GRTC
GRTC bus operating along the GRTC Pulse bus rapid transit line
Founded1860
Headquarters301 East Belt Boulevard
LocaleRichmond, Virginia
Service areaRichmond, Virginia
Service typebus service, paratransit
AlliancePetersburg Area Transit
Routes34 local routes
4 express routes
1 rapid transit line
Fleet253 buses & vans
Daily ridership32,800 (weekdays, Q3 2023)[1]
Annual ridership8,739,400 (2022)[2]
Fuel typeDiesel and CNG
OperatorNational Express (CARE Vans only)
Chief executiveSheryl Adams
Websiteridegrtc.com

The Greater Richmond Transit Company, known locally as GRTC, is a local government-owned public service company which operates an urban-suburban bus line based in Richmond, Virginia. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 8,739,400, or about 32,800 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.[3]

GRTC primarily serves the independent city of Richmond and a very small portion of the adjacent counties of Henrico, Hanover, and Chesterfield with a fleet of over 157 diesel-powered and CNG-powered transit buses operating approximately 45 routes.

GRTC uses government-funded equipment and resources principally provided by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (VDRPT), and local funds.

Ownership and management

As a public service company, GRTC is owned equally by the City of Richmond and neighboring Chesterfield County. Henrico and Hanover counties currently purchase services from it, but hold no ownership interest.

Immediately after GRTC was formed in 1973, American Transportation Enterprises, Inc., through a subsidiary, continued to provide management. It was managed by a private transit management company that provided the CEO, COO, and Transportation Manager, as was its predecessor, Virginia Transit Company (VTC).

GRTC itself has about 500 employees including bus operators, repair shop mechanics, customer service, support, and other administrative staff.

Fleet

Builder and
model name		 Model year Length Numbers
(Total)		 Amount in service Energy source Notes
Motor Coach Industries
D4500CT		 2006 45 ft (14 m) 1501–1503
(3 buses)		 3 Diesel
  • Possibly retired.
Gillig
Low Floor		 2008 40 ft (12 m) 301-318
(18 buses)		 18
  • In the process of being retired.
Gillig
BRT		 2010 901-913
(13 buses)		 13
  • 911 and 913 have "Silver Streak" destination signs.
  • 901 & 902 are wrapped in Woodfin Oil design
  • 903 is wrapped in the Yellow Chicken Fiesta design
  • 904 is wrapped in the Red Chicken Fiesta design
Motor Coach Industries
D4500CT		 2011 45 ft (14 m) 1504–1508
(5 buses)		 5
Gillig
BRT		 2012 40 ft (12 m) 401-408
(8 buses)		 8
  • Last diesel buses for GRTC
Gillig
BRT CNG		 2013 201-208
(8 buses)		 8 CNG
  • First CNG buses for GRTC
2014 119

250-259 261

263-270

362
501-508
(29 buses)

 29
  • 506 is wrapped in Westminster Canterbury
35 ft (11 m) 701-705
(5 buses)		 5
2016–17 40 ft (12 m) 2001–2013
(13 buses)		 12
  • Used for the Pulse Bus Rapid Transit line
  • 2001 is a 2016 model
  • 2002–2013 are 2017 models
  • 2004 was destroyed by rioters on May 29, 2020.[4][5][6]
  • Gillig Low Floor BRTPlus Design
2017 2101-2110
(10 buses)		 10
35 ft (11 m) 2121 – 2124
(4 buses)		 4
29 ft (8.8 m) 2131-2134
(4 buses)		 4 •Used on low ridership routes: 18, 20, 93
2018 40 ft (12 m) 2201-2217
(17 buses)		 17
29 ft (8.8 m) 2231 – 2236
(6 buses)		 6 •Used on low ridership routes: 18, 20, 93
2021 40 ft (12 m) 2300 – 2313
(13 buses)		 13
40 ft (12 m) 2014
(1 bus)		 1
  • Used for the Pulse Bus Rapid Transit Line
  • 2014 is a replacement for 2004 which was destroyed by rioters on May 29, 2020.[4][5][6]
  • Gillig Low Floor BRTPlus Design

142 transit vehicles, 96 CARE vehicles, and 27 support vehicles (vans, wreckers, trucks, SUVs, etc)
95 fixed route transit vehicles use CNG fuel
88 CARE vehicles use CNG fuel [7]

In June 2020, the GRTC Board of Directors approved to purchase a replacement bus for #2004 that was destroyed during the riots. The bus should be placed into service on the GRTC Pulse route sometime in January 2021. This bus will be a 40 ft Gillig Low Floor CNG BRTPlus model.

In August 2020, the GRTC Board of Directors approved the purchase of 29 buses to replace older buses to keep the fleet in a state of good repair, as well as to keep up with demand increases in the Richmond Area. All 29 of these buses will be 40 ft Gillig Low Floor CNG BRT model. 14 of the buses will be put into service in the 1st Quarter of FY2022, and the last 15 will enter service in the 3rd Quarter of FY2022.

Routes

Route No. Name Start End Map/Schedule Notes
PulseGRTC PulseWillow LawnRocketts LandingPulse
1Chamberlayne/DowntownChamberlayneDowntown Transfer Plaza1
1AHull/Midlothian via Southside PlazaSpring Rock GreenDowntown Transfer Plaza1A
1BHull/Warwick via Southside PlazaGiant DriveDowntown Transfer Plaza1BNO EVENING OR SUNDAY SERVICE
1CHull/Elkhardt via Southside PlazaChippenham MallDowntown Transfer Plaza1C
2AForest Hill/North AveMoss SideStony Point Medical Center2A
2BNorth Ave/Jahnke/MidlothianMoss SideChippenham Square2B
2CNorth Ave/Midlothian/Belt BlvdMoss SideCircle Shopping Center2C
3AHighland Park/U.S. 1/HarwoodHighland ParkLone & Harwood3A NO EVENING OR SUNDAY SERVICE
3BHighland/Route 1Highland ParkBrightpoint Community College3BNO EVENING OR SUNDAY SERVICE
3CHighland Park/Harwood/U.S. 1Highland ParkFood Lion – Ampthill3C NIGHTS AND SUNDAY ONLY
4AMontrose23rd & FranklinRawlings & Government4A
4BDarbytown23rd & FranklinHenrico Arms Place4B
5Cary/Main/WhitcombCarytownWhitcomb Court5
7ANine Mile/AirportDowntown Transfer PlazaRichmond International Airport7A
7BNine Mile/Laburnum/AirportDowntown Transfer PlazaRichmond International Airport7B
12Church Hill23rd & FranklinDowntown Transfer Plaza12
14Hermitage/East MainChamberlayne23rd & Franklin14Route 14 serves the Transfer Plaza (Bay H) in Downtown Richmond on Weekdays and Saturday after 7:00 PM, and all day on Sunday.
18Henrico Government CenterWillow LawnHenrico County Government Center18NO WEEKEND SERVICE - Route 18 serves the Staples Mill Road Amtrak Station
19West Broad StreetWillow LawnShort Pump19
20OrbitalPrince HallHighland Park20
29xGaskins ExpressGaskins Park-N-RideDowntown29xNO WEEKEND SERVICE
50Broad StreetWillow LawnDowntown50 NO EVENING SERVICE
56South LaburnumWhite Oak VillageDowntown56NO WEEKEND SERVICE
64xStony Point ExpressStony Point Shopping CenterDowntown64xNO WEEKEND SERVICE
76PattersonWillow LawnDMV Drive76
77GroveUniversity of RichmondMain & Laurel77
78Cary/MaymontCarytownDowntown78
79Patterson/ParhamWillow LawnGayton Crossing Shopping Center79NO WEEKEND SERVICE
82xCommonwealth 20 ExpressCommonwealth 20Downtown82xNO WEEKEND SERVICE
86Broad Rock/WalmsleySouthside PlazaBanton/Dupont86
87Bellemeade/HopkinsSouthside PlazaDowntown87
88Belt/Bells/RuffinSouthside PlazaMaxxim Medical88NO SUNDAY SERVICE
91Laburnum ConnectorWillow LawnMillers Lane91
93Azalea ConnectorBrookTreehouse Apartments93NO WEEKEND SERVICE
95xPetersburg ExpressDowntownPetersburg, Virginia (Petersburg Transit Center)95xNO WEEKEND SERVICE

GRTC offers Park-N-Ride lots that run along express service routes to downtown Richmond.

  • Glenside/Parham Express - 23x - (Glenside lot) 4100 Glenside Drive, Henrico, VA 23228; (Parham lot) 8525 Fordson Rd, Henrico, VA, 23229 - TEMPORARILY DISCONTINUED EFFECTIVE SEPT 12, 2021. USE 29X!
  • Parham Express - 26x - 8525 Fordson Rd, Henrico, VA, 23229 - TEMPORARILY DISCONTINUED EFFECTIVE SEPT 12, 2021. USE 29X!
  • Glenside Express - 27x - 4100 Glenside Drive, Henrico, VA 23228 - TEMPORARILY DISCONTINUED EFFECTIVE SEPT 12, 2021. USE 29X!
  • White Oak Village Park ’N Ride - 28x - 4521- 4571 S Laburnum Ave, Richmond, VA 23231 - TEMPORARILY DISCONTINUED. USE ROUTE 7A/B!
  • Gaskins Express - 29x - 2900 Gaskins Rd, Henrico, VA, 23233
  • Bon Air Baptist Church Park-N-Ride - 64x - 2531 Buford Rd, Richmond, VA 23235
  • Commonwealth 20 - 82x - 4600 Commonwealth Centre Pkwy, Midlothian, VA 23112
  • Petersburg Transit Center Park-N-Ride - 95x - 24 S Union St, Petersburg, VA, 23803
  • Kings Dominion (Seasonal) - 102x - Ashland lot 109-121 Junction Drive, Ashland, VA, 23005 - TEMPORARILY DISCONTINUED.

Paratransit service

GRTC Transit System’s CARE and CARE Plus services provide origin-to-destination service under the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for the citizens of the Richmond Region. CARE and CARE Plus provide public transportation access to individuals with disabilities who may not be reasonably able to use GRTC fixed route bus service. All CARE trips are identified as either CARE or CARE Plus service. CARE and CARE Plus services are available in the City of Richmond, Henrico County, and portions of Chesterfield County. [8] [9]

Facilities

The GRTC Headquarters and bus garage is located near the intersection of Belt Boulevard and Midlothian Turnpike in South Richmond.

Incidents

  • On September 21, 2007, a woman was struck by a GRTC bus along 8th and Marshall. The women was seriously injured and would later file charges against GRTC.
  • On December 5, 2012, a car rear-ended a GRTC bus and caught fire along Broad Street. One person was sent to the hospital.[10]
  • On September 24, 2015, A GRTC bus struck a utility pole in the Randolph neighborhood leaving hundreds without power.[11]
  • On June 27, 2018, multiple people were injured when an GRTC bus and a car collided head in eastern Henrico County.[12][13][14]
  • On July 10, 2018, a GRTC bus collided with a pickup truck when it was making a left-hand turn through the dedicated bus lane on West Broad Street, at the intersection of Broad and N Allen Ave.[15]
  • On January 5, 2019, a GRTC bus and an SUV collided along Broad Street. Multiple people were injured.[16]
  • On March 5, 2019, a GRTC bus was involved in a minor collision with a car along the intersection of Crutchfield and Roanoke.[17]
  • On October 8, 2019, a GRTC bus struck and killed a woman along Broad Street. The driver was also taken to the hospital.[18][19][20]
  • On November 11, 2019, a GRTC bus was involved in a head-on collision along West 33rd Street and Midlothian Turnpike. Four people were injured.[21]
  • On February 24, 2020, a man attempted to hijack a GRTC bus along Brook Road and Azalea Ave. The man was later arrested.[22][23]
  • On May 20, 2020, a driver spun out of control and crashed into a GRTC bus along East Broad Street. The driver of the car was killed and three passengers on the bus were injured.[24]
  • During the overnight hours of May 29 into May 30, 2020, rioters vandalized and set fire to a GRTC Pulse bus in Downtown Richmond following protests and riots over the murder of George Floyd. There were no passengers or a driver on board at the time. The bus was destroyed in the ensuing protests.[4][5][6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Transit Ridership Report Third Quarter 2023" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. November 30, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2022" (PDF). American Public Transportation Association. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Transit Ridership Report Fourth Quarter 2022" (PDF). Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "Richmond protest of George Floyd's death turns violent; GRTC bus lit on fire". WTVR. 30 May 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 "GRTC Pulse bus destroyed during overnight protests; service delayed Saturday". www.nbc12.com. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 "Rioters torch Richmond bus". WTVR. 30 May 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  7. ↑ "GRTC Press Kit | GRTC". ridegrtc.com. Retrieved Nov 23, 2020.
  8. ↑ "GRTC CARE Service | GRTC". ridegrtc.com. Retrieved Nov 23, 2020.
  9. ↑ ZULLO, ROBERT. "GRTC to end contract with paratransit provider over 'unacceptable' service". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved Nov 23, 2020.
  10. ↑ Chappell, Marcos. "Car catches fire after collision with GRTC bus". www.nbc12.com. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  11. ↑ Daudani, Ray. "GRTC bus goes off road, knocks out power to 600". nbc12.com. Retrieved Nov 23, 2020.
  12. ↑ HOFFMEYER, DEAN. "GRTC BUS CRASH". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  13. ↑ "Charges expected against car driver in crash with GRTC bus that injured 8 in Henrico". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  14. ↑ "Charges expected against driver accused of hitting GRTC bus head-on". WTVR.com. 27 June 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  15. ↑ Streever, David (11 July 2018). "First Crash Involving GRTC Pulse Bus". RVA Mag. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  16. ↑ "GRTC supervisor rear-ended while responding to crash involving Pulse bus". 8News. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  17. ↑ "GRTC bus involved in minor crash". www.nbc12.com. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  18. ↑ "Police: No charges in GRTC Pulse bus crash that killed 32-year-old woman". www.nbc12.com. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  19. ↑ Tabackman, Lia (8 October 2019). "Woman crossing Broad Street killed by GRTC Pulse bus". WTVR. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  20. ↑ Gordon, Wyatt. "After a pedestrian dies in a bus crash, Richmond sees renewed calls for better infrastructure". Greater Greater Washington. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  21. ↑ "Head-on crash with GRTC bus leaves 4 injured". www.nbc12.com. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  22. ↑ "UPDATE: Man charged with abducting Richmond school employee before bizarre incident on GRTC bus | Crime | richmond.com". www.richmond.com. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  23. ↑ Manzanares, Keyris (24 February 2020). "Police: Newport News man tries to hijack GRTC bus". WFXRtv.com. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  24. ↑ "Midlothian 18-year-old killed after crashing into GRTC bus". www.nbc12.com. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
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