Regional Public Transportation Plan

Current Status

The FY 2022 Regional Public Transportation Plan is currently in use.

Guiding funding priorities:

1. Maintain existing service – a regional, essential system
2. Support capital projects – provide a 2% local match for grants, and support the reserve fund for large capital projects
3. Micro-transit Study
4. Continue to explore prioritized expansion as part of the FY23 Plan development. The below list identifies the fixed route priorities from the plan development process:
   1. Fixed Route Expansion Priority List:
   2. Extend Route 1C to Brook/Parham
   3. Extend Route 3A/B/C to Laburnum, and Route 3A to Azalea
   4. New Route 7C for 15-minute frequency on Route 7A/B/C from Laburnum to Downtown
   5. Fold Route 111 into Route 3B (add Sunday service and span improvements)
   6. Route 86 extend to Chesterfield
   7. New Route 84 to Wilkinson Terrace
   8. Route 85 to Chesterfield Government Center
   9. Extend Route 1A to Chesterfield Towne Center
   10. Routes 18/79 increase to 30-minute frequency, extend to create a West End Loop (add weekend service and span improvements)
   11. Route 29X to Innsbrook
   12. Route 19 increase to 20-minute frequency

The FY 2023 Regional Public Transportation Plan is currently being drafted. The kick-off for the FY23 plan update occurred in August 2021. The draft and final reports will be presented to the GRTC Board of Directors, the MPO, and the CVTA between January 2022 and June 2022.

In-progress Activities:

• FY2023 Baseline Budget and Assumptions
• Micro-transit Study:
  • PowerPoint update to GRTC Board January 2022 
  • Watch CEO Julie Timm's "Better Together" presentation to PlanRVA
• Jurisdictional meetings to identify micro transit opportunities and expansion priorities for future

Background

The creation of the Central Virginia Transportation Authority (CVTA) by the 2020 General Assembly has established new funds for priority transportation investments in the Richmond Region. The two main sources of revenue are regional sales and use tax (0.7%) and wholesale gas and diesel tax (7.6 cents and 7.7 cents). The projected funding available for transportation investment is $187 Million in FY 2022 and growing to a projection of $204 Million by FY 2026.

Learn more: CVTA Website

What Does This Mean for GRTC?

The CVTA funds are allocated three ways – 15% to GRTC, 50% to each participating locality proportionally, and 35% for regional projects. GRTC is projected to receive $27 Million in FY 2023 and $30 Million by FY 2026. The majority of the funds received by GRTC will be allocated to support the regional routes in the current system, however, GRTC is planning on allocating $10 Million on expansion of the network based on regional priorities. This expansion represents about a 20% growth for the system.

Planning for Expansion

As required by the CVTA legislation, GRTC developed a Regional Public Transportation Plan in coordination with the Richmond Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RRTPO) in FY 2021. The Regional Public Transportation Plan identifies how GRTC plans to spend the 15% CVTA funds in FY 2022. GRTC contracted with Michael Baker International and Jarrett Walker and Associates to assist with the plan development. Many studies completed in previous years serve as a reference for the regional priorities (2018-2028 Transit Development Plan (TDP) and Greater Richmond Transit Vision Plan Phase II).

Concept Alternatives for Expansion

Ridership Concept

Transit can focus on different goals and values. One of those goals is ridership, or providing frequent service to dense, busy places to encourage more people to ride. Concentrating service will encourage greater use, but is costly so frequent service can't be spread across as many places.

Coverage Concept

Transit can focus on different goals and values. One of those goals is coverage, or providing service to as many places as possible. But spreading bus routes all over means that service is not very frequent and therefore waits are long.
The map below shows a transit concept for the Richmond region that tries to maximize coverage with the additional funding for transit. Some features of this concept are:

• Extending 30 minute service along Midlothian Turnpike in Chesterfield, along Williamsburg Road in Henrico, along Meadowbridge Rd/Richmond-Henrico Turnpike in Henrico.
• Extending 60 minute service along key corridors like Brook Rd in Henrico, Hull Street and Iron Bridge Road in Chesterfield.
• New or extended services to Innsbrook, Wilkinson Terrace, Memorial Regional Hospital in Hanover, and along Meadowdale Boulevard in Chesterfield.

The Coverage Concept achieves the following outcomes:

• 55,000 more residents and 40,000 more jobs would be within a quarter mile of some transit service.
• 13% more people in poverty and 21% more minority residents would be within a quarter mile of some transit service.
• There would be no change in people or jobs near frequent transit (service that comes every 10 or 15 minutes).
• With no increase in frequency, the Coverage Concept does not substantially increase jobs reachable in 45 minutes for the average resident. The average resident could reach 4% more jobs, the average minority resident could reach 6% more jobs, and the average resident in poverty could reach 4% more jobs in 45 minutes.

Coverage Concept Map

Access to Jobs in 45 minutes on Coverage Concept

Coverage Concept Overlay With Poverty Data

Coverage Concept Overlay With Race/Ethnicity Data