• What: Support increased public transportation funding by attending City Council’s budget hearing. Give a public comment too, if you’re willing!
• When: Monday, April 22nd, 6:00 PM–?:?? PM
• Where: Council Chambers (City Hall, 900 E. Broad Street, 2nd Floor)

Update, April 18th

Via Councilmember Jones's Twitter account we have a (partial?) list of proposed amendments to the Mayor's budget. One of those amendments, submitted by 4th District's Councilmember Larson, strips all $9650,000 of the new GRTC funding.

Please attend City Council's meeting on Monday, April 22nd at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers (900 E. Broad Street, 2nd Floor) and let them know you support more funding for more public transportation!

Original, April 17th

The Mayor’s proposed budget includes $965,000 of new funding for “increased [bus] service and route frequency to those communities that need it the most.” On Monday, April 22nd, City Council will host their one and only public hearing to solicit citizen input on this budget. Please show your support for this increased investment in public transit by attending the April 22nd public hearing at 6:00 PM, and, if you’re willing, giving a public comment. You can RSVP for either of those things by using this form (Logistical note! Filling out the form is not necessary to attend or speak at Monday’s public meeting but will be useful in helping RVA Rapid Transit get a transit-oriented headcount.)

This proposed $965,000 investment builds on the last several years of increased funding for public transportation from Richmond City and helps maintain our region’s exciting and nationally-recognized public transit momentum. With this nearly million-dollar investment, the City plans to:

• Create a new route in Church Hill connecting Downtown to the new grocery store and, after many years, provide access to healthy food for residents of the East End.
• Extend the nighttime operating hours to 11:30 PM on the #2B, #86, and #87 bus routes on the Southside. Currently these routes stop running at 7:00 PM, which makes it a challenge for folks to get to or from evening-hours work.
• Add much-needed amenities to bus stops, giving Richmonders who ride transit a place to sit and some relief from the sun, rain, and snow.

Please show City Council your support for these important expansions and enchantments to our bus network by showing up at the April 22nd budget hearing. Help us protect these investments in public transportation and get them across the budget finish line!

P.S. Again, for headcount purpose, please RSVP here.