Walker remains connected to The Rapid

WOOD TV

Updated: Nov 6, 2012 11:01 PM

WALKER, Mich. (WOOD) — Walker residents will be able to continue to ride The Rapid after voters said no to a proposal to withdraw from the five-city coalition involved in the Interurban Transit Partnership.

73% of Walker voters chose to remain connected to The Rapid, with 23% voting to disconnect, according to the city.

The campaign to vote no, Keep Walker Connected, said cutting ties with the ITP would be a disaster that would leave Walker residents without transportation options.

"Essentially what the proponents of this proposal are asking residents and the City of Walker to do is, 'Let's jump out of an airplane with nothing more than a plan to look for a parachute on the way down,'" Keep Walker Connected representative Stan Stek told 24 Hour News 8 in October.

The group supporting the proposal, Walker Yes, said the city is paying the Rapid too much as it is and using residents' tax dollars to do it.

But the campaign urging residents to vote no said eliminating bus service with no plan for the future could erode the very fabric of the community.

Voters agreed, and Walker remains part of the ITP.

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