6AM City In-house

Bus Rapid Transit, but make it North-South

GRTC orders study for North-South rapid bus line
Broad Street facing east is seen from the middle of the street.
A previous study identified four potential corridors for a North-South BRT line. | Photo by RICtoday
GRTC wants to add a North-South Bus Rapid Transit line, four years after the launch of The Pulse. There are four potential corridors that will be evaluated by a contractor.

🚌 What to expect

The GRTC board selected a contractor, Michael Baker International, to conduct a study about the project. That process will include public engagement and investigation into possible corridors.

The contractor will finish with a final summary report — which you better believe we’ll read to update our readers.

📍 The four corridors

A previous study from the Greater Washington Partnership identified four potential options for North-South BRT.

We made a handy map so you can visualize each option.

A screenshot of a map with four lines indicating potential bus routes.

Click the image to explore the map of potential routes.

Map by RICtoday via Proxi


There’s one line going north and three options going south.
  • North | From a downtown Pulse station up Belvidere Street, Chamberlayne Avenue, and Route 1, ending at Virginia Center Commons
  • South: Route 1 | From a downtown Pulse station down Belvidere/Route 1 to Brightpoint Community College in Chester
  • South: Hull Street | From a downtown Pulse station down Hull Street to the Commonwealth Center area
  • South: Midlothian Turnpike | From a downtown Pulse station down Hull Street, then Midlothian Turnpike to Midlothian Village

🗓 Next steps

The recommended routes could be changed by the new study. GWP evaluated existing density and land use, existing transportation infrastructure, and socio-economic characteristics of the areas to find the potential corridors.

After the new study wraps up, GRTC will move on to the environmental clearance and design phase.

The East-West BRT project that became The Pulse started in 2010, opening after eight years of work — so we’re a ways away from launching this new line.

For now, we’ll ask you: Which route do you prefer for a North-South version of the Pulse? Share your thoughts using the question box below.

What are your thoughts on a North-South version of the Pulse?

Whether you already have a route in mind or waiting to see the study, share your public transit thoughts, dreams, and desires with us.
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Tuesday, Nov. 8
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  • Jaylin Brown on Shockoe Sessions Live | Tuesday, Nov. 8 | 7:30-8:30 p.m. | In Your Ear Studios, 1813 E. Broad St., Richmond | $0-$10 | Get tickets to see this soul and smooth jazz performer in person, or tune in to the livestream on YouTube.
Wednesday, Nov. 9
  • Midweek Matinees: “Midway” | Wednesday, Nov. 9 | 2-5 p.m. | RPL West End Branch, 5420 Patterson Ave., Richmond | Free | Snacks will be provided at this screening of the World War II film.
Thursday, Nov. 10
  • Book Talk with Steve Cowie | Thursday, Nov. 10 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | N/A, Richmond | Free | The author will discuss his book, “When Hell Came to Sharpsburg,” at this American Civil War Museum program.
  • Eliza & The Delusionals | Thursday, Nov. 10 | 7 p.m. | Richmond Music Hall, 623 E. Main St., Richmond | $15 | Australian indie rock with FLKL and Midnite Taxi.
Friday, Nov. 11
  • Eggy | Friday, Nov. 11 | 9 p.m. | The Camel, 1621 W. Broad St., Richmond | $12 | The New Haven four-piece will jam with Sicard Hollow.
Saturday, Nov. 12
  • Bonesgiving 2 | Saturday, Nov. 12 | 1-5 p.m. | Pizza Bones, 2314 Jefferson Ave., Richmond | $30 | Taste and learn about 20+ wines and ciders in preparation for the holiday season.
  • The Legwarmers | Saturday, Nov. 12 | 8 p.m. | The National, 708 E. Broad St., Richmond | $20 | Celebrate the music of the 1980s with the ultimate tribute band.
  • Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon | Saturday, Nov. 12 | 7 a.m.-3 p.m. | Brown’s Island, Richmond | $55-$150 | Unrivaled course support, great swag, beautiful scenery, and VIP treatment combine to make it America’s Friendliest Marathon.*

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Calling all ugly sweaters
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How ugly can you get? | Graphic by 6AM City
It’s sweater weather, and we want to make it count.

Send us your ugly Christmas sweatshirt designs for a chance to be featured on our all-over print sweatshirts + added to our online Six & Main store.

We don’t want to see the good, just the ugly.
SEND YOUR DESIGNS HERE

Weather
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  • Yesterday saw record high temperatures for November in Richmond, with highs in the low 80s. Forecasts show cooler temps for the rest of the week. (NBC12)
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Film
  • The Dude abides and The Big LeByrdski is back for another year this Saturday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. The annual fundraiser for the Byrd Theatre Foundation features a screening of the Coen brothers’ film and a costume contest. Your $20 ticket includes an El Duderino cocktail. 🎳
Arts
  • Local artist Nico Cathcart has a new mural in the works at the Circle Center near Willow Lawn. The design includes portraits of residents of the senior center as a tribute to elders in our communities. Nico is working with local photographer Caroline Shelnut to make it happen. 🎨
  • ART 180 and Reynolds Gallery are pairing up for the PIGMENT art auction, an online fundraiser for the arts nonprofit. Local collectors have donated 15 pieces to the auction, which opens this Friday, Nov. 11. Get a sneak peek at the work by visiting Reynolds Gallery (1514 W. Main St.). 🖼
Richmonder
  • The chef behind the popular pop-up Young Mother will be competing on the new HBO Max show “The Big Brunch,” produced by Dan Levy. Daniel Harthausen joined two other Virginia chefs to film the series back in March. It’ll be available for streaming on Thursday, Nov. 10. 🍳 (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
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  • Respiratory viruses are on the rise among children, weeks earlier than a typical fall surge. Richmond and Henrico Health Districts recommend getting updated flu and COVID-19 vaccinations and wearing a mask around older adults and young children. (VPM)
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An opera in the making

Behind the scenes of an opera in the making
The exterior of the Institute of Contemporary Art, looking down West Broad Street.
Keep updated on the opera at the ICA. | Photo by @maurv2
The Virginia Opera and Richmond Symphony are in the midst of creating an operatic retelling of the landmark Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia.

Richmonders can get an early look at the opera-in-progress on Saturday, Aug. 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the ICA. The event will feature a 90-minute presentation with excerpts from the first act’s piano and vocal score.

The workshop is free and open to the public. Reserve your spot.

Several events have already taken place to engage the community in the opera-making process. In November 2022, legal scholars joined a public forum to discuss the historical context of the case. The public has also joined in workshops concerning the opera’s libretto (that’s the text of an opera), written by Jessica Murphy Moo.

The world premiere of the opera will take place in spring 2025 for the Virginia Opera’s 50th anniversary.
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THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Robin.

Editor’s pick: If you missed the spacecraft launch from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility (right here in VA) yesterday morning, you can check out some pretty cool pictures of the launch trail over on r/rva. The craft contains 8,200+ pounds of cargo to resupply the International Space Station. 🚀

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Here are 20+ places to get a drink after work.
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Editorial: Robin Schwartzkopf, Katie Potter, Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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