ACTION: New GVMC Airport Access survey; you can can go say to prioritize transit and, you know, human life. GMVC & MDOT are always looking for any excuse to pour out some more asphalt so, of course, "airport access" to them means "highway expansion" [what to them doesn't mean "highway expansion"?]. Be heard.
Phase 3 Survey @ http://bit.ly/3jSKQ25 #GrandRapidsMI #UrbanGR #Transportation #Michigan

Due to the failure of the state of Michigan - and especially the Whitmer administration - to invest in clean and efficient modes of transportation the region remains wed to unreliable and CO2 belching air travel for inter-city transportation
#urbangr #GrandRapidsMI
Source: State of the Region report https://on.wmmi.net/3QiFtFE

Downtown and events are back! Hotel occupancy in October 2022 exceeded 2019 [the previous record] by 4.3%
#urbangr #GrandRapidsMI
Source: State of the Region report https://on.wmmi.net/3QiFtFE

Despite inflation and all other economic headwinds - and a housing crisis - Grand Rapids, MI closes out 2022 with a solid Cost-Of-Living score [lower is better, 100 is average]
#urbangr #GrandRapidsMI
Source: State of the Region report https://on.wmmi.net/3QiFtFE

While office space vacancy rates have inched higher [notably: not crashed, despite narratives] industrial vacancy remains low and steady.
#urbangr #GrandRapidsMI
Source: State of the Region report https://on.wmmi.net/3QiFtFE

While the entire nation is challenged with an aging population Grand Rapids, MI continues to have a proportionally larger youth population than the state or the nation as a whole. This despite constant narratives about cities not being places for families.
#urbangr #GrandRapidsMI
Source: State of the Region report https://on.wmmi.net/3QiFtFE

Recoving from the pandemic the unemployment rate has stabilized to under 4%
#urbangr #GrandRapidsMI
Source: State of the Region report https://on.wmmi.net/3QiFtFE

The local labor force has rebounded from the COVID19 pandemic and is now larger than prior to the pandemic. #urbangr #GrandRapidsMI
Source: State of the Region report https://on.wmmi.net/3QiFtFE

"From 2019 to 2022, Greater Grand Rapids’ population increased 2.1 percent, adding approximately 22,300 new people and bringing the regional population total to 1.1 million people in 2022." #urbangr #GrandRapidsMI
Source: State of the Region report https://on.wmmi.net/3QiFtFE'

Updated the ridership numbers @ https://urbangr.org/therapid - check out the 19 MONTHS of month-over-month ridership increases. #transit #GrandRapidMI #UrbanGR