Successful cities have public transportation networks
I visit Charlotte often and while it is a beautiful, efficient and affluent metropolitan region, it lacks the rich and diverse culture, architectural distinction and history of Richmond. New York City is another city I know and love, and although certainly in its own category, also offers some constructive perspectives to RVA. Both Charlotte and New York City have regional governments and a variety of public transportation options.
One of our biggest challenges in the Richmond region is governance with an independent city and separate counties, each with their own schools, police, governments, and other services. Collaboration is undeniably an ongoing challenge, and not just with baseball stadiums. Regional transportation is poor,
ranking Richmond in the 92nd nationally. The only option is to walk or drive your own car, far from a sustainable solution, regardless of your income.
This past year, Richmond received one of only two federal Tiger grants
in all of Virginia – $24.9 million to support the first phase of a bus rapid transit (BRT) system. The vision for BRT, now named The Pulse, will grow to Henrico and Chesterfield to serve our entire region. In time we will become accustomed to riding the bus for convenience, savings and to relieve congestion. Won’t it be wonderful to avoid the traffic in Short Pump by riding the Pulse?
I am a member of St. James’s Episcopal Church, which has an enthusiastic group of BRT advocates who have been actively supporting this initiative since 2012. We’ve worked at information tables, attended public meetings, and advocated publically for this important next phase in Richmond’s growth.
GRTC has a small team, but they have done a good job of sharing their plans in community meetings, and they have listened to our feedback. Since 2010, public participation has been invited with opportunities to participate in the public comment and feedback process. Public meetings were advertised and held on: February 24 & 25, 2010; October 19 & 20, 2010; August 27, 2013; May 20 & 21, 2014; January 26 & 27, 2015; April 6 & 7, 2015. Two more are upcoming July 27 & 28.
In 2015 they’ve had many smaller meetings with community groups:
June 30: Carver Area Civic Improvement League
June 10: Urban Land Institute
June 4: Richmond Regional Transportation Planning Organization
June 2: Short Pump Rotary Club
May 13: Petersburg Rotary Club
May 5: Rocketts Landing Association
April 28: Multi-Neighborhood Association Meeting, including: West Grace Street Association, Church Bethlehem, Coliseum
Loft Deli/Market, Museum District Association, Midtown, Fan District
Association, SIR Research, MAPS, Byrd Park, Fan Area Business Alliance
April 21: Historic Jackson Ward Association
April 20: Museum District Association
April 18: Participated in RVA Rapid Transit Canvass the Corridor
April 15: Sports Backers Meeting
April 15: RideFinders Employer Transportation Coordinator (ETC)
April 13: Jefferson Terrace and Sauer Gardens
April 6: Richmond Kiwanis Club
April 1: Joint City of Richmond and Henrico County Business
Council
March 20: MPACT presentation at Byrd Park Round House
February 11: Presentation to Gumenick Properties
February 9: Fan District Association and West Grace Street
Merchants Association
February 2: MPACT presentation at Southside Community Services
Center
January 29: Church Hill Association and five other East End civic
associations, including Union Hill
January 14: Museum District Association and Scott's Addition
Business Association
Examples of GRTC’s listening to the community are increasing the number of parking spaces downtown, removing a bus stop from downtown and adding a stop to serve Scott’s Addition.
I am impressed by the dedicated team at GRTC, and by their responsiveness both in the public meetings and throughout this process. Detailed plans about this project are on the website.
I’ll see you at the
Monday, July 27 meeting at Noon at the University of Richmond downtown facility.
Suzanne Hall
St. James’s Church and Fan District resident
