Richness of the City

Don't forget we've got two more cracks at the first round of public meetings for the crucial Richmond Transit Network Plan (RTNP): 6-8 pmTuesday, May 3 (DMV, 2300 W Broad St) and 12-2 pm Wednesday, May 4 (Richmond Main Public Library, 101 E Franklin St). If you can't make one of these meetings though, be sure to take 5-10 min to take the Online Survey: Richmond Transit Network Plan if you haven't yet. Share your perspective around wait times v. walking distance, ridership v. coverage, all day v. peak service. Your input is critical to deciding what kind of transitnetwork we need and want for RVA. good times. 

A few excellent reads for us: 1) "Jarrett Walker equates transit with freedom, individual liberty," in which Walker presses point that qualitytransit is about people being able to answer the question positively, "How much of the city's richness is available to me?" (RVA Richness for all here we come!); and 2) an oldie but a goodie, "All Aboard?" in which Rev. Ben Campbell powerfully details the call for metro-wide system. 

Take the Online Survey (RTNP)

The public meetings for our once in a lifetime Richmond Transit Network Plan (RTNP) are rolling right along. Many thanks to those who made it out this week. There will be two more chances coming up on 6-8 pm Tuesday, May 3 (DMV, 2300 W Broad St, 23230), and 12-2 pm Wednesday, May 4 (Richmond Main Public Library, 101 E Franklin St, 23219) for this first phase of the plan. 

If you can't make a meeting though, you can still participate in this first part via the Online Survey: Richmond Transit Network Plan. Carve out 5-10 min and join the excitement. Do you care more about short wait times or short walking distance to a bus stop? Do you think our primary goal should be high ridership or more expansive coverage (perhaps even Jeff Davis/Rt 1 in Chesterfield?! just saying)? Should we focus on all-day service or peak hour service? 

Your input is vital and will be incorporated into the plan, so spread the word! Post on Facebook! Send forth telegrams! And here is a cool post describing some of these overarching transit choices before us: "Jarrett Walker: Empty Buses Serve a Purpose."

The Time Has Come, The Transit Fans Said

A bit more info about the Richmond Transit Network Plan, which is an incredibly unique opportunity before us to enhance transit in the City - one that will not come again anytime soon. You can see the dates and times for the public meetings at www.rvarapidtransit.org/events. The first ones are coming up next Tues evening, April 19, and Wed evening, April 20, and Style Weekly has a quick article on it, "Study Kicks Off on Richmond Bus Overhaul." Spread the word!

On the regional front, here is a great Richmond Magazine interview with the man, the myth, the legend professor John Moeser: "On BRT, 'We Have to Build a Web.'"  On this note, if you know of a group or organization that might be interested in having an RVA Rapid Transit presentation on the regional system, just email rvarapidtransit@gmail.com. Continuing to grow the movement of active and engaged supporters is how we will bring regional transit to fruition - one conversation, one presentation, one outreach at a time.  

Shaping Our Transit Future

A few exciting updates:

Richmond Transit Network Plan is here! - The first set of meetings for this incredibly unique chance to enhance our current bus system are here. 

Through interaction with the project team, these meetings afford an opportunity to: (1) see how transit performs in Richmond compared to other regions; (2) learn tradeoffs between different transit goals and their affect on a bus network's design; and (3) provide critical feedback on whichtransit goals you think are most important for Richmond.    

There are three distinct nights to join (6-8 pm April 19 & 20 and May 3) and one midday meeting (12-2 pm May 4), and info on the location for each is available at www.facebook.com/richmondtnp. 

Please be sure to carve out time to make it to one of these. This is not a plan for the shelf but geared for implementation, so broad-based public insight and perspective are key!