TAP, the Transit Access Partnership, offers a way for the community to help keep GRTC buses and other services Zero Fare.
Donate online or or make a check payable to RideFinders—a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliated with GRTC. Checks can be mailed or dropped off at RideFinders, 1013 E Main St., Richmond, VA 23219.
Support Zero Fare Transit
Your tax-deductible donation directly supports fare-free access to public transportation.
Why Zero Fare Matters
GRTC is proud to be a national leader in providing Zero Fare transit to our community.
At GRTC, we believe that Zero Fare is essential to the greater Richmond region’s growth and prosperity. It ensures access to work, school, medical appointments and other necessities. While our Zero Fare service is currently supported by a state grant, we are looking for support from our community to maintain the program. Your tax-deductible donations – made possible through a partnership with RideFinders, a registered 501(c) 3 affiliated with GRTC – will help ensure that service remains Zero Fare.
Community Impact
Zero Fare fuels local economies—and helps everyone move forward.
The majority of GRTC riders are low-income and transit dependent. In fact, 74% of riders live in households earning less than $40,000 a year.
Many rely on public transit for essential trips – getting to work, school, medical appointments, and other critical destinations they can’t afford to miss.
By The Numbers
- Every $1 invested in public transportation generates $5 in economic returns for the region.
- Every $1 billion invested in public transportation supports and creates approximately 50,000 jobs.
- The average car costs $13,000 yearly to maintain. Per capita income in Richmond is $38,132. Owning a car eats up over a third of the average person’s income in RVA.
*Based on data provided by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and the 2021 US Censes
How Zero Fare Started
GRTC launched Zero Fare service in March 2020 as a safety measure during the COVID-19 pandemic—reducing close contact between bus operators and passengers at the farebox. What began as a public health response quickly became a vital service for the community.
In December 2021, GRTC received $8 million in grant funding from the Virginia Department of Rail & Public Transportation (DRPT) to study Zero Fare service. This state funding, along with local contributions from the City of Richmond and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), made it possible to continue providing fare-free transit for our riders. Now GRTC is seeking new funding sources to continue Zero Fare service into the future.