Day #007: Airport express

If you can’t bum rides from friends or family, then traveling between Richmond and RIC is far too difficult.

July 8, 2014; 6:00 AM • by Aaron Williams

Inspired by Michael Bierut’s 100 Day Project, 100 Days to a Better RVA strives to introduce and investigate unique ideas to improving the city of Richmond. View the entire project here and the intro here.

Idea: An airport express GRTC bus that’s not only affordable but predictable and convenient.
Difficulty: 3 — Providing bus service is not only expensive but logistically taxing. The airport express could fail for a long time before gaining a reputation, but GRTC needs to pick its spots to do exceptionally well if they want to gain a wider ridership.

For residents of Richmond and visitors traveling to the airport, convenient options are limited. Outside of bumming rides from friends and family, the choices are challenging or expensive.

Parking costs $7.00 per day for the economy lot and $12.00 per day for the garage. Taxis are also upwards of $35, without tip, for the 15-minute trip. Making matters worse, empty taxi stands at RIC aren’t an uncommon occurrence.

The bus already serves the airport, but what takes fifteen minutes by car takes upward of 90 minutes and includes transfers. Furthermore, the online system map shows the 7 route going right to the front of the airport while that route actually drops people off one mile away on Williamsburg Road. When it comes to air travel, predictability is king, and providing a service that is anything less is a waste of time and resources.

This originally started as an idea of convenience for air travelers, but for the city of Richmond it’s an employment issue. In the Mayor’s Anti-Poverty Commission Report from January 2013, the commission’s first recommendation includes adding an airport express “in order to connect low-income people needing jobs to major employers.”

Whether being motivated by convenience for tourists, businessmen, and Richmond residents, or giving better access to employment opportunities, it’s time for Richmond to join the ranks of sensible modern cities by adding an affordable, convenient way to reach the airport.

Love this idea? Think it’s terrible? Have one that’s ten times better? Head over to the 100 Days to a Better RVA Facebook page and join in the conversation.

Photo by: tracktwentynine