Greater Richmond Transit Company
Following years of temporary solutions, Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) engaged HR&A to lead a comprehensive site selection process and transit-oriented development study for a permanent Downtown Transfer Hub. This multi-phase approach culminated in a development concept, funding strategy, and implementation roadmap that has advanced to a formal agreement between GRTC and the City of Richmond as GRTC pursues federal grant funding for construction.
GRTC faced significant challenges in establishing a permanent hub despite the critical need—their temporary station served over 7,500 weekday connections yet had endured multiple relocations while undergoing several design efforts. With HR&A’s help, GRTC reframed the infrastructure project as an opportunity to better support GRTC riders and address broader economic objectives for Downtown Richmond. Our team approached this challenge through a methodical, stakeholder-driven process that began with extensive market analysis and community engagement to understand Downtown’s current and future development needs. We then conducted rigorous site screening, implementation assessment, and context analysis to identify optimal locations. Working collaboratively with transportation engineering firm VHB and multidisciplinary design firm Design Collective for concept development, we crafted a vision for a multi-use facility that would serve as both transit infrastructure and community anchor.
Our collaboration with GRTC has transformed the long-stalled project into an actionable development opportunity with clear implementation pathways. Our financial feasibility assessment, acquisition strategy, and benefit-cost analysis provided GRTC with the necessary tools to pursue funding and development partnerships with confidence. The project now advances with strengthened institutional support, as evidenced by the memorandum of understanding being negotiated between GRTC and the City to work with the Economic Development Agency to advance the project. By reimagining the transfer hub as a catalyst for equitable downtown development rather than simply a transit facility, our approach has positioned this infrastructure investment to deliver broader community benefits while meeting GRTC’s operational needs.
- GRTC decides where in Richmond it wants to put the new bus transfer station — WTVR
- GRTC has narrowed down its permanent transfer station sites in Richmond — Axios
- GRTC selects former Public Safety Building site for new bus transfer station — Richmond Business Sense
- GRTC zeroes in on two downtown sites for new transfer station — Richmond Business Sense
