Grand Rapids launches reimagined DASH downtown shuttle pilot with faster, more frequent service

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The City of Grand Rapids’ Mobile GR Department today announced the launch of a reimagined Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH) pilot route, offering downtown workers, residents and visitors a faster and more reliable way to move through the heart of the city. The one-year pilot route launches Monday, May 4 with buses arriving every eight minutes, compared to every 15 minutes under the current service.

Mobile GR officials say the change is primarily driven by fiscal sustainability. Under the current operating agreement with The Rapid, the contracted hourly rate for DASH was projected to increase by approximately 28 percent in the new fiscal year, after analysis of DASH’s direct operating cost to the Rapid’s entire system. The City determined this increase could not be sustainably budgeted. The reimagined pilot route covers a more targeted footprint than its predecessor, a deliberate design choice that helps the City avoid an additional $7.1 million in projected capital and operating costs through fiscal years 2027–2031 while targeting an annual operating cost of $2 million. Though the geographic coverage is more concentrated, the tradeoff delivers meaningful service improvements: buses run nearly twice as often, trip times are shorter and the simplified one-directional loop is easier for riders to navigate. A map of the new route is included with this release.

Mobile GR Commission Chair Chad Patton said, “An apparent pain point to Mobile GR Commissioners was the stop frequency of the DASH. The updated DASH Pilot is an assertive response to that pain point through an increase in service frequency and a decrease in wait time.”

“We want downtown Grand Rapids to be easier for everyone to get around,” Mayor David LaGrand said. “This updated DASH pilot route is a smart use of public resources and gives riders a better experience with more frequent service, shorter trips and a simpler route designed around what people need. It also will make the DASH much better as a part of transportation for our residents and visitors. More frequent service is what people value most, and lets us all blend riding with walking, or driving and parking.”

The new DASH route is designed as a compact, intuitive hop-on/hop-off free shuttle connecting key downtown destinations, including DeVos Place, Van Andel Arena, Acrisure Amphitheater, City parking ramps and the future Amway Soccer Stadium. The simplified loop reduces overall trip time while improving reliability, particularly during peak activity periods and special events. The pilot will operate seven days a week.

“The previous model was not financially sustainable, and it wasn’t delivering the frequency riders need to rely on transit,” said Jessica Smith, mobile GR director. “With this pilot, we’re running buses nearly twice as often, with shorter trip times, at a cost the City can sustain long-term.”

The pilot is pending final approval from City Commission and is subject to budget authorization. Mobile GR will conduct community engagement throughout this summer and fall to discuss the pilot’s performance and explore the best long-term investment in downtown transit. Feedback gathered during this engagement period will inform decisions about the route’s future beyond the pilot year.

For more information on the DASH pilot route, visit the City of Grand Rapids’ Mobile GR Department website or contact 311 Customer Service at 616-456-3000 or 311.

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