GRTC plans service enhancements beginning Oct. 20

The most significant change involves a major extension of Route 1 to serve the Virginia Center area. This extension will provide service every 30 minutes from downtown Richmond to Virginia Center via Reynolds Community College. Northbound Reynolds trips now will continue to Virginia Center, while Azalea service will maintain its 15-minute frequency.

To improve service to the airport, Routes 7A and 7B will see increased frequency to every 30 minutes each. The adjustment creates a high-frequency corridor service from downtown to Nine Mile Road, Laburnum Avenue and Richmond International Airport. Trips have been timed to leave every 15 minutes in both directions.

Another service modification includes the addition of one daily westbound trip to Route 91 Laburnum Connector at 5:55 a.m. from Gay Avenue and Millers Lane. Additionally, minor schedule tweaks will be made to Routes 1A/B/C and 2A/B/C to improve service performance without impacting route or service frequency.

And in response to demand, Route 1A will now operate with 30-minute service evenings Monday through Saturday, enhancing service reliability along the Midlothian Corridor.

In the Azalea microtransit zone, GRTC will add service on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Service in the Ashland microtransit zone also will extend south to Virginia Center.

GRTC planning staff members will discuss the changes with the public Monday, Oct. 7, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Richmond Public Library Main Branch.