Richmond tumbles in national public transit ranking
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Richmond's public transit ranking took a tumble in a new ConsumerAffairs ranking.
Why it matters: It seems Richmond's free buses aren't enough to put the region among the nation's transit elite anymore.
State of play: Richmond fell to No. 26 in ConsumerAffairs' latest ranking of public transportation systems in the nation's 50 largest urban areas.
- In 2024, the last time ConsumerAffairs published the ranking, Richmond was No. 4.
Yes, but: ConsumerAffairs used a different methodology for this year's report, so the two rankings aren't a perfect comparison.
- The new methodology puts more weight on ridership and passenger miles, drops operating cost per passenger mile and changes how transit safety is scored.
By the numbers: Richmond still shines on affordability, ranking No. 3 in the nation, thanks in large part to GRTC's zero-fare buses.
- But it ranked just 35th for usefulness and accessibility — and 43rd for operational safety.
The fine print: ConsumerAffairs looked at usefulness and accessibility, affordability, and operational safety transit stats in 2024 for its 2026 study.
The bottom line: Richmond transit may have dropped in these rankings, but it's still above nearly half the pack.
- And our rides are completely free.