RICHMOND, Va. — Traveling from the West End to the East End could get a lot easier for some people now that the federal government pledged $24.9 million to help Virginia build the Broad Street Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. Virginia applied for the TIGER Grant earlier this year.
“These grants will help build a new Virginia economy by expanding access to the Port of Virginia, and allowing Richmond to build the Broad Street Bus Rapid Transit system, a project that will create new jobs and economic growth across the metro area,” Governor Terry McAuliffe said in a written statement.
Governor McAuliffe said 7.5 mile Broad Street Bus Rapid Transit system would “improve reliability and travel times for transit riders, improve access to employment and health care, and support economic development throughout the Broad Street Corridor.”
The total cost for the project is expected to be north of $53 million.
A preliminary route map shows stops along Broad Street at:
- Willow Lawn
- Staples Mills Road
- Hamilton Street
- Robinson Street
- Meadow Avenue
- Shafer
- Adams
- 3rd Street
- 6th Street
- 9th Street
- 12th Street
- Main Street Station
- 25th Street
- Williamsburg Road (off Broad Street)
- Rocketts Landing (off Broad Street)
“The Richmond BRT project is an excellent example of how improving and expanding our transportation system connects people with businesses and jobs across the region,” Virginia Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne said in a written statement. “The Commonwealth is proud to work in collaboration with the City of Richmond and Henrico County to not only provide a new transportation option, but also to stimulate economic growth along the Broad Street Corridor with the creation of new jobs to support the project.”
Additional TIGER grant money was awarded to create a new intermodal gate complex at Norfolk International Terminals. The gate complex is designed to reduce truck traffic in Norfolk and increase cargo efficiency at the terminal.
