Project Description:
The GRTC Transit System is pursuing the adaptive reuse of the Nationally Register-listed Historic Main Street Station train shed for use as a downtown transfer center serving its Richmond-area bus lines. The project will be receiving funds from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (VDRPT) and local sources.
The proposed action is to centralize bus transfer activities at the Main Street Station shed building. At this time, twelve transfer slips are proposed for the second floor of the shed building, with several additional slips strategically located at ground level to serve Bus Rapid Transit and other GRTC fixed route service.
The current arrangement of GRTC’s downtown service presents several problems for the bus system users and the community. There are few, if any, passenger amenities in the downtown area; no functional rest areas for drivers; and conflicts exist between loading and unloading bus patrons and pedestrians using the same sidewalks. Existing transfers take place along Broad Street. Within a Downtown Transfer Facility, transfers will occur at one off-street location, improving air quality, reducing congestion, and improving safety and security of the general public and bus patrons.
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Inadequate Passenger Amenities:
Since many of the stops in the downtown area offer no effective shelter, transferring passengers lack protection from the elements, making bus travel more taxing and less attractive. Many stops lack secure and convenient waiting areas for bus patrons.
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Lack of ADA Facilities:
Since 1991, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has encouraged all transit agencies to remove physical barriers to transit use and make transit more accessible to all, including the physically disabled. Much improvement has been achieved, but some GRTC stops in the downtown area still do not have nearby curb cuts to make sidewalks accessible to those in wheelchairs, making transit use more difficult for disabled passengers.
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Congested Sidewalks:
Crowded transfer stops along streets in the city’s downtown area block pedestrian flow on the sidewalks, sometimes blocking access to local businesses and creating a negative perception for other pedestrians, merchants and patrons of the businesses.
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Lengthy Cross Town Connection:
While a majority of GRTC riders are destined for downtown locations, many riders must transfer along Broad Street in the downtown area in order to reach cross-town destinations. Cross-town riders must endure added travel time as the buses move through the congested downtown area. If transfers occurred at a convenient location near the downtown core area without requiring all buses to enter the core, travel times for all riders could be improved.
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Remote GRTC Customer Service:
Most GRTC riders are destined for downtown locations and most government and social service programs are located downtown. In contrast, all GRTC operations, administration, and public relations are conducted from its facility at 101 S. Davis Avenue, outside the downtown area. Many transit agencies have found it convenient, helpful, and practical to have some physical presence in the heart of their service area, especially for customer convenience and satisfaction. The proposed transfer facility could provide space for GRTC to have a downtown presence and offer its customers more direct and helpful access to GRTC information, staff and pass sales.
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Inadequate Driver Amenities:
Under current arrangements, GRTC operators have limited access to rest facilities away from the S. Davis Avenue headquarters, which is off-route for most bus drivers. GRTC has agreements with third parties to permit GRTC operators to use restroom facilities along bus routes, but these agreements are tenuous, and GRTC has little or no control over the cleanliness and quality of these facilities. The proposed transfer facility would provide GRTC operators with comfort and support facilities located downtown on their routes, and completely controlled and maintained by GRTC.
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Service Duplication Along Broad Street:
Currently, 19 GRTC bus routes transfer along Broad Street between Robinson Street and 21st Street, resulting in over 700 buses per day with over 100 buses in both directions along Broad Street during peak hours. A central transfer facility would minimize the duplication of service along the Broad Street corridor, thus reducing additional bus traffic along this corridor.
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Transportation Pressures:
Making transit more attractive, economical and efficient provides better service to existing riders and helps to lure discretionary riders from private automobiles to transit buses. Designing GRTC bus networks to better negotiate the congested downtown area would serve riders, residents, merchants, and visitors alike. Having large GRTC buses layover along the Broad Street corridor between scheduled runs consumes valuable curb space, contributes to sidewalk air pollution, and detracts from pedestrian-friendly nature of the area.
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Downtown Transfer Center Purpose:
- Improve GRTC’s transit service for system users by providing a centrally-located, user-friendly and accessible facility with better passenger amenities and customer service, faster and smoother transfers, service for cross-town riders and provide needed services for bus drivers;
- Reduce private vehicle traffic on the streets in the downtown area by making transit use more attractive and convenient for visitors, tourist industry, employees, residents, and students. Improvements in traffic flow can be assisted by re-routing some buses from congested streets in the downtown area, such as Broad Street;
- Contribute to the continuing viability of the downtown area by concentrating the major transfer activities on a single off-street location rather than at various points along Broad Street;
- Provide a sustainable environmental benefit to the downtown area with regards to a reduction in carbon emissions by encouraging a decrease in the use of private automobiles and an increase in the use of transit services through improvements of transfer efficiencies and ridership amenities;
- Other benefits: Safety and security of bus patrons, reduction in the need for downtown parking facilities, re-use of a culturally important historic transportation resource, promote future economic development, tourism, and revitalization of Shockoe Bottom, provide greater mobility and choices for travelers, access to jobs and universities, improved intermodal transit system linkages (Amtrak, Capital Bike Trail) and ADA compliant facilities.
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Environmental Assessment:
Click on the link below to obtain more information about the Main Street Station Transfer Center Environmental Assessment:
Environmental Assessment PDF 
