Transportation
Focuses on sustainable modes of transportation and an improved infrastructure including: bicycle
and pedestrian infrastructure, complete streets and parking.
Strategic Multi Modal Transportation Plan
In 2011, the city began its process to develop a long-range multi-modal transportation plan that
takes into account alternative transportation modes and complete streets. The planning process called
Richmond Connects will conclude in 2012.
Mayor’s Pedestrian, Bicycling and Trails Planning Commission
Mayor Jones created the Commission in 2010 to provide city administration advice on ways to
incorporate bicycling and walking as viable methods of transportation in the city of Richmond. After a series
of meetings, the Commission issued a report with recommended actions.
Bike Sharrows
To implement the recommendations of the Mayor’s Pedestrian, Bicycling and Trails Planning Commission,
the city is increasing the amount of bicycle infrastructure in Richmond. It will begin by installing 40 miles of
sharrows or shared lane pavement markings on both sides of three major city bicycle routes for a total of 80 miles.
The routes are US Bike Route 1, Major North-South Bike Route and Major East-West Bike Route. The sharrows will be
completed in 2012.
Virginia Capital Trail
The Virginia Capital Trail
is a 55-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail that will connect Richmond to Williamsburg when it is completed in 2014.
In 2009, the city finished the Richmond Riverfront phase of the Trail. This section is the first of three that
will run through the city.
Cannon Creek Greenway
The city is working with City Council, the National Guard and community partners to build the Cannon
Creek Greenway, a 1.9 mile trail that will be used for biking, walking and hiking. The Greenway will run beside the
Richmond-Henrico Turnpike and become an important Northside bicycle and pedestrian connector.
Standard Bike Racks
The city is placing bike racks, of uniform design, at various locations to encourage more biking.
High Speed Rail
The city of Richmond is strategically located along the Southeast and Northeast High Speed Rail
Corridors spanning the entire east coast of the United States with established population densities, areas of
high potential for development, continued growth, economic investment and consequently, considerable traffic
congestion. To underscore the importance of this corridor, Virginia received $44.3 million to begin the essential
planning and environmental efforts which are the precursors to construction of a high speed rail network.
Main Street Station
In order to maximize rail passenger service and further expand the multi-modal transportation
options offered at Main Street Station, the city is moving forward on a number of efforts. It is stabilizing
and rehabilitating the train shed per the National Historic Preservation Guidelines to improve service and
capacity for existing passenger rail. It is improving site circulation for multimodal activity and providing
alternative transportation modes at the station such as electric vehicles, car sharing, bike stations, Segways,
and scooters. It is re-establishing Franklin Street through the train shed to provide connectivity for the Virginia
Capital Trail and pedestrian access through the site. It is also solidifying the property’s iconic gateway presence
by establishing a transit and tourism information center within the station to welcome visitors when they first enter
the city of Richmond.
Electric Vehicle (EV) Readiness
The city has partnered with the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission, Virginia Clean
Cities, Virginia Commonwealth University, Sustainable Transportation Initiative of Richmond (STIR), and other
partners to work on planning issues, infrastructure development, government and utility policies to support
electric vehicles in the Richmond region. As a result of the strong public-private partnership working hard
to prepare the Richmond region for electric vehicles, Richmond was named one of the top 25 markets in the U.S.
by Ford Motor Company for the release of its 2012 Focus Electric.
Department of Energy Electric Vehicle Grant
The Richmond region public-private partnership was one of only 16 organizations awarded
funding from the Department of Energy for local public-private partnerships to collaborate to develop
strategies to deploy electric vehicles. The Richmond Electric Vehicle Initiative (REVi) will use its
$430,000 grant to develop a Regional Strategic Plan and identify and foster policies to expedite EV
infrastructure implementation specific to the Richmond Region and prepare the Commonwealth for successful
deployment of plug-in electric drive vehicles.
Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) Bus Rapid Transit
GRTC is studying Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to provide a dedicated lane on a main artery in our
community in order to increase the bus’ ability to move quickly through downtown traffic. The route would run on
Broad Street between Willow Lawn and Rockett’s Landing and provide an efficient and effective transit service. Once
funded and operational, BRT will have a stop directly in front of the Main Street Station providing enhanced
connectivity to the entire GRTC transit network in addition to a shuttle service to the downtown core.
Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) Rideshare program
Managed by the Department of Public Works (DPW), the GRTC Rideshare program encourages city employees
to use GRTC and reduce individual car use. Currently 18 percent of DPW employees participate.
One Way to Two Way Street Conversion
The Downtown Master Plan recommended converting one way streets to two way streets. Conversion would
encourage safe and efficient traffic flow, alleviate congestion and reduce vehicle miles traveled to reduce the city's
carbon footprint. The city plans to convert a few streets in Shockoe Bottom as a pilot conversion project.
