Jump to content

Richmond Region Transportation


wrldcoupe4

Recommended Posts

7 hours ago, Icetera said:

That HOT lane will probably cost more than Amtrak, never-mind gas.  Unfortunately, just adding another person makes the car more financially sensible.

I’ve never seen the HOT lane at more than $20 each way, which is just over half the cost of the cheapest Amtrak ticket.  Also, I drive a Tesla and can generally charge for free in DC, so I’m out about $3 in fuel cost.  

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites


2 hours ago, jbjust said:

I’ve never seen the HOT lane at more than $20 each way, which is just over half the cost of the cheapest Amtrak ticket.  Also, I drive a Tesla and can generally charge for free in DC, so I’m out about $3 in fuel cost.  

I have paid over $30, but that was after a long trip from North Dakota so damn if I was not going to pay!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Also, Amtrak is around $33 dollars for a one way trip from Richmond to dc, so as long as amtrak is reliable (in my experience, it has been), then it’s around the same cost and time currently to drive (assuming little to no traffic) or take Amtrak. As for reliability, the DC2RVA project will also decrease travel times and improve reliability by adding additional track capacity.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

It won’t just be for the northern Virginia region. This will add a third track along the entire corridor except thru Ashland, where Hanover county NIMBYs had their way in preventing a bypass west of the town. It will also add 9 new round trips between DC and RVA and will increase service to Main Street station by routing all new trains and all existing trains thru downtown Richmond. It will also increase the maximum speed on the corridor up to 90 mph and improve reliability.

Edited by blopp1234
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Last I checked the estimate was about $5 billion, so I’m guessing it would need federal funding of some sort. I’m also assuming that they would knock out the cheapest parts first, which would largely be between Ashland and Fredericksburg since it’s relatively flat and isn’t densely populated.

Edited by blopp1234
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

There will be new service to Richmond added before the 10 year timeframe. I think with the High Speed Rail Corridor Study, most (if not all) of the EIS analysis has already been done. I don't see lawsuits holding much weight or adding significant time to the proposal, since the EIS process would've been the time to file such lawsuits.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
7 minutes ago, wrldcoupe4 said:

Having this along broad street always made more sense for integration into the PULSE network. Only think is that the original plan had a pretty tall mutilfamily tower on the site. Is that going away?

If they keep a similar design, then the Broad Street location will be so much better as Coupe points out.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

23 minutes ago, wrldcoupe4 said:

Having this along broad street always made more sense for integration into the PULSE network. Only think is that the original plan had a pretty tall mutilfamily tower on the site. Is that going away?

Hope the tall multi-family tower isn’t going away...they can still put the transfer center there underneath or on the ground level of the tower I suppose. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Looks like GRTC is looking to purchase larger “accordion-style” buses for The Pulse in addition to seeking funding for a transfer station that has been in the works for years. 

https://www.richmond.com/news/local/three-year-grtc-capital-plan-includes-funding-for-new-transfer/article_f1e4b774-2824-58e2-aedd-8d8f4457aad5.html

“The GRTC Board of Directors voted Tuesday to approve a "blueprint" of a three-year capital spending plan that includes funding for two new transfer stations and six larger buses for the Pulse line.

The $85.6 million three-year plan begins with funding that's already been allocated in the fiscal year that began in July. New GRTC CEO Julie Timm said that's because she wanted the company's directors to understand where things stand now.

With funding now pegged to several projects that have been in the works, such as $12 million for a new downtown transfer center that's been in the works for several years, the plan also includes $4.8 million to buy six articulated buses to improve passenger capacity on the Pulse, GRTC's 7.6-mile bus rapid transit system.”

”The 60-foot "accordion" buses GRTC is considering are common in large and mid-size cities. Timm said the new buses could hold about 40 more passengers than the current 40-foot Pulse buses, which have room for 50 to 60 people.

In December, GRTC officials were invited to look over and test drive a new articulated bus that was en route to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City.

Timm said she is hoping a $1.5 million earmark in the plan will restart previously discussed plans to build a new transfer center near the Richmond Social Services Department on Hull Street at the Southside Plaza shopping center.

As for the transfer center that's part of the discussions around the Navy Hill coliseum redevelopment plan downtown, Timm said GRTC is not certain about whether it should remain on Ninth Street...”

 

Edited by eandslee
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Could be they are trying to move the budget for a new transfer station into GRTC funding to save money in the Navy Hill Plan.   I think when it comes to Navy Hill there is negotiating going on with the various council members to get their yes vote.  First the new tax savings shrinking the TIF area.  Now possible movement of the transfer station out of the Navy Hill scope - adding further savings to the plan.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, DowntownCoruscant said:

Higher capacity busses would help during the PM rush hour. They get a little jammed up on the MCV to Government Center stretch to the point where you might get refused the first bus to arrive.

That stop gets insane!  With these longer buses, the Ram Rides are also going to need to cease stopping immediately next to the Pulse station.  I still do not understand why they switched to the outer lanes from Convention to MCV rather than keep it median running throughout.  The eventual conversion to light rail is going to be interesting.

Edited by Icetera
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.