636 replies to this topic

[eandslee]

Seems to me that there are tons of plans, visions and ideas about a regional rail transit system, but heck, I'm ready to hear some concrete dates, money funded and "going to happens" soon.  Even the trolley system envisioned for downtown was announced a couple of years ago and nothing has surfaced since.  To me, this all gets way too frustrating.  We need to get on the ball here!  I'd love to know the current status, but who would you contact in regards to this?...VDOT, RR (who possible won't exist any longer?)?

[wrldcoupe4]

eandslee, on May 5 2005, 07:39 PM, said:

Seems to me that there are tons of plans, visions and ideas about a regional rail transit system, but heck, I'm ready to hear some concrete dates, money funded and "going to happens" soon.  Even the trolley system envisioned for downtown was announced a couple of years ago and nothing has surfaced since.  To me, this all gets way too frustrating.  We need to get on the ball here!  I'd love to know the current status, but who would you contact in regards to this?...VDOT, RR (who possible won't exist any longer?)?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well here's the thing with the streetcar system..... I contacted GRTC because they were in charge of doing the studies. They have completed their final study (I've posted a map from it on here). The person I spoke with Rob Hodder of GRTC who said that GRTC turned the info over to the city and referred me to Viktoria Badger, who is the principal planner at the department of public works. AFter initially trying to pass the buck back to GRTC, her second email on April 28 said,

"Hello - the Downtown Richmond Streetcar Study, Phase II Final Report is just
being presented to the City Administration.  I'm not sure when it would be
presented to City Council.  Thanks, Vickey"

So make what you will of that. It sounds promising but then kind of doesn't. Basically the city has not acted upon the Report. A suggestion: perhaps you could fill out a question form on Richmond.com for "ask the mayor". He seems to be pretty good at answering the ones they post. I did one for the streetcar proposal a couple days ago. Perhaps if there is more than one, he will feel compelled to respond and Richmond.com will feel compelled to publish the response. No guarantees though. I would realllllly like to see this project get off the ground. It would really compliment all of the new developments downtown.

[eandslee]

Thanks, Coupe, for the information.  I'll go to Richmond.com and fill out a form today.  Based on the article I read this morning in the RTD, it doesn't look like the city will be able to put a dime into anymore projects like this considering that next year they will be $7 million in the red.  Hopefully, some sort of federal funds could be secured to, at least, help launch this project.

[wrldcoupe4]

eandslee, on May 6 2005, 08:41 AM, said:

Thanks, Coupe, for the information.  I'll go to Richmond.com and fill out a form today.  Based on the article I read this morning in the RTD, it doesn't look like the city will be able to put a dime into anymore projects like this considering that next year they will be $7 million in the red.  Hopefully, some sort of federal funds could be secured to, at least, help launch this project.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yea its pretty much sitting on the backburner right now, best that I can tell. I would think that it would be able to secure some federal and maybe state funds to help get it off the ground.  I don't see this happening by 2007 though....

[wrldcoupe4]

OKay so this isnt a streetcar but if things like this are successful, perhaps it will make the streetcars more of a priority:

Quote

City's lunch-bus service extended through June
Downtown workers, restaurant owners glad to see express continue

BY PAIGE AKIN
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER May 6, 2005


Richmonders are hungry for more rides on the lunch bus.

The free weekday service, sponsored by GRTC Transit System, was originally funded only through April 22. But downtown restaurant owners said they've seen a marked increase in lunchtime noshers, so the Lunch Time Express will keep on trucking through at least the end of next month.

The city found $30,861 in its Special Parking Revenue Fund to extend the service until June 30. Officials have also applied for a $128,000 state grant to continue the lunch bus through the end of 2006.

The city used $80,000 from its parking fund to pay for the program's original duration, Dec. 6 through April 22. Operational costs are about $135,000 annually.

"You really need a good year for this to work, so you can go through the seasonal changes," said Viktoria Badger, principal planner with the city's Department of Public Works.

The lunch bus got off to a big start in early December, with 609 riders the first week, but activity dipped around the holidays. Each month, ridership has dropped off a bit (1,268 in January, 1,193 in February, 984 in March and 916 in April), but GRTC expects numbers to pick up with the temperature.

"With the heat and humidity coming up, these are nice, beautiful, air-conditioned vehicles," Badger said. "Who wouldn't want to ride them?"....

...As summer approaches, the city and GRTC are working with restaurants to promote each other. For now, lunch-bus drivers are handing out purple-and-white stickers for riders to wear into some restaurants for discounted meals.

About 75,000 people work in, live in or visit downtown Richmond regularly and have about 80 restaurants to choose from at lunchtime. The lunch bus stops as far west as Third and Marshall streets and as far east as 17th and Main, near the Farmers' Market. There are nine stops in all.

"The reality is, when they leave the office, they probably know where they want to eat," Byrne said. "You just hope you're on that list."

The whole article is here

[burt]

In today's ASK THE MAYOR column on Richmond.com, Wilder addressed the status of Main Street Station.  He predicts that by 2008 the number of trains calling at the station will double to 8/9 per day (the odd "9" figures is a one-way-Friday-evening-only train from Newport News that presently terminates at Staples Mill station).

If and when Trans Dominion Expresses and the Southeast High Speed systems get approved, MSS (that's what Richmonders call Main Street Station) will be the hub, says Wilder.  

[wrldcoupe4]

I saw that also... Sounds good to me, I wish they could get the High Speed rail working better between Richmond and D.C. Acca needs to be circumvented. Also I had heard that AMTRAK fuinding might not happen after 2006. Will this put MSS into jeopardy?

[burt]

wrldcoupe4, on May 26 2005, 07:13 PM, said:

I saw that also... Sounds good to me, I wish they could get the High Speed rail working better between Richmond and D.C. Acca needs to be circumvented. Also I had heard that AMTRAK fuinding might not happen after 2006. Will this put MSS into jeopardy?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Probably not, since it's in the Northeast Corridor, as is Newport News.

[burt]

I've pushed to divert Amtrak from Doswell via the new PRIVATELY OWNED tracks to Hanover Tavern, Atlee and other local stations (without stops), direct to MSS, but everybody thinks I'm crazy.  I don't know why, except that trains would skip Ashland.  Sounds like a speedier way to Richmond from the North to me!

[wrldcoupe4]

Keep pushing! We need MSS to become the region's hub for multimodal transportation!

[eandslee]

wrldcoupe4, on May 26 2005, 08:37 PM, said:

Keep pushing! We need MSS to become the region's hub for multimodal transportation!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, Burt!  Keep on pushing!...do I hear an echo here????      Sorry, to repeat, but Coupe, your words were perfect!  

[burt]

This new "trolly" without tracks they're talking about, as far as I understand it, would be a one-way loop.  What if you want to go the other direction?  Why can't they have it circulate, with some modifications, each way?

[burt]

And further, if they want trollies, they should be on tracks, not those cute motorized, rubber-tired versions.  Why don't they buy a fleet of double-decker buses?

Edited by burt, 14 June 2005 - 03:15 PM.

[orulz]

burt, on Jun 14 2005, 05:13 PM, said:

And further, if they want trollies, they should be on tracks, not those cute motorized, rubber-tired versions.  Why don't they buy a fleet of double-decker buses?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Amen. Wooden, straight-backed seats on metal rails are okay because it's a pretty smooth ride, but put them on a trolley-bus that runs on the road with potholes and all, and you're sure to end up with a sore ass.

[wrldcoupe4]

They are planning on using hybrid buses so maybe they wont look like trolleys. This is frustrating. The recommendation from GRTC was for rail.

[wrldcoupe4]

"The Richmond region has been blessed with far-sighted vision and effective leadership in the past that has resulted in a road network second to none in the Commonwealth. It is our challenge in this new century to build on that foundation and create a modern surface transportation system that encompasses roads, rails, and transit with interconnections among them all."

from a good interview with Gerald P. McCarthy, the Richmond District representative on the Commonwealth Transportation Board. Definitely worth reading:

Q&A: Transit, Rail, will improve transportation

[burt]

wrldcoupe4, on Jun 15 2005, 09:25 AM, said:

"The Richmond region has been blessed with far-sighted vision and effective leadership in the past that has resulted in a road network second to none in the Commonwealth. It is our challenge in this new century to build on that foundation and create a modern surface transportation system that encompasses roads, rails, and transit with interconnections among them all."

from a good interview with Gerald P. McCarthy, the Richmond District representative on the Commonwealth Transportation Board. Definitely worth reading:

Q&A: Transit, Rail, will improve transportation

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

An excellent read, Coupe.

Edited by burt, 15 June 2005 - 09:24 AM.

[johnhowell]

I just wanted to know if anyone has seen Richmond's skyline from the 895 overpass (toll road) right on the James River.  It is a briliant shot.  I wish I had my camera on me when I was passing by.  If anyone has a picture of Richmond from this spot post it.

[burt]

johnhowell, on Jun 20 2005, 02:22 PM, said:

I just wanted to know if anyone has seen Richmond's skyline from the 895 overpass (toll road) right on the James River.  It is a briliant shot.  I wish I had my camera on me when I was passing by.  If anyone has a picture of Richmond from this spot post it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The couple of times I've driven it, I was too damned scared to take my eyes off the road.    If you have acrophobia, it's not the bridge for you!  If you're that way again, John, I hope you can snap some pictures and post them here.  I'd really like to see the skyline from there.

[eandslee]

I know that there is a shot from that vantage point on RCW...I'll just have to find it.