‘GRTC rides will remain free’: Leaders weigh in after special ordinance approved
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The price to ride a GRTC (Greater Richmond Transit Company) bus will remain free. Richmond leaders came together at a scheduled city council meeting on Dec. 9 to figure out if they need to start charging riders or even consider other options. At the Monday meeting, GRTC and city leaders reached an agreement on a new ordinance that will impact its riders. Officials with the city say that they will continue to support the GRTC Zero Fare program by allowing businesses to advertise at bus stops throughout the city. GRTC first began the Zero Fare program during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has since been extended several times. The company received $8 million in funding from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation in December 2021, however, that funding is expected to run out in June 2025. The ordinance approved last night will allow the City of Richmond to start the special agreement with GRTC to keep its fares at zero. "We still have various riders that are not aware that GRTC is fare-free and have been fare-free since COVID," said Michael Hurt, the Communications and Marketing Director for the transit company. "So, with this ordinance and with being fare-free, we're definitely hoping that we'll have more ridership." Hurt says that, with the holidays coming up, even more people will be relying on the form of public transportation to get things done. “We were just in the Christmas parade the other day,” Hurt said. “And one of the things that we heard from the riders was, 'Hey, we love fare-free, keep it free.' So, we hope that this will definitely be a huge impact." This ordinance will be in place for the foreseeable future. Since it was just approved by city leaders last night, Hurt says that they are just starting to solicit businesses for advertising and it may be some time before people start seeing them.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The price to ride a GRTC (Greater Richmond Transit Company) bus will remain free. Richmond leaders came together at a scheduled city council meeting on Dec. 9 to figure out if they need to start charging riders or even consider other options.
At the Monday meeting, GRTC and city leaders reached an agreement on a new ordinance that will impact its riders.
Officials with the city say that they will continue to support the GRTC Zero Fare program by allowing businesses to advertise at bus stops throughout the city. GRTC first began the Zero Fare program during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has since been extended several times.
The company received $8 million in funding from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation in December 2021, however, that funding is expected to run out in June 2025.
The ordinance approved last night will allow the City of Richmond to start the special agreement with GRTC to keep its fares at zero.
"We still have various riders that are not aware that GRTC is fare-free and have been fare-free since COVID," said Michael Hurt, the Communications and Marketing Director for the transit company. "So, with this ordinance and with being fare-free, we're definitely hoping that we'll have more ridership."
Hurt says that, with the holidays coming up, even more people will be relying on the form of public transportation to get things done.
“We were just in the Christmas parade the other day,” Hurt said. “And one of the things that we heard from the riders was, 'Hey, we love fare-free, keep it free.' So, we hope that this will definitely be a huge impact."
This ordinance will be in place for the foreseeable future. Since it was just approved by city leaders last night, Hurt says that they are just starting to solicit businesses for advertising and it may be some time before people start seeing them.
