On Tuesday, Oct. 13, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the Infrastructure Projects Authority Fund (IPAF) will award funds toward transformational public transportation projects in Kent and Newaygo counties.

$6 million will be awarded to The Rapid’s Event Night Mobility Project, which will provide up to six additional buses to accommodate high nighttime travel demand in downtown Grand Rapids. These routes will help increase capacity to connect city employees, visitors and event attendees from local parking facilities to Acrisure Amphitheater, Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place and the incoming Amway Soccer Stadium.

About $4.3 million will go to Newaygo County to establish the county’s first countywide open-door public transit system. The new rural transit agency will provide access to health care, education, employment and other services for residents across the county. After piloting a four-year trial run, the county saw an increase in annual trips to over 25,000 last year.

“From rural to urban communities across the state, these investments will help expand vital public transit services and get people where they need to go,” Whitmer said. “As part of my plan to fix the damn roads, we’re expanding and improving public transit with new funding and a new role in state government. Today’s announcement will strengthen regional mobility and support innovative transportation solutions, all while helping more Michiganders access jobs, health care, education and opportunity.”

These two projects are part of nearly $65 million in funds distributed across the state.

For more information on award winners, visit here: IPAF Award Recipients October 2026.

_{Release information courtesy of the Office of Govenor Gretchen Whitmer.}