TAKE ACTION
If you live in Chesterfield County and would like to weigh in on their FY2019 budget, you may do so until November 3rd by filling out a very short survey. This past summer, the County identified transportation as one of their top budget priorities, and this is a good opportunity to remind them that, for many folks, that means bringing bus service to Chesterfield County. Also, hats off to Chesterfield for putting together an informative and easy-to-use budget website!
Henrico County will host one final public meeting on the changes coming to their portion of the region's transit network on November 2nd at the Tuckahoe Area Library (1901 Starling Drive). If you live, work, play (or shop!), in Henrico, please fill out their survey on what the future of transit should look like. There are no "right" answers, but it is incredibly important that folks who want more public transportation in Henrcio show their excitement and support for County efforts. Don't forget to share the link with your friends, too!
AROUND THE REGION
Mayor Stoney signed a Vision Zero pledge this past Friday. Vision Zero is a world-wide initiative to change the mindset that traffic injures and fatalities are inevitable and to reduce those injuries and fatalities to zero. Richmond's City Council passed a resolution in support of Vision Zero last year, and now with the Mayor's support, the Safe and Healthy Streets Commission has been tasked with creating a legislative and budgetary action plan to fund safety improvements. Remember! Every transit user is a pedestrian at some point, and safe access to transit has a huge impact on ridership.
Hardywood's Gingerbread House Challenge (which benefits the Better Housing Coalition) is this coming Sunday, November 5th. Team RVA Rapid Transit may have a transit-related entry (pictured above in a state of mid-construction—just like the real BRT!). Stop by Hardywood on Sunday, November 5th around 4:00 PM and cast a vote for the Gingerbread Transit Company!
ELSEWHERE
Speaking of pedestrian safety, TransitCenter writes about the importance of good sidewalks to a transit system. If you want to get inspired by some nerdy maps, check out Denver's excellent pedestrian existing conditions report (PDF).
I strongly support the recent move by transit companies to replace cloth seats with hardback plastic ones. The newer GRTC buses have these plastic seats which are sturdier and easier to clean. Learn more about Chicago's seat transition in this article titled, "Why is my seat wet?"
If you'd like to support RVA Rapid Transit's work to bring a truly regional transit system to Richmond, consider picking up an awesome transit map T-shirt or making a tax-deductible donation.
—Ross Catrow