Brt In Richmond? (transfer, buses, moving to)

[NJRAMAL]

Pardon if I have simply overlooked it but I did'nt see a thread about the proposed new BRT.

[CNI]

Not trying to be a wise-guy or anything but...what is a BRT?
Bus rapid transit?
It is possible that a lack of understanding of the acronym BRT has led to "zero" responses to this thread.
Maybe the title of the thread could be edited for clarity?

[richmondpics]

Sorry, hectic week.

BRT should be a great addition to public transit in our area. The initial proposal has a BRT route along Broad Street from Shockoe Bottom to Willow Lawn and then beyond. Dedicated bus lanes and signaling improvements, state of the art vehicles, and frequent and reliable buses will be welcome. IMO, a route from Carytown, through VCU, to downtown/Slip/Bottom and back along Main/Ellwood and Cary would be nice to see as well. BRT is a great way to determine the best routes for future rail transit possibilities.

My understanding is that funding has already been secured for the Broad Street line and it should hopefully start up within the next 12 months. I imagine property needs to be acquired for transfer stations.

[NJRAMAL]

Trolleys coming back to Richmond « Urban Richmond~
Just one of the many articles about this subject.

Right Richmondpics, it is pretty exciting to imagine such an agressive idea actually becomming a reality in Richmond. However, there have been countless ideas that remained just that, an idea. I'm not going to get excited until I see them tearing out the median down Broad St and begin making the stations.

These buses run in right of way lanes and can change traffic lights to keep moving to the next stop. It will not be curbside pick up, instead it will be actual platformed stations strategically placed along the route. The buses are not normal buses either, they look like trains. From what I'm reading, the route is supposed to eventually be made into light rail by laying track. Sounds like some other city. Cant be Richmond! Well we will see.

[richmondpics]

I might be wrong but I think that the BRT will run on the outside lanes of Broad Street. Recently, the outside lanes of Broad from around 2nd to 14th streets downtown were repaved and painted with solid white lines and diamonds in the middle of the lanes signifying their use as bus lanes. Stops will be further apart than typical bus lines.

The difference in this "idea" and others is that it actually has traction and funding in addition to a great leader at GRTC's helm these days - John Lewis.

[Jmier7]

If you visit the Science Museum, you'll see a street car like the ones they used to have here in Richmond.
From my understanding the right of ways are still in place from the 20's, and I believe that they do in fact run down the middle of the existing streets.
A historical municipal transportation map may show where everything was.
Funny..... now we're back to streetcars...!! It was the right move a centruy ago!
Jamier

[NJRAMAL]

Hey, I havent seen ANY new information on Richmond's BRT! All the hits on Google are from like February! Have you guys heard anything new?