Richmond Seeks to Expand Bus Rapid Transit

Richmond, Virginia's Pulsebus rapid transit line, launched in 2018, sought to rectify the legacy of disinvestment in the city's transit and introduced more efficient bus service with dedicated lanes and signal prioritization. Now, the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) is putting forward expansion plans that would add a north-south bus rapid transit (BRT) line and expanded coverage to key destinations.

Despite the challenges posed by this year's pandemic, civil uprisings, and loss of funding, the GRTC has high hopes for the future. Just before COVID-19, the agency experienced record growth in ridership. Local routes have retained 94% of their passengers even through the pandemic. "There are more positives on the horizon for us if we lean into our region’s forward motion rather than give into the fear," said GRTC CEO Julie Timm. With dedicated funding on the horizon from the Central Virginia Transportation Authority (CVTA) and the potential to raise more from local jurisdictions, the agency is in a position to implement ambitious BRT solutions if they can get cities and counties on board. With plans for a regional system, writes Wyatt Gordon for Greater Greater Washington, "GRTC stands a better chance of convincing the historically bus-skeptic surrounding counties to contribute funds."