Saniyah Pullen, Contributing Writer
Richmond’s public transit has experienced a drop in ranking this year, from fourth in 2024 to 26th this year, according to the latest ConsumerAffairs evaluation.
Richmond ranks third nationally in affordability, according to the study. Greater Richmond Transit Company’s Zero Fare Program, has free fare for all Richmond residents, according to the GRTC.
The program began in 2020 with funding support from a state grant as well as VCU. GRTC has continued the program since then, receiving funding from Virginia’s Department of Rail and Public Transportation, advertising, community partners and a rider incentive program according to the Richmonder.
Chad Sanders, the Executive Director for RVA Rapid Transit, said zero fare transit is an essential economic driver and important to the community.
“Saving $1.50 to $1.75 per trip keeps money in their [Richmond residents’] pockets for housing, food, and healthcare right when they need it most,” Sanders said.
Despite its high affordability ranking, Richmond ranks 34th in accessibility and 43rd in operational safety.
“This data mirrors what our riders tell us every day: A transit system cannot be truly world-class if it is free, but hard to safely access,” Sanders said.
Sanders pointed to the infrastructure of bus stops as one of the issues needing to be addressed, including improving systems beyond the buses.
Tara Vaughn, a third-year biology student, believes the ranking drop Richmond’s public transit is due to unreliability.
“They’re pretty much always late, and equally as upsetting, they’ll be early as well,” Vaughn said.
Vaugh said the ranking itself did not shift her opinion on GRTC, but her personal experiences with the transit system do.
“I don’t keep an eye on the rankings, but something I absolutely notice is when the public transit is unreliable,” Vaughn said.
Aiden Lazenby, a third-year art communications student, said the high ranking surprised him.
“I feel like it was only high because it was free, rather than because of the experience people were having on the bus,” Lazenby said.
Last year, VCU announced they would not be renewing their contract with GRTC, due to exploring their own transportation options for students, according to a previous CT report.
Ashley Potter, Communications Manager for GRTC, said that VCU students have continued benefitting from the GRTC despite losing funding from VCU. She said that receiving sustainable funding is still a top priority for the GRTC.
“We’re looking at anything from schedules to service to improve our reliability, and have also expanded our public safety efforts while continuing to focus on education and awareness for both riders and drivers,” Potter said.
Potter said this year’s ranking was based on new methods, which she believes may have caused the shift in ranking.
“It doesn’t really apply to an apples-to-apples comparison with 2024, we pay close attention to outside rankings, but our biggest focus is really on our riders and their experiences,” Potter said.
Andy Boenau, Director of the Richmond Department of Transportation, said he believes that a cohesive transit system within the city is the best solution for transportation efficiency.
“The city is working with GRTC to open more locations, adjust routes, ensure pedestrian safety and create a more comfortable and reliable transit experience in Richmond,” Boenau said.
Boenau said that despite the shift in ranking, Richmond has advanced accessibility and will continue working to improve transportation.
“We want to get to a point where everyone views access to public transit as a necessity and utility,” Boenau said.