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Save This PageGRTC Transit System has revealed an ambitious plan to step up its bus services in metro Richmond with new express routes, a transfer center and a bus rapid-transit line.
Only one problem: how to pay for it. "Right now, I don't have money for any of the projects," said John M. Lewis Jr., GRTC's chief executive officer.
And the costs could run to well over $50 million. GRTC is planning to ask the state and the federal government to cover the bill.
"It's exactly the sort of improvement that needs to happen," said Gerald P. McCarthy, who represents Richmond on the Commonwealth Transportation Board.
Lewis outlined the three-part program of proposed mass-transit improvements for the metropolitan area to the state Transportation Board on Thursday.
The new express bus service, which Lewis said could be put into action quickly, would run:
The proposed transfer center at Main Street Station would make switching from one bus line to another easier, free valuable street parking now taken up by long bus stops, and provide links to other types of transportation.
About 25 percent of GRTC's 40,000 daily riders transfer from one bus to another during their trips. "It's a bottleneck in our system," Lewis said of the transfer number.
"We'll connect through downtown with a free shuttle," Lewis said. "No one will have to wait on a corner for the right bus."
GRTC doesn't know what the center would cost, but just planning the facility is expected to run $4.7 million.
The bus rapid-transit proposal would be the jewel of the system, joining Short Pump to downtown and Rocketts Landing, Lewis said.
Bus rapid transit features high-speed buses running in dedicated lanes, using modern stations, and with limited stops but frequent service.
With bus rapid transit, Lewis predicted GRTC's ridership on the heavily traveled Broad Street corridor would double.
GRTC stands a strong chance of getting seed money to start the detailed planning, said Matthew O. Tucker, director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. On the other hand, "the big money is subject to a lot of conditions," he said.
"The revenue picture is not bright," McCarthy said, "but if the General Assembly and the governor are able to agree on a comprehensive financial plan for transportation, [GRTC's proposal] would be a priority."
GRTC has about 10 million riders a year, with the heaviest passenger loads moving into and out of downtown.
Each of those trips costs the public mass-transit company $2.25, while average revenue per trip is 71 cents. Subsidies make up the difference.
GRTC Transit System is owned by Richmond and Chesterfield. It serves Richmond, Henrico and a small portion of Chesterfield. GRTC also runs express buses to Petersburg and Fredericksburg.
Contact Peter Bacqué at (804) 649-6813 or pbacque@timesdispatch.com.
