The Big Win: Seizing the Rapid Transit Opportunity by Charles Merritt

THE BIG WINSeizing the Rapid Transit Opportunity

WE ARE CITIZENS๏ Formed in early 2013

๏ Approximately 1,500 members.

๏ Our backgrounds

๏ Urban Planning

๏ Technology Startups

๏ Branding, Marketing, and Media

๏ Community Organizing

๏ Transportation infrastructure is one of

the largest growth opportunities for

the region.

๏ Bus Rapid Transit is the best form for

constructing a metro system.

๏ The effort must be led from the

ground up with private citizens,

businesses, and organizations driving

the creation and implementation of

new projects and policies.

RVA RAPID TRANSIT REPRESENTS THE

CITIZENS OF METRO RICHMOND AS WE

EDUCATE, ORGANIZE, AND ADVOCATE

FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A METRO-

AREA RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM.

METRO RICHMOND

• Number 44 of the top 100 metro

areas in the US by population

• 1.2 million citizens

• 10 Fortune 1000 companies

TRANSIT TODAY

• Number 92 of the top 100 metro

areas in public transportation

• No access to higher education

• 27% access of population to 9-5

jobs

• 5% of land area accessible

• Major issue for hiring at all levels

• Major competitive disadvantage to

metros across the country

THE RARE OPPORTUNITY

TRANSIT INSPIRES GROWTH

Economic Quality of Life AccessEnvironmental

A METRO SYSTEM

Four main BRT lines

• Broad Street / 250

• Hull Street / 360

• Midlothian / 60

• Jefferson Davis Hwy / 1

THE BIG WIN

• Full-service metro-area BRT system

with local transportation in support

• Makes us a top 10 metro area in the

US for public transportation

• 80% of the population is connected

by public transportation

• A major competitive advantage

compared to comparable metros

“A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS

WITH A SINGLE STEP.”-Lao Tzu

CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENTIn progress

• Stone Brewery

• VCU Institute of

Contemporary Art

• Scott’s Addition

• Whole Foods

• Pleasant’s relocation

• Aldi Boulevard

• Quirk Hotel

Chesterfield Opportunities

• Route 1/Jeff Davis

• Connect to Petersburg

• Hull Street corridor

• Midlothian corridor

• Connect Chesterfield to

the Metro Area

Henrico Opportunities

• Staples Mill to Gaskins

Road

• Goochland development

• Amtrak Connection

• Airport Corridor

• Libbie Mill (in progress)

• Short Pump

• Connect Henrico to the

Metro Area

“A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS

BENEATH ONE’S FEET.”-Lao Tzu

YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN

๏ Get RVA Rapid Transit updates at rvarapidtransit.org

๏ Tell us your story

๏ Contribute your skills

๏ Participate in education

๏ Get ready to ride

rvarapidtransit@gmail.com

rvarapidtransit.org