Upgrading bus stops across the system with fresh facilities through ETI Project, ongoing effort by GRTC
The Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) is actively working on the Essential Transit Infrastructure (ETI) Project, a five-year initiative aimed at upgrading bus stops throughout the Richmond region. This project is part of GRTC's broader efforts to improve transit infrastructure.
The ETI Project focuses on installing new benches, shelters, and ADA-compliant features at bus stops. While specific details about each phase of the project are limited, it is clear that the project is making significant strides in enhancing transit infrastructure.
GRTC's goal is to have 50 to 75 percent of bus stops equipped with a shelter or seating by 2027. As of the latest data, there are 58 benches, 31 shelters, and 56 trash cans installed across the service area.
The project prioritises equity, with each stop evaluated using an equity score considering factors such as route frequency, wait times, network coverage, proximity to key destinations, and socioeconomic context. Priority is given to areas with a higher concentration of minority, low-income, or Limited English Proficiency populations.
Shelter designs vary at each location, with three-sided shelters preferred where space allows, offering better protection from rain, wind, and other elements. For limited space or physical constraints, open-air glass or fully cantilevered shelters are used. Older shelters that have reached the end of their useful life are being removed and replaced as part of the project.
In addition to the ETI Project, other related transit infrastructure efforts, including signal priority projects, are planned or ongoing. These improvements signal integrated improvements to transit operations around the same period.
From April 18 to June 27, GRTC made significant progress on the ETI Project, adding 5 new benches, 7 new shelters, and 11 new trash cans. The public can track the installation status and view an interactive map of upgraded and scheduled stops through a new dashboard launched by GRTC.
The ETI Project aims to improve bus stops in the city of Richmond, Henrico County, and Chesterfield County, Virginia. The project reflects GRTC’s ongoing commitment to enhancing transit service quality and infrastructure within the Richmond region.
- The ETI Project, a key aspect of GRTC's plan to improve transit infrastructure, focuses on enhancing bus stops by installing new benches, shelters, and ADA-compliant features.
- GRTC aims to equip 50 to 75 percent of bus stops with shelters or seating by 2027, as part of the Essential Transit Infrastructure (ETI) Project, and has already installed 58 benches, 31 shelters, and 56 trash cans across the service area.
- Equity plays a significant role in the ETI Project, with each bus stop evaluated based on factors such as route frequency, wait times, network coverage, proximity to key destinations, and socioeconomic context, prioritizing areas with a higher concentration of minority, low-income, or Limited English Proficiency populations.
- Other related transit infrastructure efforts, such as signal priority projects, are planned or ongoing, indicating integrated improvements to overall transportation and public-transit systems within the Richmond region.
