Common Goals

As the Project Partners continue to move through the 30% design phase, which is considered a "conceptual" level, the team continues to return to the following basic principles and goals of design, which were created in collaboration with the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) and the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC):

• Safety and use for all
• Conservation of parking on Broad Street
• North-South connectivity and access (including for pedestrians and bikes)
• Adequate median and lane widths (these are the tools to meet the previous three criteria)

As we continue to receive public participation, these are the recurring themes upon which all parties agree. And these four basic principals are in line with the initial project Goals and Objectives:

1. Improve local and regional mobility
• Increase transit ridership
• Improve access to the regional transit network
• Improve transit service in high ridership areas
• Decrease travel times in the corridor study area
• Increase transit reliability and on time performance
• Minimize negative impact on transit and auto operations in the corridor
• Increase transportation system productivity (passengers/hour) within the corridor
2. Support economic development along the corridor
• Improve transit access to existing and future developments
• Create connections between transit and centers of employment, education, residence, shopping, culture and entertainment
• Provide opportunities for joint development of transit stations and facilities
• Provide improved mobility and mode choice to Enterprise Zones planned for redevelopment
3. Promote livable, transit-oriented development
• Provide high-capacity transit facilities at locations where existing and future land uses make them mutually supportive
• Promote improved pedestrian connectivity between transit services and adjoining land uses
• Encourage transit usage for different trip types and purposes
• Support mixed land use and community design that foster reduced auto use
4. Create a multi-modal transportation system with attractive travel choices
• Create a premium transit route with service characteristics that make it competitive with the private automobile
• Integrate premium transit service with local bus, bicycle, pedestrian, private automobile and intercity travel modes
• Provide safe, convenient and attractive transfer facilities
• Create opportunities for future upgrades or additional premium transit services
5. Optimize return on public investment
• Develop cost-effective transit solutions
• Capitalize on existing local and regional transit facilities and operations
• Support state, regional and local plans
• Maximize funding opportunities from state, local and federal sources
6. Enhance environmental quality
• Minimize and mitigate negative impacts to the human and natural environment
• Contribute to improvements in regional air quality

But we'll let these letters of support speak, too, as to why we are doing this project, why it is needed, and what benefits are coming as a result.

So who is on the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC)? Representatives of the following agencies or groups: 

• Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation  
• GRTC 
• City of Richmond 
• Henrico County 
• Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce 
• Greater Richmond Partnership 
• Richmond Regional Planning District Commission 
• Richmond Metropolitan Authority 
• Venture Richmond 
• Virginia Commonwealth University 
• Virginia Department of Transportation 

And the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) has representatives from the following agencies or groups:

• City of Richmond, Community Development 
• City of Richmond, Department of Public Works 
• Henrico County, Department of Planning 
• Henrico County, Department of Transportation 
• Richmond Regional Planning District Commission 
• Virginia Commonwealth University
• Virginia Department of Transportation

What about project stakeholders so far? They include, but are not limited to:

• City of Richmond Department of Public Works 
• Henrico County Department of Public Works 
• Virginia Department of Transportation 
• City of Richmond Department of Economic and Community Development 
• City of Richmond Department of Planning and Development Review 
• Henrico County Department of Community Revitalization 
• Henrico County Economic Development Authority 
• Rocketts Landing Property Management 
• Virginia Commonwealth University 
• Downtown Neighborhood Association 
• Shockoe Bottom Neighborhood Association 
• Anthem 
• Willow Lawn Property Management 
• City of Richmond Chief Administrative Officer Staff