Save Westhampton 16

The Westhampton 16, one of GRTC’s vital routes through the Fan District may be in the process of disappearing, as mentioned at the Near West End News: There has been lots of discussion lately about transportation, but your ride the GRTC Westhampton 16, your  final chance to have your say on the elimination of the GRTC  bus […]

November 10, 2008; 12:06 PM • by FTRea

The Westhampton 16, one of GRTC’s vital routes through the Fan District may be in the process of disappearing, as mentioned at the Near West End News:

There has been lots of discussion lately about transportation, but your ride the GRTC Westhampton 16, your  final chance to have your say on the elimination of the GRTC  bus route is coming up Nov. 18:

Click here to read the entire post, including the time and place for the meeting.

Pardon me, powers that be, but this seems to be the worst time to be eliminating means of mass transportation. With the economy in a tailspin, who knows how many people will want to ride the bus six months from now? How many people will have parked/sold their cars a year from now and need mass transit to get to work or school?

Nobody knows.

The Fan District Hub calls upon Mayor-elect Dwight Jones to ask City Council and GRTC to put their decisions to do with canceling bus routes on hold until he gets into office, so he can make a fresh study of what Richmond’s mass transportation needs will be for the coming year and beyond. Perhaps he is just the guy to find some General Assembly money to help Richmond out here.

Yes, times are changing fast and budget cuts will have to be made in many quarters. But let’s not rush to judgment on shutting down some of this city’s traditional mass transportation arteries.This line connects Downtown Richmond to the Fan District (VCU Monroe campus), to the Museum District, and to the Westhampton neighborhood (including the UR Campus).

Think how much of what’s important about Richmond, culturally and educationally, is made more accessible to one and all by this line. Think of the schools, churches and businesses the Westhampton 16 line has served over the decades.

This is a worthy cause the local blogosphere — perhaps elements of the RVANews Network — and some of the area’s other independent publishers could make a difference on. Putting off the decision to scuttle longtime bus routes for at least three or four months, to let the new administration study the issue in light of recent shocks to the economy, makes sense.

Let’s ban together for the commonweal of the metro area to Save Westhampton 16.

November 10, 2008 12:06 PM 0