Issues

Pros Top 5 Reasons Why the Better Station Coalition Supports Bus Transfer Stations

  1. Centralizes Transfers
  2. Reduces Sidewalk Congestion
  3. Provides Shelter
  4. Promotes Safety for Commuters
  5. Integrates Well into Proposed Bus Rapid Transit System

Centralizes Transfers
GRTC provides about 40,000 trips per day, and 25% of those are transfers. Most of the transfer activity occurs in downtown Richmond. A centralized transfer station makes sense. GRTC has identified a site at Broad and 7th and Grace and 8th Steets that join the main north-south/east-west routes. Placing transfer stations in these areas would provide efficiency in enabling transfers as well as reduce travel times.

Reduces Sidewalk Congestion
Current transfer points throughout Richmond use small covered areas where transfers occur. All of these points are located on city sidewalks. At peak rush times, sidewalks become congested. Transfer stations located in off-street locations would reduce congestion.

Provides Shelter
Currently, GRTC passengers wait anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour for transfers. During that time, they are exposed to the elements. Bus transfer stations are enclosed structures similar to railroad and bus terminals where passengers are dropped off and picked up. The structures are enclosed attractive facilities that would be convenient to GRTC riders and retail. And they would provide shelter to passengers.

Promotes Safety for Commuters
Centralized structures can be patrolled more frequently by city police or GRTC security personnel, thus providing a degree of safety not currently present on sidewalk transfer locations. Additionally they reduce the need for riders to cross busy streets to make connections.

Integrates Well into Proposed Bus Rapid Transit System
GRTC is planning to create a bus rapid transit system (BRT) that will move passengers more quickly and frequently than current routes. Building transfer stations along these routes will increase the efficiency of the system and thus make the transit system more appealing to an increased ridership.

Cons Top 6 Reasons Why the Proposed Main St. Bus Station is Not the Best Option

  1. Fails to Address Potential Conflicts Between Rail and Bus Service
  2. Increases Traffic Congestion
  3. Discounts Air Pollution and Other Environmental Issues
  4. Impacts Historic Slave Sites
  5. Wastes Taxpayer Dollars
  6. Disregards Better Locations

Conflict with Rail Service
One of the highest priorities for the City’s economic development is a fast rail connection with Washington, DC. GRTC contends that Main Street Station can accommodate both high speed rail and a bus depot. Yet Virginia’s Department of Rail and Public Transportation, CSX, and Amtrak have indicated that a great deal more study is needed to answer this question. Even if buses and trains can be physically accommodated at Main Street Station, does it make sense from an operational standpoint to force them into this location?

Increased Traffic Congestion
The Shockoe Bottom street grid, one of the City’s oldest, is not adequate for the bus traffic associated with GRTC’s proposal. One example is GRTC’s plan to move 80 buses per hour (one every 45 seconds) down East Franklin — across 15th Street and the bottom of the I-95 exit ramp — during rush hour. Currently, cars attempting to exit at Franklin Street during morning and afternoon rush hours back into the travel lanes of I-95. How will 80 buses per hour impact this situation?

Environmental Issues
GRTC’s environmental analysis is inadequate. GRTC has failed to conduct a realistic assessment of the air pollution impact of the proposed transfer center. GRTC has not disclosed that the proposed transfer station lies within FEMA’s 100 year flood plain. Air quality in Shockoe Bottom is already challenged by particulate matter from diesel trucks, diesel train engines, coal cars, and I-95 traffic. Thousands of bus trips and thousands of hours of bus engine idling must be accounted for in GRTC’s environmental assessment. GRTC has failed to conduct a reasonable assessment.

Negative Impact on Historic Slave Sites
The Slave Trail Commission has voiced its unanimous opposition to the Main Street location due to its impacts on the interpretation and preservation of Lumpkin’s Jail and related historic slave sites.

Waste of Taxpayer Dollars
GRTC estimates this facility will cost $72 million. Its own studies conclude that other locations could cost 40% less. While some may regard these federal dollars as “free”, that is an inaccurate perception. Every dollar that goes to the transfer station is spent at the expense of other projects in our city and state. Further, GRTC’s study estimates that the Main Street bus depot will require an annual operating subsidy from the City of $3.5 million. This is too much money for a facility with so many negative impacts.

Disregard of Alternatives
Three GRTC studies have specifically recommended against locating the bus transfer center at Main Street Station. The reasons for these recommendations are obvious: the Main Street Station site is not centrally located. 98% of the buses will come from the west, 2% from the east. This ratio needs to be much closer to 50-50. Our Coalition’s analysis shows that, due to the complex ingress and egress, each bus will take approximately 20 minutes to make the ¾ mile round trip in and out of Main Street Station. GRTC should find a location that does not waste fuel and passenger time. Past GRTC studies have found better sites. But GRTC now ignores those. One of these documents considered 13 possible locations for the transfer station and ranked Main Street Station 13th on the list.