This graph shows 22 months of ridership data for The Rapid's Route 1 (Division Avenue) and Silver Line bus rapid transit system.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The launch of the $40 million Silver Line bus rapid transit route - the first in the state of Michigan -
came with fanfare, free rides and skepticism.
One year later, only the free rides have ceased.
Figures show Rapid drivers gave nearly 56,000 rides per month on the route, which cuts through the downtown Grand Rapids and the city's Medical Mile before heading to the suburbs of Wyoming and Kentwood.
Combined with the 52,000 rides on the transit system's traditional Route 1, covering much of the same territory without dedicated lanes and advanced technology, there are roughly 35 percent more rides over the 80,000 the bus alone recorded, according to data from the transportation agency.
"We think it's a good sign of a new route developing its ridership base so quickly," said Peter Varga, CEO of The Rapid. "Usually, new routes take a longer time to establish a base."
That's an assertion Jeff Steinport, a long-standing critic and a member of the Kent County Taxpayer's Alliance, finds dubious. Steinport doubts if the line can ever strike gold and live up to its billing as an efficient form of transit and a boon to business development.
"If you just compare Route 1 and Silver Line, yes, it doesn't look so bad," Steinport said. "If you look at the other routes that overlap ... basically, we see it shifted."
Steinport points to a Rapid report that shows total ridership across its system is down about 2.2 percent, or 211,925 passengers, during this 2015 fiscal year compared to last.
The Grand Rapids Community College Shuttle offers an example as its ridership dropped about 31,700 riders from September 2013 to September 2014 -- the first month with Silver Line data.
Varga admits it is too early to classify the line as a home run, but he says it's an early success based on 10 months of data, with June as the most recent figures available. Varga said the line had a bump in ridership during ArtPrize, but also weathered road construction that closed several stations along Division.
"We can look at it as a baseline," Varga said of the first year.
Varga contends any new route needs time to mature. He attributes lower overall ridership to similar decreases across the country and falling fuel costs that allow "choice riders" to drive their cars rather than take the bus.
Grand Rapids resident Terrance Ashford prefers the Silver Line over the Route 1 bus. So, too, does Lacey Beard. Both credit the new route's performance and convenience.
"The Silver Line just seems more reliable," Beard said. "I pretty much ride the new bus because it gets me places faster."
Spokeswoman Jennifer Kalczuk said Silver Line has about 81 percent on-time performance for its first year, largely because of the construction projects, with an estimated 675,000 riders total.
Its annual operating cost is $2.18 million.
Ridership in the second year could be challenged by a rate hike set to take effect in October. Rapid leaders have said the increased cost could take a toll on the number of people who use the service.
Also slow to develop is a direct link to business development. Steinport notes Division Avenue is "as bad as ever."
Jerry DeGood, the vice president of the Division Avenue Business Association, is more charitable and patient.
"I can't say that the businesses have seen any economic impact," said DeGood. "Ridership appears to be up, people are using the bus stations more.
"Those seem to be positive factors."
Related: 7 ways Silver Line stations set Grand Rapids' BRT system apart from typical bus route
A park-n-ride at 60th Street is frequently busy, DeGood said. So, too, are sidewalks in front of the businessman's J's Motor Sales, located on the 2900 block of Division.
Officials long maintained the financial investment would be slow, but that it would follow. The model, in terms of economic impact and design, is Cleveland's BRT system, which has reportedly stimulated more than $5.8 billion in activity since 2008.
The Rapid and other local leaders are optimistic about a second bus rapid transit route, called Laker Line, between Grand Rapids and Grand Valley State University's Allendale campus. It's projected to cost $64.2 million, with additional fluctuations expected.
Andrew Krietz covers breaking, politics and transportation news for MLive and The Grand Rapids Press. Email him at akrietz@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter.