Transportation & Mobility

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Transportation » Mass Transit

Why It's Important

Mass Transit becomes more important to people as they age and may be less able to drive -- especially at night. While many use mass transit for commuting, options are also available for errands, doctor’s appointments, and visiting family. Some areas have offer reduced-cost mass transit for seniors. Several federal transportation programs provide funding to create systems and build infrastructures to meet the transit needs of non-drivers.

See Data By: Richmond MSA | Virginia | National

How Richmond Is Doing

Transit options in the Richmond Area:

Richmond City – GRTC Bus Service, Amtrak, Express Commuter Bus to Fredericksburg (VRE)
Chesterfield County – Limited GRTC Bus Service
Hanover County – Amtrak, Express Commuter Bus to Fredericksburg (VRE), No Local Service
Henrico County – Limited GRTC Bus Service
Powhatan County – No Service

In the 2007 VA State of the Commute Study:

55% of those who live in Richmond reported bus or train companies providing services in the area that they live.
Among Baby Boomers and Seniors (GI/Silent Generation), 52 percent of Boomers say they have transit available and 48 percent of Seniors say they have transit available. These percentages are not significantly different from that of all Richmond respondents. However, the younger the respondent, the more likely they were to identify transit in their area.
Among Richmond residents, 28 percent indicated that they were within a mile of a bus stop. Twenty-eight percent of Boomers and thirty-two percent of Seniors (GI/Silent Generation) said that they lived within a mile of a bus stop.

The 2007 VA State of the Commute Study also looked at the primary commute mode of respondents. The following chart is a breakdown among the total population in Richmond as well as Baby Boomers and Seniors. The sample size for Seniors (GI/Silent Generation) is very small and therefore the differences are not significant.

Primary Commute Mode - Richmond

How Virginia Is Doing

Statewide Survey

According to AARP Virginia Member Survey, 2007:

More than nine in ten (91%) indicate that it is important for the state to increase funding for public transportation programs that serve older persons and those with disabilities.
A majority of members (81%) say it is important for Virginia to reduce overlap and eliminate transportation gaps through improved coordination of human services transportation systems.