Richmond's new rapid-transit bus service, debuting on June 24, is expected to cut commute time in half.
Richmond's much-awaited rapid-transit bus system, the GRTC Pulse, launches on June 24 after over a year of construction. The Pulse will offer free rides for its week of christening, June 24 to 30.
The Pulse is a $65 million dollar project sponsored jointly by the Virginia Department of Transportation, Henrico County, and the City of Richmond. Hospitals, including Bon Secours and VCU Health Systems, also worked together to sponsor the project.
In a much-needed update to killer city traffic, the Pulse's rapid transit technology is expected to cut passenger commute time in half.
How? They can talk to city traffic lights.
Pulse buses are equipped with technology that allows them to sense traffic patterns and communicate destinations with upcoming street lights.
A map of GRTC Pulse service areas. (Courtesy of GRTC Pulse)
Carrie Rose Pace, GRTC communications director, explains how this works.
"Let's pretend there were three bikes that we needed to load or unload — that's going to take longer than our projected 15 to 30 seconds at each platform,” Pace says. “So this bus can holler ahead to the light and say, 'Hey, I'm running about five minutes behind — can you give me some greens?' Now, we can't make a red light turn green, but we can make a green light stay green, and the benefit is if you're riding along beside us, you get the green, too.”
A 2018 press release describes what the Pulse project's creators are hoping for: "With population density continuing to increase, the 7.6-mile Pulse corridor supports over 33,000 residents within each half-mile radius. GRTC Pulse hopes to serve a popular, mixed-use area of employment centers, medical centers, government centers and institutions of higher learning, and connect the public to other modes of public transit."
The new buses also feature a digital read-out of upcoming destinations, credit-card accessible pay stations, three Americans With Disabilities Act-friendly seats, and four "lean rails" for Pulse riders. Each bus is equipped to carry three bicycles.
A visualization of Pulse passenger flow. (Courtesy of GRTC Pulse)
Come September, all Richmond high schoolers can ride the Pulse for free -- indefinitely. VCU students also have the option of purchasing an unlimited rides pass for $40 a semester, and University of Richmond students can opt in to get a "U-Ride" pass bundled with the cost of their tuition fees.
Regular bus tickets will be the same $1.50 price. All-day passes are available cost $3.50, weekly passes are $17, and monthly unlimited passes are $60 for any resident.
On Mon., June 25 at 10 a.m., there will be a public ribbon cutting at Maggie Walker Plaza to celebrate the Pulse's launch. Governor Ralph Northam is expected to speak at the christening about the project's conclusion and his hopes for its impact on Richmond residents.
After that? You can hop on and get riding.
Are you excited about GRTC Pulse buses? Let us know in the comments.
