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People at the Grand Valley State University downtown Grand Rapids campus get on a bus headed for the GVSU Allendale campus at Front Street NW. The Rapid is considering bus rapid transit service between the campuses.

(MLive.com File Photo)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The wheels are beginning to turn for the area's second bus rapid transit system.

The Laker Line, a 13.3-mile transportation system largely similar to Grand Rapids' Silver Line, was accepted Tuesday to the U.S. Department of Transportation's Small Starts Capital Investment program.

It marks one the earliest necessary steps for new buses to roam the streets from downtown Grand Rapids to Grand Valley State University's Allendale campus. The government's blessing allows local leaders to develop a plan before applying for federal funding.

Officials previously said they expect the $45.5 million system, which would be largely paid for by state and federal dollars, could be ready to roll in 2018.

Update: New Laker Line's $64M estimate is 41 percent higher than first planned

"We're pursuing this aggressively," The Rapid CEO Peter Varga said. "The part that really needs to happen now is what is called environmental review ... to make sure there are no significant, negative impacts."

More: 14 stations to anchor Laker Line system: See where they might go

Interurban Transit Partnership, the local transit authority that operates The Rapid system, began studying the M-45/Lake Michigan Drive corridor in October 2011. It concluded existing service on routes 50 and 51 are overcrowded during peak times and inconsistent with schedules.

ITP unveiled its plan for the Laker Line last fall and promised a more efficient commute with many of the same amenities as Silver Line, including signal priority to hold traffic lights green and stations to show riders when their trip should arrive.

A dedicated bus-only lane is slated for a portion of GVSU's campus and a section of Fulton Street.

Officials say 11 new stations are in the works, with three Silver Line stations amended for Laker Line. Sixteen high-capacity natural gas buses are slated for purchase.

"Today's announcement is a great step forward as The Rapid continues to develop the Laker Line to reduce traffic and offer affordable transportation in the Grand Rapids area," said U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., in a news release.

Related: 12-minute bus ride downtown from new Grand Rapids parking lot

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.