 p.m. – 5 p.m.Kentwood City Hall, City Chamber4900 Breton Ave SE, Kentwood, MI 49508
Fare Structure Change Meeting at Grandville Library
Monday, April 24, 20177 p.m. – 8 p.m.Kent District Library – Grandville Branch4055 Maple St SW, Grandville, MI 49418
Fare Structure Change Meeting at Walker City Hall
Tuesday, April 25, 201710 a.m. – 11 a.m.Walker City Hall, Commission Chambers4243 Remembrance Rd NW, Walker, MI 49534
Fare Structure Change Meeting at Wyoming Library
Wednesday, April 26, 20176:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.Kent District Library – Wyoming Branch, Library Meeting Room B3350 Michael Ave SW, Wyoming, MI 49509
Fare Structure Change Meeting at East Grand Rapids Community Center
Thursday, April 27, 20171 p.m. – 2 p.m.East Grand Rapids Community Center750 Lakeside Dr. SE, East Grand Rapids, MI 49506