GRTC begins new local bus service on Route 1 in Chesterfield County on Monday, March 16, 2020 along a 7.6-mile corridor between the Food Lion in North Chesterfield and John Tyler Community College in Chester. Today, new bus stop signs begin installation along the route in preparation for operations next week. The new Route 111: Rt 1/Falling Creek/Tyler will operate Monday through Saturday every 30 minutes, connecting communities with shopping destinations, restaurants, job opportunities, and higher education.

This new service is established with funding from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation’s (DRPT) two-year demonstration grant program (80% of cost), and matched with a local 20% contribution from Chesterfield County. John Tyler Community College has a bus stop conveniently located on the Chester campus at the southern end of the Route 111. Tyler is also hosting a Park-N-Ride in Parking Lot B for passengers to safely and securely park vehicles at Tyler and ride the Route 111. Riders can connect with the rest of GRTC’s network at the Food Lion in N. Chesterfield by transferring onto the Route 3B Highland/Jeff Davis and continuing north into the City of Richmond.

The Route 111 serves 24 bus stops. Amenities are planned for eight stops this year, including eight with newly constructed concrete pads and trash cans. Three of these pad locations will also have benches and five will have three-sided shelters with seating.

With GRTC service extending farther south along Route 1, GRTC’s CARE service area also expands the destinations reached in the network. CARE provides origin-to-destination service under the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in parts of Chesterfield, Richmond and Henrico to individuals with disabilities who may not be reasonably able to use GRTC fixed route bus service. The one-way fare for CARE is $3. CARE is a shared-ride service where reservations are made at least one day in advance. CARE customers may also ride local bus routes, including the new Route 111, for free.

Chesterfield County Citizen Information & Resources Mobility Services provide transportation services for Chesterfield residents who are disabled, aged 60 or older, or meet federal income guidelines. Service is provided throughout Chesterfield and is available for medical trips and employment in Richmond, Colonial Heights, Petersburg, Hopewell and parts of Henrico. For residents in southern Chesterfield, service to parts of Colonial Heights and Petersburg is available. The one-way fare for Mobility Services is $6.

Route 111 Service Facts:

Days of Service: Monday - Saturday

Hours of Service: weekdays 5 am – 7 pm; Saturdays 7 am – 7 pm
Public Timetable (PDF)

Frequency:  The bus will arrive at stops about every 30 minutes; twice a day there will be a 40-minute window between buses. 

Fare: $1.50 one-way; $1.75 includes a transfer/connection (One Ride Plus pass); passes are available (1- day, 7-day and 30-day unlimited ride options). Reduced Fares are available for seniors, minors, individuals with disabilities, and Medicare customers.

Video Links:
GRTC TV Commercials  
What is GRTC and Route 111?
What are the Fares?
Bus Stop Basics
How do I board the bus?
Tips when riding the bus
Safety when exiting the bus
How to use bicycles with the bus
How to connect from the Route 111 with other GRTC bus routes
What is Travel Training?

GRTC is jointly owned by the City of Richmond and Chesterfield County, operating as a public service corporation to provide public transportation service in the Greater Richmond area. GRTC’s current operational budget is $53.9M, where most of the dollars are allocated to maintenance and operations for staffing the service GRTC delivers to the public daily. More than 9.25 million customers use GRTC’s services annually, and ridership is growing.