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Transit advocates and residents urge Grand Rapids to protect Kalamazoo crossings and restore DASH priorities
Summary
Public commenters at the City Commission meeting urged the city to reserve funds for a flashing crosswalk and four-way stop on Kalamazoo Avenue and criticized proposed DASH funding cuts, urging the commission to prioritize transit coverage and alternative public safety responses.
Several residents used the public-comment periods during the commission meeting to press the city on traffic safety along Kalamazoo Avenue and on funding and service decisions for DASH transit.
Deb Van Dynan, speaking for Oak Dale Park Church and Together West Michigan, thanked commissioners for including $600,000 in the budget for Kalamazoo-area improvements but warned that a proposed signal at Griggs tied to the Crosstown bike trail could absorb that money. She asked the commission to ‘‘make sure that $150,000 be reserved for a flashing crosswalk at Hancock and a four-way stop at Adams,’’ saying neighbors feel unsafe in that area because of traffic.
Transit advocates in the audience criticized the budget for deprioritizing DASH. A speaker identified in the transcript as Lucas GR argued the commission has repeatedly failed to fund DASH adequately and urged reallocating other revenue sources (including hotel-motel tax) to support transit sustainability. Shannon, a Third Ward resident, urged the commission to invest in both coverage and frequency of DASH service and recommended funding co-responder models and mental-health professionals as alternatives to increased police spending.
City Manager told the commission that the DASH decisions were vetted by the Mobile GR commission and that the mobile-director is available for follow-up; he said the city can revisit mobile GR decisions as needed. Several commissioners acknowledged the public comments and said transit, safety and neighborhood investments will continue to be part of budget planning going forward.
No formal policy change or immediate reallocation was announced at the meeting; the public comments were received and filed as part of the meeting record.
