Richmond's north-south Pulse got a big grant
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Pulse lanes for says Image: Courtesy of GRTC
Richmond is one step closer to its planned north-south bus rapid transit line.
State of play: GRTC last week announced it received a $750,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration to advance its plan for a north-south Pulse line.
- Richmond was one of only 20 localities awarded FTA transit-oriented development funding.
Why it matters: The new line will connect more parts of the Richmond area — and Richmonders — to rapid transit.
Yes, but: The plan is a multiphase, multiyear process, with construction on the route slated to begin in 2029 at the earliest.
The big picture: GRTC announced the general north-south Pulse route last year. It connects Chesterfield and Henrico through the city north of the river along Chamberlayne Avenue.
- South of the river, the route crosses the Manchester Bridge then heads up Hull Street until Southside Plaza, where it jogs down Belt Boulevard over to Midlothian Turnpike and heads into Chesterfield.
How the route gets to the Manchester Bridge and through the city is still a little up in the air, but honing in on the exact path is part of Phase 2 of the process, which is where it is now, GRTC spokesperson Henry Bendon tells Axios.
- Leigh to Ninth is one option because it lines up with planned future transfer station.
- Second to Broad is another because it could share a station with the existing Arts District Pulse stop.
What they're saying: There will be extensive public outreach over the next year-and-a-half to ensure the public is engaged as a true partner in this," Bendon says.
What's next: Phase 2, which determines the exact routes and stops, ends in January 2026.