AROUND THE REGION

GRTC released their latest round of updates to the Richmond Transit Network Plan routes, route numbers, and stop locations. This looks like it may be a final set of maps (at least it says so on the presentation slides (PDF))! Also, there's this from the aforelinked presentation: "Implementation projection early 2018." Keep in mind that we can't switch over to the new network until the Pulse opens, so it's definitely looking like we won't see the green and blue buses on Broad until next year.

There's also a neat map that shows every single bus stop in the new system—plus which ones are new, moved, and to be removed. It gives you an idea of where the main geographical changes are taking place in the system. Note: One thing this map does not illustrate is changes in frequency! Some of these stops will see buses come by far more frequently!

Albermarle County has ranked their transportation projects in preparation for next year's Smart Scale VDOT funding process. The third priority is prepwork for a possible BRT along U.S. 29 connecting Hollymead and downtown Charlottesville.

ELSEWHERE

This is definitely the link of the week: Visualizing 24 of North America's Transit Networks. Beautiful illustrations of all the transit vehicles from 24 American cities! I could lose a lot of time looking at these—in fact, I just did!

Salt Lake City is looking to expand their transit network, and their City Council will weigh whether to do it all at once or in smaller, incremental steps. Doing more at once has a higher ticket price, but will, theoretically, do a better job at increasing ridership.

San Francisco inches closer to closing one of its major thoroughfares to private vehicles. This means emergency vehicles, public transit, taxis, and delivery trucks are A-OK, private vehicles—even rideshares like Uber and Lyft—would be banned.

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