Transportation
Public transit is the connector that centers Richmond as a regional hub of activity. Reliable and frequent buses are critical for ensuring equitable access to jobs, education, health care, and food access in Richmond. Further, a reliable transit system provides a huge boon to our small business community, while also reducing reliance on cars, which can relieve traffic congestion and make the urban core more comfortable to navigate.
The City of Richmond must fully commit to addressing the needs of our growing city by creating a Department of Transportation (DOT). We cannot keep piecemealing solutions for a fragmented system.
While serving on City Council, I’ve expanded public transit and made our streets safer:
Regional partnership: Lobbied regional leaders in Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover to join me in creating the Central Virginia Transportation Authority (CVTA) with a dedicated funding stream for GRTC and prohibiting localities from reducing operating contributions to GRTC in future years.
Vision Zero: Created a new position dedicated to Vision Zero within the Department of Public Works around equity and sustainability.
Richmond Connects: Passed legislation to jumpstart the planning process for the Richmond Connects Multimodal Transportation Plan.
North-South Bus Rapid Transit (BRT): Requested an infrastructure plan to support North/South BRT routes.
Create housing along mass transit: Requested the creation of a Transit Oriented Development zone to create housing and commerce hubs centered around mass transit on the Southside Corridors of Hull St., Midlothian Turnpike, and Richmond Highway.
In 2019, I passed recommendations for my Safe Streets for All Omnibus bill with the support of my colleagues on City Council, but the administration never implemented them.
In 2021, I patroned legislation calling on the current administration to create an independent DOT, which passed with unanimous support from my colleagues on City Council.
In 2022, I led the rezoning effort on Broad Street along the Pulse Corridor in the First District to further support transit oriented development. This is already bringing long-needed new investment for housing and small businesses.
As mayor, you won’t have to wait anymore.
In my first 100 days, I will start the process of launching a DOT with the personnel, funding, and resources to make it an effective, independent, and fully empowered department that can strategically focus on our priorities of multi-modal transportation, Vision Zero, and Complete Streets.
Our DOT will align these priorities by serving as the central agency responsible for maintaining our streets, sidewalks, crosswalks, parking, bike lanes, and trails. Richmond needs a mayor who walks, bikes, and rides the bus daily, and will do the hard work of investing in transformative policies and plans.
Last year, Richmond had 24 traffic fatalities, and 170 individuals were incapacitated. This year, 12 people have been killed in traffic-related crashes, and 110 people have been incapacitated. While we’re seeing an overall decrease in traffic fatalities and injuries, we must eliminate them altogether by increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for everyone. The number of Richmonders lost to traffic violence is exacerbated by the unsafe design of our streets.
I’ve repeatedly called on the administration to create a Department of Transportation (DOT), aligning our resources to ensure no more Richmonders are killed in crashes on our streets.
As mayor, I will implement my Safe Streets for All policy recommendations that include:
Robus investments to expand our sidewalk network to protect pedestrians, bus riders, and cyclists.
Improving bus stop infrastructure where all bus stops should have shelters, lighting, and seating so all riders have a safe, dignified experience before boarding the bus.
Securing federal and state funding, such as grants through the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), for new public transit routes, fare-free programs, and passenger amenities.
Henrico, Chesterfield, and GRTC have secured grants from federal and state agencies to improve physical infrastructure that connects to public transit. The City of Richmond is the only locality in GRTC’s service area that has not accessed this funding to improve bus stop infrastructure.
With the appropriate alignment of staff resources and political courage to prioritize transit users, we can have a useful and comfortable public transit network for all of our riders, especially those outside the downtown core who have yet to see adequate investment in their neighborhoods.
The most important step will be continuing the work I’ve already started, investing in more frequent, reliable public transit across the city, and ensuring that local bus service remains fare-free.
I am the only candidate with the policy knowledge and experience in complex transportation planning and financing who can meet the needs of our whole region, while ensuring Richmond is leading the conversation instead of following. I’m running for Mayor to build on the work I’ve been doing over my 16-year career serving Richmonders.
Central Virginia Transportation Authority (CVTA)
While serving on the Richmond Regional Transportation Planning Organization, I saw countless plans for expensive transportation projects added to our long-range transportation planning goals without concrete funding mechanisms.
In 2019, I advocated for regional leaders in Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover to join me in creating the Central Virginia Transportation Authority (CVTA).
Regional Wins:
Continued fare-free transit for GRTC riders post-pandemic.
Brought more than $500 million in new transportation funding to the region.
$100 million commitment to the construction of the Fall Line Trail (FLT).
CVTA provides a dedicated funding stream to GRTC, which adds more than $20 million to its annual budget.
Made region competitive in securing state and federal funding for major projects like FLT and BRT.
Secured a 40% increase in driver pay to increase recruitment, retention, and service and lower wait times.
GRTC has new routes in parts of Chesterfield and Henrico for the first time in decades.
Because of our investment in useful and reliable transit services, GRTC has the fourth fastest-growing ridership in the country.
I am already delivering transformational transportation investments with our regional partners, and will continue to improve the connectivity, mobility, and quality of life for residents through public transit.
The transportation sector is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, and Richmond is no different. Investment in a reliable, high-frequency public transit system and a connected, comfortable, and accessible active transportation network will be one of my top priorities.
Accelerate the transition for all to clean and equitable mobility
Under my administration, the new DOT will prioritize safety, accessibility, and, most importantly, a modal shift away from single-occupancy vehicles that burn fossil fuels. Future bus rapid transit expansions will be a critical opportunity for the city to lead this shift to cleaner mobility across the region.
Deliberate Investments for planned growth
Equally important is the need to accommodate growth while protecting existing residents. The reality is that Richmond is experiencing unplanned growth without the infrastructure investments to accommodate the increase in population.
Most of the concerns raised through new developments by adjacent neighbors are a result of a lack of public investment that improves the community. Many neighborhoods have aging infrastructure that doesn’t support safe, walkable access, let alone with a project that increases density. Manchester and Scott’s Addition exemplifies what happens when we increase density without addressing mobility.
As mayor, I will always include deliberate investments in street design that embrace a complete street design and multi-modal future.
Our new Sustainable Design Standards encourage systemic changes in the planning, design, and delivery of sustainable, resilient, and equitable civil infrastructure. Bringing a standard framework for our departments, especially those focused on capital project delivery, is essential to breaking down silos between departments and coalescing around the right way to do business
ANDREAS’S VISION FOR RICHMOND
Leading Richmond Forward
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