How Rapid Transit Benefits Our Aging Population

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) benefits people of all demographics and backgrounds. Whether you’re a business professional who lives downtown and would rather not brave interstate 64 to get to work in the West End, or a VCU student without a car who would like to experience everything that Richmond has to offer, RVA Rapid Transit is designed to serve everyone who wants to ride.

BRT will be particularly effective in addressing the needs of our senior population. Providing them with adequate transportation options will be increasingly difficult as the baby boomer generation reaches retirement age.  According to a Brookings Institution Study, by 2030 one in five Americans will be over the age of 65 and one in 11 Americans will be over the age of 85.  According to a Transportation for America Study,  many of these seniors tend not to move after they reach retirement age, preferring to “age in place” ( pg 3).

Additionally, a 2004 study found that seniors age 65 and older who no longer drive make 15 percent fewer trips to the doctor, 59 percent fewer trips to shop or eat out, and 65 percent fewer trips to visit friends and family, than drivers of the same age. And a 2008 study by AARP found that 85% of older Americans were extremely concerned or very concerned about rising fuel prices, causing them to consider alternative modes of transportation. 20% of seniors over the age of 65 do not drive at all.

The Brookings Institution study notes, “over the last decade older people have made less use of public transit. However older people would consider using this mode if services were provided in ways that better met their needs. To make transit services more appropriate for older people, federal, state,  and metropolitan policies and programs should encourage or require, as well as finance, four major categories of public transit developments: improving conventional service, increasing safety and security in all parts of the system, enhancing communication and information, and providing additional services more carefully targeted to the elderly.” Both the Transit for America Study and the Brookings Institution study suggest designing public transit to be accessible to seniors and making pedestrian sidewalks safe and accessible for seniors.

    Locally, the United Way of Greater Richmond’s Age Wave Study arrived at similar findings to these national studies.  According to the study, the population of people over the age of 65 in Metro-Richmond is projected to double by 2030. The Age Wave study provides a framework to support an increasingly elderly population including:

•     An Engaged Community that gives back through civic participation and volunteerism.

•     A Livable community that has affordable housing, accessible public transportation, and makes the effort to comply with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA).

•     A Stable community where adults have access to jobs that provide financial stability and allow people to save for retirement.

•     A Well Community that provides for the medical needs of an aging population.

RVA Rapid Transit is an important step toward making the Richmond region more liveable for seniors. This system of rapid mass transit will allow them to “age in place” while retaining access to the services they need and the amenities they enjoy.

Latest Updates to the Broad Street BRT Plan

The GRTC and the DRPT held an open meeting recently to present an update on the Broad Street BRT project. The crowd was between 150 and 200 by our rough estimate, and many of those in attendance were RVA Rapid Transit supporters. Most of the presentation was a review of the proposed plan to build a BRT line between Willow Lawn and Rocketts Landing. As far as the system goes, there were no material updates to the previously proposed build.

What has changed slightly is the Federal Transit Administration application process. Since the last presentation of the Broad Street BRT plan, the FTA has updated its process to require additional analysis. DRPT estimates that this will take an additional month or two; however, the process is now more streamlined with only one point of review by the FTA instead of two. This should streamline the approval of the Broad Street corridor BRT in the long run.

Organizers of the event were pleased with both the size and the positive energy from the audience. Larry Hagin, GRTC's Director of Planning, expressed that he was encouraged and excited by those in attendance. He reiterated that this is just the first step to building a larger system.

Officials from Henrico County, including County Manager John Vithoulkas, Director of Public Works Steve Yob, and Transportation Development Division Director E. Todd Eure were in attendance, and voiced support for cooperation among the Metro Richmond jurisdictions.

Public sentiment at the meeting was supportive of the Broad Street BRT. There were no voices dissenting, and the audience's primary question was, "How do we expand this to a regional system?"

It is our hope that the supporters of RVA Rapid Transit and Metro Richmonders at large can continue to ask these questions of our elected and appointed officials.