AROUND THE REGION
The meeting schedules for the CVTA (Central Virginia Transportation Authority) and related committees and/or work groups have been posted! Three cheers! As the date for each meeting approaches, more meeting info will be posted and available via PlanRVA's handy calendar as usual (agendas, slides, ways to watch and/or participate, etc.).
Full CVTA Meetings
Fri, Oct 30, 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Fri, Dec 4, 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
CVTA Finance Committee Meetings
Wed, Oct 14, 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Tues, Nov 9, 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Wed, Dec 9, 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
CVTA Technical Advisory Committee
Tues, Oct 13, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Tues, Nov 9, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Mon, Dec 7, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Public Transportation Work Group (technically part of RRTPO rather than CVTA, but this working group is helping advise the Regional Public Transportation Plan that GRTC is charged with creating. That plan will be used to "annually prioritize regional transit projects and spending needs" for the 15% of CVTA revenue automatically dedicated to GRTC)
Mon, Nov 2, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Mon, Dec 7, 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm (likely, but TBA)
In other news, Mayorathon is coming to an exciting conclusion. Tune in 6:30 pm on Mon, Oct 12, to hear 8th district candidates' respective views on public transit and related key issues - ditto for mayoral candidates on Wed, Oct 14! You can watch recordings of all Mayorathon events here.
TRANSIT SPOTLIGHT - 77 GROVE AVE
Transit Spotlight is a new feature in which we get to look a little more closely at an aspect of public transit in general or an element of our network in particular. Today in Transit Spotlight we have the updated 77 Grove Ave line.
You can see the former, fairly squiggly 77 with the new, more intuitive version in this presentation from a public meeting back in February (see pgs 6-7). A bit more background is also available from this online public meeting in July regarding this and other service updates.
The updated 77 echoes the old Route 16 and has been in GRTC's plans to get back in action as the budget allowed (Transit Development Plan, "pdf" pgs. 15, 146-147). While the new 77 does not get downtown, it connects well with the Pulse and the newly updated/extended 50 Broad St (as well as the rest of the system), and it is a very useful addition to our transit network for at least three reasons.
1) UR (Jobs & Education): It finally links the University of Richmond to our public transit network! The new 77 particularly improves access between UR/West End and Southside when folks come up Route 1 on the 3A, 3B, or 3C, but clearly also from the East End and Northside as well.
2) Intuitive Line to Use: Running in an almost entirely straight line along Grove Ave, the 77 is a very easy and intuitive bus line to use. Most everybody likes to travel in as straight a line as possible when going from place to place (just like when walking, biking, or driving, direct routes for bus lines are refreshing, circuitous trips tiring).
3) Public Transit Use: It affords everyone along the 77 the chance to lean into the Richmond 300: A Guide for Growth vision for a city that prioritizes:
"[T]he movement of people over the movement of vehicles through a safe, reliable, equitable, and sustainable transportation network. Walking, biking, and transit options are the most convenient and used forms of transportation in Richmond, thereby improving the natural environment and our health. Richmond's multi-modal transportation system is high-quality and easy for all people to use regardless of income and physical abilities, seamlessly connecting Richmond neighborhoods and attractions to each other, the region, and the nation" (Richmond 300, pg. 107).
GRTC will be having an online community meeting 5:00-6:00 pm on Wed, Oct 14, to discuss feedback on the updated 77 and give an overview of bus stop locations. A live Q&A will be included, but folks are encouraged to send in comments ahead of time as well via email to Carrie Rose Pace at carrie.rosepace@ridegrtc.com.
Nelson Reveley
Director of Operations, RVA Rapid Transit