Richmond Regional TransPORTATION

New Solutions for Growing Needs

APRIL 2016

Introduction 2
Current REgional Transportation 3
Senior Connections Role
Nonprofit transportation service programs
transportation service providers
Best Practices 8
JAUNT, InC in Charlottesville, VA
Senior Ride Connection in Charleston, S.C.
Ride Connections in Portland, Ore.
Looking Forward 11
Recommendations

Senior Connections, the Capital Area Agency on Aging

is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established
in 1973. Senior Connections is a member of a network
of approximately 700 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs)
with 25 located in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Developed for Senior Connections by
Catherine MacDonald, MS
cmacdonald@youraaa.org

24 E Cary St, Richmond, VA 23219

(804) 343-3000
seniorconnections-va.org

Introduction
Older adults are the fastest growing population
in the country, with the Baby Boomer generation
increasingly heading toward retirement. In the next
two decades, the number of people in the Richmond
region over 65 will double, and the number of those
over age 85 will more than triple. That will mean that
Greater Richmonds demographic landscape will continue to change dramatically -- with older adults outnumbering school-aged children for the first time. As
we look forward to the ways communities will benefit
from the Age Wave, many aspects of our regional
infrastructure remain unprepared for some aspects of
this shift.
Transportation is one of the major contributors to a
healthy life for all people, including older adults. For
an older person, a lack of adequate transportation not
only decreases access to food, medical appointments
and other basic activities of daily life but in turn
increases their risk for social isolation. Impediments
to reaching physicians offices contribute to preventable hospital readmissions. A 2006 report commissioned by the Federal Transit Administration found
3.6 million Americans, including many older adults,
have either put off or missed medical appointments,
which in turn resulted in higher health-care costs
nationwide.1 Older persons who face social isolation
face greatly diminished health prospects, which also
leads to increased health care costs. The AARP cites a
lack of transportation as the most prominent cause of
isolation in older adults who are unable to drive.2
Because cities provide services and resources that
rural communities often lack, its essential for them to
provide transportation that is accessible for all potential riders. In a 2007 study, the World Health Organization named transportation as the number one factor
in what makes a city age-friendly.3 Reinforced by the
AARPs 2011 policy report stating the needs of adults
50 and over will overwhelm current transportation
options, many urban localities are beginning to incor1

Hughes-Cromwick, P., & Wallace, R. (2006). Executive

Summary: Cost Benefit Analysis of Providing Nonemergency
Medical Transportation. TCRP Research Results Digest(75).
2
Elder, K., & Retrum, J. (2012). Framework for isolation
in adults over 50.AARP Foundation. Retrieved June, 16, 2014.
3
WHO. Global age-friendly cities: A guide. (2007): World
Health Organization.

porate the needs of older adults as they address the

future of their infrastructure.4
While the Richmond region stands to benefit from
a fresh look at its transportation infrastructure as
much as any other city in the country, it presents
many unique opportunities as well. The combination
of high poverty rates within Richmond city limits and
the veterans medical center in the city means some
of the regions most vulnerable residents must rely on
public transportation to meet their mobility needs.
The need is that much more acute in veteran populations when those seeking services for brain injuries
and other mobility-limiting issues have no means to
drive themselves to appointments. The consequences
of missed medical care for veterans are stark, including higher rates of depression, socialization problems,
and suicide.5
Richmond has begun addressing its infrastructure
future on a few different fronts. There is a now-under-construction Bus Rapid Transit system that will
run along one of its central arteries from east to west,
which includes heavy financial investment from both
federal and state agencies. The Virginia Department
of Rail and Public Transportation has also undertaken a regional transit vision plan for the Richmond
region that will likely highlight underserved areas
and populations such as older adults. The Richmond
Regional Transportation Office will soon publish its
Needs and Gaps Assessment for the Transportation
Disadvantaged, which identified 4,227 in the region as
disabled, elderly and low-income. That number represents those most in need in the Richmond area.
This paper outlines the current regional transportation networks that fill in transportation gaps for those
most in need, and also presents examples of best
practices in Virginia and across the country. In addition, the paper concludes with a set of recommendations for how to best provide transportation for the
regions most vulnerable riders.
4

Rosenbloom, S., & Lynott, J. (2011). Transportation

Funding Reform: Equity Considerations for Older Americans:
AARP Public Policy Institute.

Rubino, J. M., & Yum, J. (2011). Improving Mobility for

Veterans (No. 99). Transportation Research Board.

2 Richmond Regional Transportation: New Solutions for Growing Needs

Current Regional Transportation

if riders are dropped beyond the -mile radius for
an extra $3. CARE IDs allow riders to use fixed-route
service for free. The 70-vehicle fleet provided 345,358
rides in FY 2013.
- C-VAN: Operated by GRTC in collaboration with
the Department of Social Services, C-Van provides
transportation for individuals enrolled in Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families (which stipulates below
poverty level-income and a dependent child for enrollment). All riders are referred by DSS.
The Greater Richmond Transit Companys 268 fixedroute service buses provided 8.3 million rides in FY
2015 in Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield, which
makes it by far the most used transportation service in the Richmond area. An October 2015 survey
showed 61 percent of riders primarily use the service
for their daily work commute.
The number of commuters contrasts starkly with
the number of older adults concentrated beyond
GRTCs service area, which encompasses Richmond
and small slices of Henrico and Chesterfield. A draft
report from the Richmond Regional Planning District
Commission reveals Charles City, Chesterfield and
Goochland make up 30 percent of the regions older
adult population who lack access to GRTCs fixedroute service.

GRTC has what they call specialized transportation services to fill in some of the gaps:
- Care and Care Plus: Offering ADA paratransit
within of a mile of fixed-route stops between 5 a.m.
- 1 a.m. within Richmond and from 6 a.m. until 11
p.m. in Henrico. The service requires an application
and confirmed status as disabled or over age 80. Trips
cost $3 each way, with the trip designated Care Plus

While GRTCs 2015 rider survey reports a 74 percent

satisfaction rate with its service, media reports, online
reviews and public meetings show the system faces
discontent with route layouts, service and improvement priorities. The relationship between GRTC and
the local governments that provide funds frequently
hit flashpoints that result in service cuts. In 2014,
Chesterfield cut its contribution and GRTC increased
fares along its Chesterfield routes by 50 cents. A push
for the system to revise routes to better serve riders
has stalled.
Plans for a new bus line that would connect the
citys eastern edge with the West End via Broad Street
have received widespread government support and
federal funding throughout the past 10 years. The
Richmond City Council approved the project in February, with construction set for completion by October 2017. Its important to note, however, that a
central artery connecting Broad Street does little
for older adults in outlying counties who remain
hamstrung by the current fixed-route system.
That service will undergo a switch to a new
scheduling platform as it also pushes real-time
tracking apps and service for its fixed-route buses.
As GRTC grows its service with the planned
Pulse system, the number of older adults in the region
will continue to grow as well. The greater Richmond
regions 65+ population is expected to jump 146 percent by 2030 to more than 230,000 people. Without
mass transit infrastructure improvements that reach
the far ends of the Richmond region -- and there
are none on the table -- Senior Connections remains
dedicated to meeting the mobility needs of the areas
older adults.

3 Richmond Regional Transportation: New Solutions for Growing Needs

Senior Connections Role

While GRTC operates as the primary public transportation provider in the region, a combination of
non-profit, private and government services operate
to fill transportation needs. Senior Connections works
to connect those services as a brokerage service
for older adults in need of transportation. That population includes older adults who navigate chronic
conditions, cannot drive, live alone or struggle with
poverty. The Richmond Regional Planning District
Commission estimates that total number of individuals to be 4,227 across the region. In contrast to that
overall need, Senior Connections provided 17,181
medical transport rides to 580 people during FY2015.
That number represents both a reflection of how far
the agency has come in four decades as well as the remaining need that has yet to be filled. Senior Connections began operations in 1973 to provide Friendship
Cafes to older adults in need of meals and at risk for
social isolation. Over the years Senior Connections
staff participated in a variety of committees and task
forces addressing transportation services, and staff
also acted in an advocacy capacity in terms of transportation needs and service gaps. In 2005 the agency
brought on its first full-time transportation specialist
to coordinate a new Ride Connections/Mobility Management project that worked with area transit operators on behalf of Friendship Cafe clients and other
Seniors in need of information about transportation
service.
As the service grew, Senior Connections gained
increasing support through taking on a larger slices of
older adults transportation needs throughout the region. In 2009, Senior Connections took on administering funds for Powhatan County. The agency also took
on the administration of the former Red Cross Medical Transportation program alongside funding support
from the United Way. By 2011, Senior Connections
took on grant funding to support transportation in
Hanover County and hired an additional ride scheduler to support the growing system. A year later, Senior
Connections hired a Regional Mobility Manager.
Senior Connections also runs and provides transportation to its Friendship Cafes throughout the
region, where meals are provided to adults over 60. In
FY2015, Senior Connections provided 33,351 trips for
266 people.
The recommendations made in this paper include
more work with several of the following services and

programs, including coordinating Ride Connections

with programs offered by the Shepherds Center; Investing in the success of Hanover Rides as a model for
other localities in Planning District 15; and discussion
with Bay Aging about the potential for serving additional localities in Planning District 15.

Nonprofit Transportation Service

Programs
Bay Transit
Operated by Bay Aging, a conglomerated Area
Agency on Aging, Bay Transit offers four fixed-route
transportation services in the Middle Peninsula and
Northern Neck areas 12 hours a day Monday-Friday.
In FY2014, it operated on a $9 million budget with $6
million in government funds. Transportation makes up
about 40 percent of Bay Agings total spending. The
service charges 50 cents per ride, with rides to work
comprising of total ridership in FY2013.
Bay Transit also offers specialized medical and
senior services beyond fixed routes, known as New
Freedom rides. The service offers $5 one-way rides
booked 72 hours in advance. New Freedom booked
3,500 rides in FY2013. Construction continues for
a central transit depot, built with state and federal
funding. 48 Vehicles (35 are wheelchair accessible)
A recommendation of this paper is to discuss with
Bay Aging the potential for serving additional localities in Planning District 15.

Access Chesterfield
Administered and operated by Chesterfield County,
the program is available to Chesterfield County residents who are age 60 and over, disabled or below
200 percent federal poverty level. Trips are purchased
five at a time for $30, with a two-way trip requiring
two vouchers. Reservations are required one day in
advance, but no more than four in advance. The 15
vehicles operate Monday Friday 5:30 a.m. to 7:30
p.m. and Saturday 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. $30 for five

4 Richmond Regional Transportation: New Solutions for Growing Needs

vouchers; each voucher is good for a one way trip.

Trips outside Chesterfield are limited to medical
appointments only, with a few geographic exceptions
for Southern Chesterfield residents. Access to GRTC
routes provided for transportation outside Chesterfield.
FY2015 trips: 55,500
FY2015 budget: $1,500,000
FY 2015 revenue: $400,000 (30 percent rider fare,
the balance from local taxes and grants)

Hanover Rides
As a part of general aid operations, MCEFs Hanover
Senior Rides program offers transportation to medical
appointments and other basic errands for persons
over 60 who live in Mechanicsville who cannot drive.
According to the Richmond Regional Planning District
Commission, the MCEF has eight volunteer drivers
and 58 registered riders. Ashland Christian Emergency Services (ACES) has joined MCEF to offer rides
to seniors (60+) who are no longer able to drive but
would like to stay in their home as long as possible.
A recommendation of this paper is to look to the
success of Hanover Rides as a model for other localities in Planning District 15.

Goochland Free Clinic and Family Services

FCFS provides transportation for Goochland residents at or below the 200 percent Federal Poverty
Level. From within that eligible group, residents can
call a 24-hour hotline if they are in need of transportation to medical appointments. The organization
claims about 9.5 percent of its $2.8 million FY2014
budget came from state and Goochland County government funds. The service provided 2,502 in calendar year 2014, at an operating cost of $93,500.
The program operates three vehicles Monday 12-3
p.m. in Richmond, Tuesday-Thursday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. in
Goochland, and Friday 9 - 12 p.m. in Richmond.

Shepherds Centers of Richmond and

Chesterfield
Another recommendation of this paper is to coordinate Senior Connections Ride Connections with
programs offered by the Shepherds Centers. The
centers offer free volunteer-provided transportation
service to adults age 60 and over (50 in Chesterfield)
who do not require wheelchairs and have no cognitive
impairment. Services are given for medical appoint-

Lynn Saunders pitches Hanover Rides at the Greater

Richmond Age Waves Aging2.0 Pitch Event in November 2015

ments, groceries and other basic needs within the

general Richmond metro area between 9 a.m - 3:30
p.m. Requests are booked via phone only, with a oneweek lead time required (four days in Chesterfield).
The Shepherds Center of Richmond installed Ride
Scheduler software in 2014.
Rides given by Shepherds Center of Richmond
FY2015: 1,566
Rides given by Shepherds Center of Chesterfield in
FY2015: 579

Capital Area Partnership Uplifting People

Serving Goochland, Hanover and Powhatan, rides
to Senior Connections Friendship Cafes in addition
to other errands for seniors. CAP-UP offers transportation to 75 seniors for the CAPUP Senior Center in
Richmond for four days each week, and also provides
four-day a week transportation to about 100 seniors
to and from three Friendship Cafes.
CAP-UP takes the majority of its funding (nearly
$1.5 million out of $2.6 million 2013 budget) from
federal revenue, with the ride services costing the
program $136,000 per year. Trips in FY 2010: 7,716.

5 Richmond Regional Transportation: New Solutions for Growing Needs

Transportation Service Providers

Acti Kare Richmond
This private organization offers a range of services
relating to elder care, including on-demand transportation. As part of their service, they offer drivers who
remain with riders at their appointments. The company only accepts private-pay methods. Monday - Sunday 6 - 9 p.m., $16-$18 per hour.

Alliance Specialty Transport

24-hour private service based in Richmond, serving
Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, Powhatan, and Richmond. It specializes in wheelchair and
stretcher-van transport.

Angel Ride
Offers services Monday Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6
p.m. to western Richmond, western Henrico, northern
Chesterfield; with additional fee for pickup in other
areas. Rates are $90/hour for assisted transportation
and $30/hour for aide/accompaniment or stand-by.
The minimum charge $30 for each ride and includes
the first 20 minutes of service. No wheelchair access.

American Cancer Society

Free transportation offered to and from cancer
treatment for patients without access to other means.
Operating Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Serving Chesterfield, Henrico and Richmond.

CareMore
Available to Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare patients, for transportation to individual facilities.

Capital Area Health Network

CAHN offers free transportation for medical appointments at its facilities within a 12-mile radius. Appointments must be 8:30 and 4:30 p.m., with a pickup
window of 90 minutes required. CAHN provides
transportation including to those who have Virginia
Coordinated Care, uninsured/self-pay, and insured.

Comfort Keepers
A service providing transportation to care appointments geared toward disabled adults, those recovering from surgery and seniors aging in place. Totaled
24,781 trips in the Greater Richmond area in FY2013.

Dependacare Transportation
Offers fee-based rides on demand for medical appointments and other errands in the Richmond area,

specializing in wheelchair access. Provides a 24-hour

hotline, pre-scheduled and same-day appointments
door-to-door, curb-to-curb or door-through-door
service.

Disabled American Veterans Volunteer

Transportation Network
A network of volunteer-driven vans, the service
provides free transportation for disabled veterans to
appointments at VA hospitals. The program logged
over 412,000 miles in 2013 in Richmond alone. The
program has seen consistent ridership increases split
between seven drivers and two vans.

Groome Transportation
Groome offers reserved van rides for disabled persons, providing specially-designed vans with drive-on
ramps. Requires 48-hours notices for reservations,
operating 24/7.

Home Helpers
Home Helpers provides transportation for errands
and medical appointments as part of its services
packages. Serving Chesterfield, Glen Allen, Hanover,
Henrico, Mechanicsville, Midlothian, and Richmond.

Home Instead Senior Care

Offers transportation as part of its companionship
services, with a three-hour minimum visit required
and at least 24 hours advance notice requested. Can
provide service for a single event or regularly scheduled seven days a week. Service ranges includes Richmond and surrounding metro area.

JenCare
Jen Care Healthcares free delivery system for
seniors who are eligible for Medicare. Trips are designated for clinic patients within six miles of clinic
locations.

LogistiCare
A Medicaid-funded 24/7 medical appointment ride
service available across the country, its Region 3 service area includes all Richmond Region jurisdictions.
Riders must call five days in advance and offer their
Medicaid number.

New Freedom Transportation

The 15-van fleet offers services in Richmond and
Newport news, specializing in special needs and senior clients. Operational 7 a.m.- 5 p.m. every day, with
special service focus on Hope, Unity Freedom Centers.

6 Richmond Regional Transportation: New Solutions for Growing Needs

Save Our Seniors

Rides arranged on a per case basis, serving the Richmond area.

SeniorBridge
SeniorBridge provides escort and errand service in
association with their home health care services

Seniors First Transportation LLC

Operates within Richmond and the Washington,
D.C. area, offering wheelchair, ambulatory and airport
transportation. Fares are on a pick-up/destination
basis, with 24 hours notice required. Services offered
Monday - Friday, with some drivers available seven
days a week.

Tendercare Transport of Virginia

Offers ambulatory, wheelchair and stretcher transport in Richmond and surrounding areas (Louisa,
Goochland, Hanover and Henrico). Operational Monday - Friday, 8 - 5 p.m.

TNT Transportation Services

TNT provides transportation for a variety of needs,
including doctors appointments and everyday errands. Operates on an appointment basis, including same-day service (with a stated preference for
24-hours notice). The company offers wheelchair
service. Also provides transportation to Senior Connections Friendship Cafes. Approximately 300 rides
given per month.

terfield, Hanover, Henrico, Richmond, Goochland,

Charles City and New Kent.
Some companies may be excluded from the above list.

Taxi Services
While Uber has taken a significant portion of the
market -- with 20 percent of the regions cabs disappearing within one year following the companys
introduction in Virginia in 2014 -- Napoleon Taxi and
Veterans Cab remain the Richmond areas largest
fleets, offering van service for fold-up wheelchair use.
Napoleon Taxi offers a 10 percent senior discount.
Companies serving the Richmond region include:

Henrico Taxi (No wheelchair service)

Manhattan Taxi (No wheelchair service; 10 percent senior discount)

Napoleon Taxi (Fold-up wheelchair accessible; 10

percent senior discount)

Pink Transportation (No wheelchair service)

Rainbow Taxicab (Wheelchair service available)
Veterans Cab (Fold-up wheelchair accessible)

Total Praise Transport

Provides non-emergency transportation for medical needs and other errands in the Chesterfield and
tri-cities regions. Operates Monday - Saturday from 6
a.m. through 6 p.m.

Van Go
Van Go operates 35 wheelchair vans and 35 ambulatory vans, with a stated ridership of 275,000
trips each year. They offer service to Richmond and
surrounding regions. Van Go operates Monday - Friday, 5:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m., with 24-hour availability if
scheduled in advance.

VIP & Associates

A service that specializes in transportation for those
in need of special assistance, wheelchair accessible
rides are available with one-day notice. Operating 8
a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Serving Powhatan, Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg, Ches7 Richmond Regional Transportation: New Solutions for Growing Needs

Photo credit: Scott Elmquist

Best Practices
JAUNT Inc. in Charlottesville
Vision: Central Virginians get where they need to go
safely, efficiently and affordably while respecting the
environment.
Mission: JAUNT safely, courteously and promptly
provides public and specialized services to meet community mobility needs.
JAUNT, Inc. is a regional transportation system
providing service to the citizens of Charlottesville,
Albemarle, Fluvanna, Louisa, Nelson, Buckingham and
Amherst Counties. Organized in 1975, JAUNT is recognized both statewide and nationally for its high quality
service, performance record and efficient coordinated
service.
This public transportation system of 70 vehicles
makes over 300,000 trips each year, carrying riders
to work, doctors appointments, shopping and other
leisure activities. JAUNT uses federal, state and local
funding to supplement fares and agency payments.
JAUNT was started when several human service
agencies realized that it would be much more efficient
and cost-effective for them to have their clients share
rides. After a successful year of providing routes for
agency clients, JAUNT received its first federal grant to
help them make the service affordable for the general
public as well. Within a few short years, there was a

fleet of fifteen vans, including the first lift-equipped

vehicle, and JAUNT was operating as a 501(c)3 not for
profit organization.
Over the years, JAUNT has grown, and added
additional programs, such as RideShare, commuter
routes to Charlottesville and Wintergreen, intra-county routes in each rural county, and night and weekend
service for people with disabilities in Charlottesville
and Albemarle. In 1982, JAUNT became a public
corporation owned by five local governments. JAUNT
is currently located in its own facility in southeastern
Charlottesville, with a four-bay garage, a state-of-theart computer scheduling system, and a fleet of seventy vehicles equipped with on-board computers.
JAUNTs award-winning system earned the Virginia
Transit Associations Outstanding Public Transportation System Award for Non-Urbanized Areas and the
National Community Transportation System of the
Year award from the Community Transit Association
of America. JAUNTs system of combining resources
to serve as many people as possible has been a model
for transit services across the country.
Anyone may ride JAUNT, but there are reduced
rates for older adults and those with disabilities.
JAUNT has different fare structures and different
for the different areas served. More rural areas are
generally more expensive averaging at $4.00 with
reduced rates for those 60 and older, usually about
$1.50 a ride. Some routes are door to door and some
have designated drop off and pick up locations.

8 Richmond Regional Transportation: New Solutions for Growing Needs

Senior Ride Connection in Charleston, S.C.

Senior Ride Connection is a community based, local
non-profit organization that provides caring and courteous door-through-door rides for seniors. Seniors 60
and older, and visually impaired adults 21 and over
who live in its service area are eligible for membership. The service provides rides to any destination
within its service area for any purpose including
medical or hair appointments, pharmacy, shopping,
etc. The service includes help with steps, doors and
packages.
There is an annual membership fee of $50 for
individuals and $90 for a family membership. Fares
are $1.50 per mile with a $4 pick-up fee. Scholarships
are available to assist individuals who need help with
the cost of their annual membership and to help fund
their Ride Account. Rider may also donate their vehicle they no longer use for ride credits.
Characteristics of service:
Arm-through-arm, door-through-door dignified
transportation
No money exchanged in the vehicle; Tips not
accepted
Available 24/7, 365 days a year
Available for any type of ride within the service
area, with no limitations on ride purpose
Share a ride and receive a 15% discount
Rides are provided in private vehicles by trained
caring volunteer and staff drivers who have undergone a criminal background and driving record check.

the ITN system. They now use Ride Scheduler, a ride

management system platform based in San Diego.
Otherwise the service is the same.
Senior Ride Connections model includes about 50
percent of rides provided by volunteers. They enlist
32 volunteers (core group of 10 highly active volunteers), who use private vehicles, and four paid drivers,
who use donated vehicles. This year they will serve
about 500 people, giving 8,000 rides.
Financial information (as ITNCharlestonTrident in
2012)
Revenue: $225,459
Included fares and dues ($90,001) and contributions
and grants ($104,367) as main revenue sources.
Expenses: $210,650
Included ITN affiliate fee of $5,400.

Rides may be booked at any time M-F, 8 am 4

pm; with the lowest fares applied to rides scheduled
in advance.

For nine years, this

service was ITNCharlestonTrident, an affiliate of ITN,
a non-profit solution to
senior transportation and
people with visual impairments based in Maine.
They switched last year
to the brand Senior Ride
Connection because they
wanted tweaks to ride
scheduling software that
were not possible under

9 Richmond Regional Transportation: New Solutions for Growing Needs

Ride Connection in Portland, Ore.

Mission: Ride Connection is a non-profit
organization established to link accessible, responsive
transportation with community needs.
Vision: To create independence and community
connections through the gift of mobility.
Ride Connection is a nonprofit that works with community partners to provide and coordinate transportation options primarily for older adults and people
with disabilities. Ride Connection and its network of
more than 30 partners serve 12,000 individuals in
Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties
with customer-focused, safe, reliable transportation
options. Ride Connections services are all about
meeting the transportation needs of each individual
by offering a variety of transportation options, providing 500,000 rides last year via 110 vehicles, plus more
provided by volunteers.
Services provided with partner agencies:
RideWise: Program teaches older adults and
people with disabilities how to travel independently
and safely on public transportation.
Door to Door Services: transportation programs for older adults and individuals with disabilities
throughout Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington
counties. The service is provided at no charge, although donations are appreciated.
RideAbout: Free shuttle service to grocery
stores and neighborhood centers. Each RideAbout
is unique and designed with feedback from local
neighbors and community. RideAbout drivers and
concierges are available to assist riders with shopping

bags. Calendars are mailed each month for the North/

Northeast RideAbout because they often include recreational trips as well as shopping trips.
WorkLink: Serves low income job seekers and
wage earners, helping them plan a commute using
the TriMet system and/or other transportation options, such as bicycles, carpools and vanpools.
Washington County U-Ride: Serves adults over
the age of 60, people with disabilities of any age,
low-income commuters as well as general public traveling in areas not served by public transportation.
Washington County Bus Service: Allows commuter residents in Rural Washington County a way
to get around. The bus connects customers to the
Hillsboro Transit center via pickups in Banks and North
Plains.
Job Access: Provides transportation for low
income job seekers and wage earners who need
employment-related rides within Tigard, Forest Grove,
and Cornelius.
Other innovative programs developed by Ride Connection to encourage mobility in the region:
Shared and Retired Vehicle Program
Transit Boards
Ride Together
FareShare
Financial information
Revenue: Government Grants and Contracts
$9,340,435 (97%), Contributions and Local Match
$202,302 (2%), Fare Revenue (donations) $28,111
(<1%)
Expenses: Program Services $6,594,371 (87%);
Management and General $806,560 (11%); Fundraising $193,560 (3%)

10 Richmond Regional Transportation: New Solutions for Growing Needs

Looking Forward
As Richmond continues to face increasing demands
on its public transportation infrastructure, there are
several possible avenues for new ways of collaboration and resource sharing that could greatly improve
service. Among the possible partners not yet utilized
is Virginia Regional Transit, which serves northern,
western and eastern regions of the Commonwealth
with ride services for disabled patrons on both fixed
routes and on-demand. Based in Purceville, the closest VRT comes to Richmond is Orange.
One largely unexplored aspect of the continuing
disruption to the traditional taxi service model -- as
presented by ride sharing operations such as Uber
and Lyft -- is the potential for taxi services to focus on
the needs of older customers. Taxis have the potential
to invest in equipment needed to transport individuals with disabilities or otherwise limited mobility,
which would provide an important distinction from
the pool of vehicles Uber provides. The Transportation
Research Board recently released its own analysis of
the potential future of the industry in a report titled
Use of Taxis in Public Transportation for People with
Disabilities and Older Adults.
Uber, Lyft and other transportation network companies could also prove to be valuable partners in
providing rides for those with increased needs. Richmonds own TNC-complementing start-up, Uzurv, enables Uber and Lyft rides to be scheduled in advance.
That capability vastly increases the potential of both
companies to provide services to older adults and
those with disabilities who need increased reliability and planning than the spur-of-the-moment ride
requests currently offered.
Richmond has also floated the concept of utilizing
autonomous vehicles in a recent Smart City challenge offered by the federal Department of Transportation. While Richmonds bid for funding was rejected,
the next 20 years will be dominated by discussion and
the eventual adoption of autonomous vehicles on a
consumer level. Richmond would do well to be ahead
of the curve in adopting autonomous vehicles within
transportation networks.
GRTC, in addition to constructing the new Bus Rapid
Transit line, has plans to offer feeder buses that will

Concept art for GRTCs bus rapid transit

connect farther flung neighborhoods to that central artery. The system has also begun evaluating its
overall routing. While its early in the process, its like
GRTC will address the longstanding criticisms surrounding its current routes missing neighborhoods in
desperate need of public transportation.
In the shorter term, regional transportation outlets
have increasingly looked toward rider empowerment
activities such as training programs offered by the
GRTC that help riders learn the routes they need
to take. The Richmond Senior Center uses a system
where one member will show another how to get to a
new meeting location. These types of person-to-person interactions help increase awareness of regional
public transportation in addition to opening a dialogue between riders and regional transportation
agencies.

Recommendations
Ride Connections continue as a clearinghouse
for transportation services and a mobility management group to help seniors and individuals
with disabilities more effectively use transportation services.
Coordinate Ride Connections with programs
offered by the Shepherds Centers of Richmond
and Chesterfield.
Use the Senior Connections Advisory Council
as an ongoing think tank on transportation and
sponsor an annual forum on transportation to
continually highlight progress and gaps.
Invest in the success of Hanover Rides as a model for other localities in Planning District 15.
Discuss with Bay Aging the potential for serving
additional localities in Planning District 15.

11 Richmond Regional Transportation: New Solutions for Growing Needs