This week in transit: Mark your calendars for Mayorathon!

TAKE ACTION

This coming Thursday, February 28th from 6:30–8:00 PM, RVA Rapid Transit, Richmond Magazine, and a bunch of other organizations and nonprofits will host Mayorathon: Policy Jam. We’ll sit down with Mayor Levar Stoney to have a conversation about his accomplishments and priorities in a handful of topic areas: transportation, neighborhoods, education, public safety, and the urban environment. Get excited for an informative and fun atmosphere in which to talk about local policy—seriously, that’s a thing that can (and should) exist! The event is free and open to the public, but please RSVP over on the Eventbrite so we can get an accurate headcount. See you there!

AROUND THE REGION

Each and every ridership report released by GRTC is more astounding than the last. This recent one shows that year-over-year ridership in January across the entire bus system increased a whopping 26% (PDF)! Next up, this report shows that Pulse ridership continues to exceed expectations (PDF), with most weeks seeing near 40,000 rides. In that previous link, there’s also a fascinating table showing VCU ridership by route, with the #1A/B/C and the #5 both showing strong ridership growth.

Back in January, GRTC reduced the frequencies of the #4A and #4B routes which provide connections in and out of Fulton to the Pulse. However, after a recent public meeting at which they heard from more of the Fulton community, it sounds like the bus company may decide to add back 15-minute service during peak hours. Peak-only 15-minute service isn’t as consistent or useful as all-day 15-minute service, of course, but it’s good to see GRTC listening to the needs of the Fulton community.

Speaking of community input, on Wednesday at the West End Branch of the Richmond Public Library from 6:00–7:00PM, you can weigh in on some proposed changes to the #50, #76, and #77 routes. At this meeting, you’ll most likely hear about the changes presented at this past week’s GRTC board meeting (PDF). Those changes include new turnarounds on the eastern end of the #50, #76, #77—which you’ll remember are necessary since 1) City Council objected to the original turnaround on the block bounded by Grace, Robinson, Broad, and Davis, and 2) The current turnaround on the Science Museum property is only a temporary solution. You might also hear about a proposed extension of the western end of the #77, which would be a $255,000 change—more thoughts on this one after more details surface.

—Ross Catrow

This week in transit: Attend a transit meeting or two!

TAKE ACTION

GRTC will host two public meetings in the coming weeks which will give you an opportunity to weigh in on recent and proposed changes to the bus network.

First, on February 20th from 7:00–8:00 PM at the Neighborhood Resource Center of Greater Fulton (1519 Williamsburg Road), you can let GRTC know your thoughts on the recent reduction in frequency to the 4A and 4B. While you’re there you can also help them decide where to install new bus stop amenities—concrete pads, benches, trash cans, shelters, and adequate lighting.

Second, you’ve got two chances to attend a meeting about the 50, 76, and 77 routes: February 27th (6:00–7:00 PM, West End Branch Library, 5420 Patterson Avenue) and February 28th (6:00–7:00 PM, DMV, 2300 W. Broad Street). These are the three routes that originally turned around on the block bordered by Broad, Davis, Grace, and Robinson, but now turn around back behind the Science Museum.

AROUND THE REGION

This past fall, Henrico County improved and expanded their bus service in a big way—their biggest improvement to public transportation in 25 years. That hard work and new service is paying off as ridership has nearly double on a couple routes. As GRTC’s Carrie Rose Pace says, “Where you place a level of transit service that is more frequent, operates at later hours and on weekends, and reaches the destinations that the community needs to get to, the riders will get on board.”

ELSEWHERE

TransitCenter has released their Who’s On Board 2019 ridership study (PDF), and they’ve found that...fewer people are on board. Low quality transit service and cheap/easy car ownership seem to be driving the nationwide ridership decrease. What happens when cars ownership gets more expensive and more difficult? Who knows! But CityLab has an interesting article looking at the auto loan industry.

Streetsblog says that last year’s tax reform law may have accidentally added a tax to employers who provide free parking to their employees? This sounds good if you’re in favor of economic incentives to get fewer people driving to work alone in their cars and more people commuting by bike or transit. However, it sounds like the IRS is quickly working to fix the glitch.

—Ross Catrow

This week in transit: Attend a transit meeting or two!

TAKE ACTION

GRTC will host two public meetings in the coming weeks which will give you an opportunity to weigh in on recent and proposed changes to the bus network.

First, on February 20th from 7:00–8:00 PM at the Neighborhood Resource Center of Greater Fulton (1519 Williamsburg Road), you can let GRTC know your thoughts on the recent reduction in frequency to the 4A and 4B. While you’re there you can also help them decide where to install new bus stop amenities—concrete pads, benches, trash cans, shelters, and adequate lighting.

Second, you’ve got two chances to attend a meeting about the 50, 76, and 77 routes: February 27th (6:00–7:00 PM, West End Branch Library, 5420 Patterson Avenue) and February 28th (6:00–7:00 PM, DMV, 2300 W. Broad Street). These are the three routes that originally turned around on the block bordered by Broad, Davis, Grace, and Robinson, but now turn around back behind the Science Museum.

AROUND THE REGION

This past fall, Henrico County improved and expanded their bus service in a big way—their biggest improvement to public transportation in 25 years. That hard work and new service is paying off as ridership has nearly double on a couple routes. As GRTC’s Carrie Rose Pace says, “Where you place a level of transit service that is more frequent, operates at later hours and on weekends, and reaches the destinations that the community needs to get to, the riders will get on board.”

ELSEWHERE

TransitCenter has released their Who’s On Board 2019 ridership study (PDF), and they’ve found that...fewer people are on board. Low quality transit service and cheap/easy car ownership seem to be driving the nationwide ridership decrease. What happens when cars ownership gets more expensive and more difficult? Who knows! But CityLab has an interesting article looking at the auto loan industry.

Streetsblog says that last year’s tax reform law may have accidentally added a tax to employers who provide free parking to their employees? This sounds good if you’re in favor of economic incentives to get fewer people driving to work alone in their cars and more people commuting by bike or transit. However, it sounds like the IRS is quickly working to fix the glitch.

—Ross Catrow