Richmond Region Transportation

[I miss RVA]

1 hour ago, Flood Zone said:

If so, I'm not sure what the point even would be. That's too few stations to feasibly serve most of the service oriented jobs along Broad Street fanning out west, and there's already an express bus from I-64/Gaskins to downtown. 

I support public transit and would love to see the Pulse expand to Short Pump, but I've yet to see signs of a proposal that make sense, politically or spatially.

I hear where you're coming from. I would contend, however, that GRTC/CVTA need to establish a baseline to get the line extension operational. Just as they're doing at Malvern with an infill station to meet burgeoning demand that wasn't there five years ago when the line was originally built, additional stations could be added along Broad Street. Perhaps as a functional/operational plan -- plus funding -- starts to be actualized, a determination to add an additional station or two may come to pass. And if/when the funding is available, it doesn't make sense to wait until a north-south line is built - simply because we're not even at the starting line yet of actually building the north-south line, which in and of itself will likely take about two years, based on the timeframe it took to build the Broad Street line (and the north-south line will likely be considerably longer).

The Short Pump extension is low-hanging fruit that GRTC/CVTA can get done expeditiously -- and they should get this part of the system underway WHILE they are planning out and securing funding for the north-south line.

[wrldcoupe4]

How does BRT work in other markets where you go into these super suburban areas? Short Pump is about as pedestrian inhospitable as they come. It seems to be best suited for higher density areas like the current line but I'm not transportation expert.

[eandslee]

Fresh off of Twitter/Facebook - they are paving the street that leads to the new bus transfer station:

 

[I miss RVA]

35 minutes ago, eandslee said:

Fresh off of Twitter/Facebook - they are paving the street that leads to the new bus transfer station:

 

** IMPORTANT NOTE ** -- TEMPORARY bus transfer plaza!  (Thank GOD!!) 

[wrldcoupe4]

Not a lot of streets look that smooth in Richmond  I’m jealous. 

[plain]

Just a heads up (or a reminder for anyone who has already seen this) for anyone who uses Cary Street Rd: a significant section of it will be closed for over a month starting tomorrow. Afterwards, the eastbound lane will continue to be closed for an additional 4 months. The closure is due to sewer work.

 

https://richmondbizsense.com/2023/03/03/western-section-of-cary-street-road-to-be-closed-for-sewer-project/

Edited March 5, 2023 by plain

[I miss RVA]

1 hour ago, plain said:

Just a heads up (or a reminder for anyone who has already seen this) for anyone who uses Cary Street Rd: a significant section of it will be closed for over a month starting tomorrow. Afterwards, the eastbound lane will continue to be closed for an additional 4 months. The closure is due to sewer work.

 

https://richmondbizsense.com/2023/03/03/western-section-of-cary-street-road-to-be-closed-for-sewer-project/

I wonder how old those sewer pipes are out in that part of town?

[eandslee]

Lots of information in this article regarding the very important Powhite Parkway extension in Chesterfield.  Looks like Chesterfield is moving forward with financing a portion of the project themselves to get this project moving quickly ("quickly" is relative...we're talking construction start in FY26).  Additionally, the section that Chesterfield is ponying up the cash for is a very small segment of the extension (from where Powhite currently ends to Woolridge Road.  The project also includes a new interchange at Charter Colony Parkway).  This is still quite a bit away from the Upper Magnolia Green Mega Site that so desperately needs this parkway to ensure its success.  However, I have read elsewhere that Chesterfield plans to build a 2-lane road from Route 360 to the Upper Magnolia Green Mega Site, thereby making it a viable mega site location a whole lot sooner than FY26 or some other arbitrary completion date in the distant future.  Chesterfield is committed, the state sounds committed, so lots of resources will go into ensure this extension gets built sooner rather than later.  Anyway, just wanted to point this out since road access to this mega site is priority #1 and is critical to landing an advanced manufacturer to the area.

https://richmondbizsense.com/2023/03/08/chesterfields-proposed-fy24-budget-includes-tax-relief-and-employee-raises/

Just to illustrate the section of the Powhite Parkway Extension that the Chesterfield FY24 budget is paying for...below, the red line is the section Chesterfield is funding in this budget (the blue line is an approximate place where the extension will go and represents the part not funded yet).  The 2-lane road that Chesterfield will build soon to connect Route 360 and the Upper Magnolia Mega Site will follow the Right of Way path that the eventual Powhite Parkway Extension will take.

 

[I miss RVA]

This will be huge. How long has the proposed extension (particularly following this corridor) been on the books? We've been waiting for eons now for this to get started - and I guess it took being unprepared to receive (and thereby losing out on) TWO mega advanced manufacturing facilities this year to get this ball rolling. Inertia can be a difficult thing to overcome - but I'd like to think that with the STATE'S involvement (plus any and all federal funding that might come down the turnpike so-to-speak) we will see QUICK progress to get the Magnolia Green mega site shovel ready. 

[Child2021]

Speaking of Magnolia Green, there appears to be some movement at the former Motoaca mega site in Chesterfield, as the SCC have opened public commentary about potential impacts. 

https://scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/comment/PUR-2022-00179

https://scc.virginia.gov/getattachment/8607d442-df87-4acf-b991-e67f29892847/CSTP-220179-ChesterSolar.pdf

https://richmondbizsense.com/2019/09/30/solar-farm-data-center-approved-for-chesterfield-megasite/

[I miss RVA]

6 minutes ago, Child2021 said:

Speaking of Magnolia Green, there appears to be some movement at the former Motoaca mega site in Chesterfield, as the SCC have opened public commentary about potential impacts. 

https://scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/comment/PUR-2022-00179

https://scc.virginia.gov/getattachment/8607d442-df87-4acf-b991-e67f29892847/CSTP-220179-ChesterSolar.pdf

https://richmondbizsense.com/2019/09/30/solar-farm-data-center-approved-for-chesterfield-megasite/

Good!! Glad to see the SCC getting involved. The more state involvement the better chances we have of this getting pushed a LOT farther along a LOT faster. Time is of the essence. We were unprepared before - we HAVE to be prepared for the next big development, and the sooner we get this site shovel ready the better.

[Flood Zone]

10 hours ago, I miss RVA said:

How long has the proposed extension (particularly following this corridor) been on the books?

The short one that Chesterfield is funding for construction to start in 2026? Probably a decade. The longer portion out to 360? It's been in "conceptual design" for a few years. 

[blopp1234]

Virginia’s rail ridership continues to grow!

https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/henrico-county/virginia-sees-record-train-ridership-as-passenger-rail-expands/amp/

 

Ridership for January 2023 was 158% above January 2022 and was even 27% above pre pandemic levels from January 2020. 

 

This is proof that with a solid rail system, people will take the train. Took Amtrak up to Alexandria last weekend and the train was about 75% full even on a Saturday and Monday morning. Lots of people getting on and off at Richmond Staples Mill and I don’t see that decreasing if the station is replaced. 
 

Can’t wait to see the passenger numbers in 2030 when transforming rail in VA is completed.

[eandslee]

Posting this here in case anyone is interested.  It's a free event, but you have to register.  Subject: Transportation forum building momentum around big transportation ideas:

http://go.chamberrva.com/events/details/transportation-forum-building-momentum-around-big-transportation-ideas-5862?fbclid=IwAR0TPeaYMpDCIYZITyzs33lqy2_FKF9NpCiRJgPyCRH2DaqlowPLe-XlQKE

[I miss RVA]

11 minutes ago, eandslee said:

Posting this here in case anyone is interested.  It's a free event, but you have to register.  Subject: Transportation forum building momentum around big transportation ideas:

http://go.chamberrva.com/events/details/transportation-forum-building-momentum-around-big-transportation-ideas-5862?fbclid=IwAR0TPeaYMpDCIYZITyzs33lqy2_FKF9NpCiRJgPyCRH2DaqlowPLe-XlQKE

I just registered! 

[I miss RVA]

Nothing project-specific to report. However, the Henrico Citizen did publish a good article on the Commonwealth's upcoming in-depth review of the "SMART SCALE" transportation funding process, which has been in place since 2017 and is being used to help determine which projects to prioritize relative to taxpayer benefit relative to jurisdiction. 

Note: metro Richmond falls within the Type B category of projects when  weighing factors such as safety, congestion, land use, economic development, accessibility and environment. So far, nearly $7 billion in state funding has been appropriated across Virginia through this program.

From today's Henrico Citizen

https://www.henricocitizen.com/articles/virginia-to-conduct-in-depth-review-of-smart-scale-process/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

 

Edited March 27, 2023 by I miss RVA

[KJHburg]

I am sure you have talked about this but here is an article from Greater Washington about new microtransit program for some of the some surrounding metro counties. 

https://ggwash.org/view/89037/new-microtransit-program-will-expand-mobility-across-six-richmond-region-localities?

that New Kent County one should go to the Bucees when it opens for sure! 

with declining transit ridership across the board more innovative ways like this are needed to move people around without cars or the ability to walk somewhere. 

[eandslee]

From Twitter:

 

 

Edited March 29, 2023 by eandslee

[Hike]

1 hour ago, eandslee said:

From Twitter:

Shhhh, don’t tell I Miss RVA that there’s a porta-potty in the first video.  Usually they’re on site at the beginning of the project but there it is at the end of this project.  That’s what makes us unique, RVA just does things differently.  

Edited March 30, 2023 by Hike

[Richmonopoly]

This is our answer to a bus transfer station?  Have we not looked at any cities across the country?  Or as close as NC's cities? 

[I miss RVA]

2 hours ago, eandslee said:

From Twitter:

 

 

 

This transfer "station" (SERIOUSLY????) is so EPICALLY ABSURD that I'm literally bereft for words at the moment.

 

 

Edited March 30, 2023 by I miss RVA

[I miss RVA]

1 hour ago, Hike said:

Shhhh, don’t tell I Miss RVA that there’s a porta-potty in the first video.  Usually they’re on site at the beginning of the project but there it is at the end of this project.  That’s what makes us unique, RVA just does things differently.  

I missed it the first time through the video and had to go back and look at it again - and I nearly fell out of my chair laughing! Honestly, I think I missed it the first go around because I was too busy trying to forklift my jaw off the floor from the otherworldly EPIC and, gents, I DO MEAN EPIC FAIL that is this so-called bus transfer "station". 

About this glorified freshly-paved surface parking lot with pretty little medians, all I can say is - quoting John McEnroe at Wimbledon in 1980:

"YOU ... CAN ... NOT... BE ... SERIOUS!!!!"

Edited March 30, 2023 by I miss RVA

[CitiWalker]

11 hours ago, I miss RVA said:

I missed it the first time through the video and had to go back and look at it again - and I nearly fell out of my chair laughing! Honestly, I think I missed it the first go around because I was too busy trying to forklift my jaw off the floor from the otherworldly EPIC and, gents, I DO MEAN EPIC FAIL that is this so-called bus transfer "station". 

About this glorified freshly-paved surface parking lot with pretty little medians, all I can say is - quoting John McEnroe at Wimbledon in 1980:

"YOU ... CAN ... NOT... BE ... SERIOUS!!!!"

This is suppose to be temporary right? I would imagine they are going to add benches and  covering pretty soon. It appears that they are testing whether or not busses are able to maneuver through the lot. I would not expect much in the way of amenities  or appeal for something that is not suppose to be permanent. I think it would be more about functionality and access at this point. At least this makes way for the development of the old safety building. Hopefully something more substantial is in the works.   To me it does not make sense to invest a lot of money into something that is a suppose to be a temporary fix.  Just my two cents.

[I miss RVA]

3 hours ago, CitiWalker said:

This is suppose to be temporary right?

I would imagine they are going to add benches and  covering pretty soon.

It appears that they are testing whether or not busses are able to maneuver through the lot. I would not expect much in the way of amenities  or appeal for something that is not suppose to be permanent. I think it would be more about functionality and access at this point. At least this makes way for the development of the old safety building. Hopefully something more substantial is in the works.   To me it does not make sense to invest a lot of money into something that is a suppose to be a temporary fix.  Just my two cents.

1.) Yes indeed - this is supposed to be only a temporary fix until the broader City Center development starts to take shape. My BIGGEST fear is that GRTC will try to turn this into a long-term solution - which would be horrific on a number of fronts (wasted space, etc.) but it also goes 100% what's called for in both the Richmond 300 Master Plan AND the City Center Small Area Plan.

2.) OMG - I do hope so! I pray GRTC is aware that it does occasionally rain in Richmond!

3.) Well said! Spot on.  

[KJHburg]

On 3/29/2023 at 8:55 PM, Richmonopoly said:

This is our answer to a bus transfer station?  Have we not looked at any cities across the country?  Or as close as NC's cities? 

NC's two largest cities are both building new bus transfer stations.  Raleigh's is further along.  It will be a new hub for their Bus Rapid Transit and include a 32 story apartment tower on top of it and it is under construction now.  Charlotte has a bus transfer center now but it will be replaced and put underground with a huge mixed use tower on top.  It is in the early stages of planning now.

Here is Raleigh's and they dropped the hotel and adding more apartments to the site.

http://rusbusnc.com/