Transit Means Business Forum: Video Recap

Being globally competitive requires a high quality, high capacity, world-class transportation system.

In order to thrive, businesses need access to the employees, customers, investors, young talent and amenities that accompany excellent transit. The Transit Means Business Forum on 12/1/15 was a chance for the business community to network and hear informative presentations from business leaders and goverment officials, sharing what transit and access mean for businesses and the region’s economic development.

The program included:

Aubrey Layne, Secretary of Transportation, Commonwealth of Virginia, "Transit Fuels the Economic Engines"
John Martin, Southeastern Institute of Research, "Transit Gets Them Here -- Demographic Shifts Pointing to Multimodal Choices"
Lorna Parkins, Michael Baker International, "Regional Transit Vision Plan Overview"

A panel of speakers on why transit matters to economic and business growth in the Richmond region, including:
Pat Tiernan, Chief Operating Officer, Stone Brewing Co.
Ted Ukrop, Developer, Quirk Hotel
Greg Talley, Director of Human Resources, Kings Dominion

Guest Blog by RVA Rapid Transit - "Casting the Regional Vision: Why BRT Now?"

RVA Rapid Transit, "a group of citizens dedicated to a unified vision of transit in Metro Richmond," offered this Guest Blog post.

Of late some in our city have been voicing concern about plans for the GRTC Pulse. They have been doing so out of extremely good intentions, and we applaud their passion for effective transit. Nevertheless, in responding to the concerns we've heard - listed below - we lay out why now is the time to press forward with a project that has been years in the making. [for more details on the short answers below, see www.rvarapidtransit.org "news" tab]

1) It's just an expensive ($54 million to build) bus line aimed at "choice riders" that repeats the #6 bus.

The short answer: The GRTC Pulse is neither a regular bus line, nor the same as the #6. It extends farther than the #6 and functions like a light rail line, stopping at less frequently than a bus route but still connecting many major areas along its route, including downtown and VCU. This route was chosen after much study because of its current density, further potential for growth, and capacity to connect everyone more fully to the commerce, employment, health care, higher education, government services, and recreation that lies along the corridor, and beyond via swifter transfers. Currently 33,000 people and 77,000 jobs lie within a half-mile of planned BRT stations, with more of each projected in the decades ahead. Clearly other activity centers and neighborhoods lie beyond this corridor, but this project is a starting point and catalyst for regional improvements and extensions toward metro-wide transit.

2) The BRT will operate at a deficit that seems likely to cost the city millions every year.

The short answer: Nearly all transportation services (roads, buses, etc.) tend to operate at a deficit. They generally are a public service. That said, investment into the infrastructure and operation of the faster more reliable transit provided by BRT has also been shown in cities around the globe to be a spur to economic growth, ultimately offsetting any higher costs in GRTC budget.

3) The Richmond BRT is the only such bus route in the country that does not include parking (park and ride) for the suburban and "choice" riders it proposed to attract.

The short answer: Conversations continue to be underway with regards to park-and-ride lots, but it’s key to note the goal is a comprehensive system where park-and-rides along this current stretch are generally not a key to success – park-and-ride need is enormously reduced if the line runs out to Short Pump and also connects with corridors down routes 360, 1, and 60.

4) The plan will reduce Broad Street from 3 lanes to 2 in each direction.

The short answer: According to recent traffic studies, at present two travel lanes in each direction on Broad Street provide more capacity than current traffic at any point along the route. BRT plans also include adding left-hand turn lanes at certain intersections, thereby helping ease the flow of traffic. Ultimately, with the BRT in conjunction with a growing population, Broad Street will probably feel neither no more nor no less trafficked, but absent this reliable, efficient transit alternative that can compete with car use, Broad Street will undoubtedly be far more congested in the decades ahead.

5) The plan will eliminate many left turns on Broad Street, will eliminate about half the parking spaces, and most of the loading zones.

The short answer: Many left-turns are already restricted along the corridor today, yet even after any and all changes with the BRT, left-turns will still be available about every three blocks. Ultimately, while roughly 300 on-street parking spots on Broad will be restricted along the corridor, there will only be an overall 4% reduction in parking spots (public and private, on-street and off-street) within one block of the corridor from N Thompson St (just east of 195) to 14th St (see link to details below). This reduction in parking comes in exchange for far more free flowing access for employees and customers via transit. The City’s Department of Planning & Development Review is currently in consultation with business owners about how best to reconfigure loading zones.

6) The construction will take about a year and a half. It seems likely that many of the businesses that have generated the renaissance on Broad over past eight years or so will not survive the construction nor the long-term consequences of the project.

The short answer: Construction (at station sites and where the BRT will be median running, from Thompson Street to Foushee Street) will be done in phases guided by VDOT, which has an excellent record managing projects while minimizing the effect on local residents and businesses. The City is also currently undertaking not only a study on ways to mitigate effects on businesses during nearby construction, but also a study on how to best encourage future growth along the corridor.

It is critical not to let the long term of decades/the coming century of quality development-spurring transit be crowded out by concern for three to four months of carefully planned construction at a given section along the route. As soon as reliable efficient transit is up and running, it will enormously ease the flow of customers and employees to businesses along the corridor.

7) The plan does nothing for those who really need better transit service: the regular bus riders who sorely need better service. The GRTC's own $1.2 million study states that 47% of Richmonders have no bus service where they live, and the proposed bus route does nothing to alter that disturbing fact.

The short answer: Addressing the needs of those who are dependent upon transit to navigate the metro area is critically important to this service and its extension into the counties. The BRT will provide reliable, efficient service, and GRTC bus lines will be reconfigured to maximize connectivity with the BRT (the contract for this study, which will entail lots of neighborhood and public input, is imminent and will be completed before the phased construction ends). The Richmond Regional Transit Vision Plan, which the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation is currently undertaking, will engage how best to expand to a full metro-wide system, with this 7.6-mile stretch serving as the crucial first step.

The metro-wide system and the ways in which it would enhance equality of access, quality of life, environmental care, and economic development is precisely the effort that RVA Rapid Transit, The Partnership for Smarter Growth, and The Clergy Committee for Rapid Transit are diligently working. We are doing so in consultation and collaboration with planners, public servants, non-profits, institutions, businesses, and citizens across the metropolitan area, and we can absolutely use and need your support!

Civic Statement of Support for Rapid Transit across Metropolitan Richmond

In Your Own Words - Guest Entry by Mark Peterson

Comments on Bus Rapid Transit in Richmond

I am fully supportive of bus rapid transit in Richmond. The proposed Pulse has the potential to form the spine of GRTC as we move forward into the 21st century. More and more people are moving back into the city to neighborhoods like Scott's Addition, Downtown, Shockoe Bottom and Rocketts Landing. Public transportation needs to be a competitive alternative to driving for new and current residents. The Pulse will serve all of of these neighborhoods and has the potential to allow households to go car free or car light where a two car family goes to a one car family.

Much of the opposition to the Pulse is focused on parking. Currently parking in the city of Richmond is extremely easy and extraordinarily cheap. But people are used to free street parking and it is rational not to want to give up something that has been perceived as free for a very long time. However free parking is not free. It costs everyone, including those who do not even own cars. Parking will not be drastically impacted with the implementation of bus rapid transit. At most people will not be able to park directly in front of their destination if the current plan moves forward. Furthermore, the streets are a public good. The free storage of private automobiles shouldn't thwart a project that gives residents who cannot afford to or choose not to use a private automobile, a viable means of transportation.

While BRT can be great at attracting new riders, the Pulse needs to benefit current riders too. Private car ownership is extremely costly and the city and parts of eastern Henrico have a poverty level in excess of 25%. Additionally 18% of households in the city do not have access to a car and 41% of households have access to only one car. These residents have the right to convenient, reliable transportation. Bus rapid transit can provide that. I hope that in the future the Pulse will extend beyond Rocketts Landing to Montrose and other neighborhoods that truly need better public transportation.

Mark Peterson

Homeowner, Richmond VA

October Public Meetings

The next GRTC Public Meetings are scheduled for October 26 & 27, 2015. 
The GRTC Pulse (Bus Rapid Transit) Project Partners will present a status update, ongoing activities and long-range timeline for the Project at Public Meetings, conducted on an informal basis.  Members of the public are encouraged to share their feedback with Project team members. Members of the Media are invited to attend. The informal public meetings are identical in content and location. Please plan to attend the one convenient for your schedule. 
Monday, October 26, 2015 at 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Library of Virginia
800 E. Broad Street, Auditorium
This location is conveniently accessible via the GRTC Bus System and is near the Downtown Transfer Plaza.  Free parking is available in the Library parking deck with entrances accessible from 8th and 9th Streets.  Street parking and metered parking is also available. 
Tuesday, October 27, 2015 at 12:00 – 1:30 pm
Richmond Public Library, Main Branch
101 East Franklin Street
This location is conveniently accessible via the GRTC Bus System (Route 16 Grove). Two-hour free on-street parking is available on surrounding streets. Paid parking is available in the parking garage entrance located at Grace and 2nd Streets. 
Anyone unable to attend one of these meetings may submit comments by November 13, 2015 to:
e-mail:  brt@ridegrtc.com
Mail: GRTC Transit System
c/o Ashley Mason, Marketing & Public Relations Specialist
301 East Belt Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23224
804-358-3871
If you require an American Sign Language interpreter, please contact Ashley Mason at least 3 days prior to the meeting you wish to attend, either by phone 804-358-3871 EXT. 364 or by e-mail: amason@ridegrtc.com. If you require Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransit services, please schedule a reservation with GRTC’s CARE or CARE Plus. You may contact us by phone (804) 782-CARE (2273), email grtc.cvan@mvtransit.com, or fax (804) 474-9993. Please note that all GRTC buses are ADA-compliant with kneeling capability, wheelchair ramps and mobility device space.

Public Meeting materials will be added online at http://www.ridegrtc.com/brt/public-meetings/.

Greater Richmond Chamber supports BRT

In a statement submitted to GRTC, The Greater Richmond Chamber publicly supports the GRTC Pulse (Bus Rapid Transit) project. Mark Hickman, Senior Manager of Government & Community Affairs, released the letter from The Greater Richmond Chamber: The Greater Richmond Chamber votes to support the GRTC Pulse Bus Rapid Transit Project The Chamber's Richmond Business Council and Henrico Business Council recommend that the Chamber Board endorse the project. Richmond, VA - The Board of Directors of the Greater Richmond Chamber votes to support the Bus Rapid Transit project (BRT). The decision came on the recommendation of the Richmond Business Council and Henrico Business Council of the Greater Richmond Chamber, having each voted at their most recent meetings to support BRT. The BRT is an innovative and cost-effective transit solution with successful national and international models. It drastically cuts travel times and increases mobility, convenience and reliability. Often referred to as "light rail on wheels," BRT contains features similar to light rail or metro systems but at a fraction of the cost. The Richmond Region's GRTC Transit System is leading the design and implementation of this important inter-jurisdictional BRT project along the Broad Street corridor from Willow Lawn to Rocketts Landing, to be completed in 2017. The Greater Richmond Chamber prioritizes workforce development and Millennial attraction and retention. "Reliable, shorter commute times mean more passengers, better access to more jobs and a better workforce for more local businesses," said Kim Scheeler, President and CEO of the Greater Richmond Chamber.  "Millennials value having multiple transit options, and this large generation is quickly becoming the nation's workforce.  BRT is critical to ensuring that Greater Richmond remains attractive to young professionals who will play a vital part in the region's future economic growth." In addition to providing effective and efficient transit service that drastically reduces current travel times, BRT can also stimulate economic activity and investment along its corridor. Here in Greater Richmond over a twenty-year period, BRT is expected to generate an increase of $1.1 billion in property values alone.  In addition, BRT will be a catalyst for additional development of transit-oriented residential and retail space in the corridor. With each endpoint anchored in Henrico County, and the center of the line in the City of Richmond, BRT is a collaborative project that will connect our metro area with much-needed mass rapid transit along a crucial urban corridor. BRT will bring immediate benefits to the Willow Lawn and Rocketts Landing areas, and connect current and future developments like Libbie Mill and the Stone Brewing Co. facility.  Scheeler noted, "The Chamber believes that BRT will be a foundation for an improved, expanded transit system across the entire service area and is the crucial first step in a regional mass transit plan." "The Greater Richmond Chamber fully supports BRT as a much needed forward-thinking and long-term investment in creating a first-class rapid transit system for our region," said Chair Sam Young today at the Greater Richmond Chamber Board meeting.  "The Greater Richmond Chamber encourages the GRTC BRT Project Partners to continue to engage in active outreach and positive reception to the diversity of stakeholders and perspectives whose feedback has helped inform and improve this breakthrough project." About Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) According to the National BRT Institute at the Center for Urban Transportation Research, BRT is an innovative, high capacity, lower cost public transit solution that significantly improves urban mobility. BRT integrated systems use specialized buses to quickly and efficiently transport passengers to their destinations. BRT is customized, flexible and state-of-the-art, resulting in more passengers and less traffic congestion. BRT is much more reliable, convenient and fast than regular bus services because it contains features similar to a light rail or metro system, according to the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy. The current GRTC bus line serving the Broad Street corridor is among the most utilized by passengers in the GRTC Transit System but faces several challenges that hinder effective transportation, access and development along this geographic and economic center for the region. The planned BRT project will address those challenges and lay a foundation for long-term success that will benefit businesses, workers, shoppers, visitors and transit users of all ages and backgrounds. BRT will allow GRTC to implement improvements to connectivity and efficiency across the entire GRTC transit system that stem from major enhancements in the BRT corridor. BRT will also focus on improving roadway safety, mitigating traffic congestion, addressing parking and incorporating pedestrians and cyclists as part of a multimodal network. Regarding the expected economic impact to the BRT project, the BRT in Cleveland, Ohio is often touted as a successful model and has served as an inspiration for the GRTC BRT project. The Cleveland BRT corridor, once an economically distressed and declining area, has seen $5.8 billion in new investment within five years of completion of their BRT. Business owners there recognized BRT's long-term value and ultimately demanded that additional stations be added to the corridor. ### About the Greater Richmond Chamber The Greater Richmond Chamber is building a thriving business community by supporting the success of its members, providing a strong business voice and developing leaders and entrepreneurs. The Chamber, a not-for-profit business membership association, is the voice of business in the City of Richmond and the counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent and Powhatan, as well as the Town of Ashland. www.GRCC.com @GRChamber Contact    Mark Hickman Greater Richmond Chamber (804) 783.9316  mark.hickman@grcc.com Chrystal Neal Greater Richmond Chamber (804) 783.9310 Chrystal.Neal@grcc.com

GRTC Pulse Project Update: Semi-Final Design Phase Begins

The GRTC Pulse (Bus Rapid Transit) Project enters the semi-final design phase in Fall 2015 with several key milestones completed.

In July 2015, the conceptual design phase ended. This design was presented to the public for feedback at two public meetings on July 27 and 28, 2015. Additionally, the conceptual design was presented to the City of Richmond’s Urban Design Committee (UDC) on August 20, 2015 and the Planning Commission (PC) on September 8, 2015. Both the UDC and the PC voted unanimously to recommend the conceptual design of the Pulse project, and provided specific feedback for the project partners to investigate and consider moving forward into the next phase of design work.

On September 15, 2015, GRTC announced receipt of the fully executed, approved TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) in the amount of $24.9 Million. After slight shifting of station locations between the award of the TIGER Grant in September 2014 and the end of the preliminary design phase in Summer 2015, another Section 106 review was conducted in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act to both confirm and ensure that “no adverse effect” would occur to any historic and archaeological sites along the project corridor. Public comment and participation is a part of the Section 106 process, as well. With these reviews complete, the US DOT finished processing the awarded grant. This receipt of the fully executed grant means the project remains on schedule and the Federal funds are in the bank.

The next phase of design will continue to include public engagement and feedback. The partners, comprised of the Commonwealth of Virginia (DRPT & VDOT), City of Richmond, GRTC and Henrico County, are collaboratively working to explore the feasibility and thoroughly address the recommended UDC and PC suggestions. They will also investigate and review, to the degree possible, other public concerns submitted during the public feedback process. This will include a detailed public response to each item including why or why not a recommendation is feasible with thorough technical explanation.  Members of the community and other stakeholders should expect an increased frequency of face-to-face engagement opportunities as the team is committed to working responsibly and comprehensively with the public. The semi-final design will be presented at public meetings on October 26 and 27, 2015 and also posted online at http://www.ridegrtc.com/brt/documents/. The project team plans to present the semi-final design to the UDC and PC at meetings held in November 2015. 

GRTC Pulse service will be operational in October 2017, providing improved quality of life with a faster, more frequent, improved, modern, urban transit service to better-connect the Greater Richmond Area. The Pulse is a high quality, high capacity modern transportation system that will serve a 7.6-mile route through the high-density and high-ridership areas along Broad Street to Main Street in the City of Richmond, with a terminus point at Rocketts Landing in the east and in Henrico County at Willow Lawn in the west.

Planning Commission Public Meeting September 8th

You have another opportunity to hear an update and contribute your comments about the Conceptual 30% Design of the GRTC Pulse (Bus Rapid Transit) Project. If you missed the July Public Meetings or the Urban Design Committee Presentation, this is another place to be engaged and informed on the latest news.

• Planning Commission (PC) Meeting: Tuesday, September 8th at 1:30pm in the 2nd Floor Council Chambers of City Hall, 900 E. Broad Street.

The public is welcome to attend! You are also welcome to submit comments for the consideration of the PC, and can do so by emailing them to Jeff Eastman at jeff.eastman@richmondgov.com. All persons attending the meeting are requested to register on the attendance sheets that have been placed on the chairs and are also available at the table by the room entrance. Once you have completed an attendance sheet, it should be provided to the Commission staff.

We appreciate your continued engagement in this project!

View the Conceptual 30% Design documents HERE.

Missed the July Public Meetings? Check out the PowerPoints, display boards and more HERE.

Bus Rapid Transit Basics HERE.

Benefits of Bus Rapid Transit HERE.

GRTC Pulse is a high quality, high capacity rapid transit system that will serve a 7.6 mile route through the high-density and high-ridership areas along Broad Street to Main Street in the City of Richmond, with two terminus points at Rocketts Landing in the east (bordering City of Richmond and Henrico County) and Willow Lawn in the west (in Henrico County).