TAKE ACTION

On Monday, April 22nd at 6:00 PM, City Council will host their one-and-only public hearing to solicit citizen input on the Mayor’s proposed budget, including $965,000 of new funding for “increased [bus] service and route frequency to those communities that need it the most.” Please attend the hearing in support of this increased investment in public transit and, if you’re willing, give a public comment.

What: Support increased public transportation funding by attending City Council’s budget hearing. Give a public comment too, if you’re willing!
When: Monday, April 22nd, 6:00 PM–?:?? PM
Where: Council Chambers (City Hall, 900 E. Broad Street, 2nd Floor)
Please RSVP so we can get a transit-oriented headcount!

This proposed $965,000 investment builds on the last several years of increased funding for public transportation from Richmond City and will:

Create a new route in Church Hill connecting Downtown to the new grocery store and, after many years, provide access to healthy food for residents of the East End.
Extend the nighttime operating hours to 11:30 PM on the #2B, #86, and #87 bus routes on the Southside. Currently these routes stop running at 7:00 PM, which makes it a challenge for folks to get to or from evening-hours work.
Add much-needed amenities to bus stops, giving Richmonders who ride transit a place to sit and some relief from the sun, rain, and snow.

Your visible support is important! Council will consider at least one amendment (submitted by the 4th District’s Councilmember Larson) to strip this new funding from the Mayor’s proposed budget.

You can also email your Councilmember and let them know you support more funding for more public transportaiton.

AROUND THE REGION

GRTC released new ridership numbers for this past March, and they are way, way up as compared to last year. Way to go, team!

April 25th is the American Public Transportation Association’s “Get on Board” day—an excellent excuse to try the bus for the first time if you haven’t already. Or! Email your elected representative and tell them public transit is great and deserves their support (here’s contact information for Richmond City Council, Henrico Board of Supervisors, Chesterfield Board of Supervisors).

ELSEWHERE

The federal TIGER grant program that funded a huge percentage of the capital costs of the Pulse has a new name and a new, unfortunate, focus. Under President Trump, the BUILD program now funds rural roads more than transit, freight, or complete streets.

Ben Fried and Hayley Richardson, both from TransitCenter, have some interesting and straightforward ways federal programs like the proposed Green New Deal can include, support, and encourage the use of public transportation.

—Ross Catrow