ConnectRVA 2045
Long Range Transportation Plan
Background
Connect RVA 2045 - Intro
ConnectRVA 2045 is the Richmond Region's latest Long Range Transportation Plan, outlining more than 200 regional transportation projects to be completed over the next 20 years. The Richmond Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RRTPO), supported by PlanRVA, coordinates with a range of stakeholders to develop this future-facing plan every five years.
ConnectRVA 2045 is a plan for the entire Richmond Region that will help enhance regional prosperity and connectedness for residents and communities. The Richmond Region is comprised of the City of Richmond, the Town of Ashland, and the counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent, and Powhatan. The region is forecasted to grow nearly 30 percent, reaching a total of 1.4 million residents by 2045.
ConnectRVA 2045's Vision
The transportation system in the Richmond Region will reliably and safely connect people, prioritize more equitable opportunities for all to thrive and live healthy lives, promote a strong economy, and respect environmental stewardship.
Guiding Principles
Create a safe system for all users committed to the proven strategies in planning, design, operations and maintenance as well as advances in technology to eliminate fatal and serious injury crashes.
Choice among all travel modes regionwide.
Expansion of regional bicycle and pedestrian networks to provide active travel alternatives to driving for better individual and community health.
A robust transit network which delivers comprehensive, effective, and convenient service, particularly in areas of greatest need and to key destinations.
Equity and inclusion in all transportation spending and planning decisions in the region with a focus on historically under-represented and under-served communities.
Efficient movement of people and goods across the transportation network.
Alignment of transportation investment and planning with land use, community health, and environmental stewardship.
Planning Process
RRTPO works with stakeholders to develop this future-facing plan every four years.
Identify Needs
Research existing transportation conditions in the Richmond Region and where facility and program improvements are needed
Define Vision
Identify needs into trends, shape knowns and unknowns into a way forward that is inputted into the development of Vision and Goals
Plan Projects
Develop and test Universe of Projects options using community experience, professional judgement, and computer modeling
Program Funding
Prioritize candidate projects and investment programs using data-driven process and match top scores to available funds to weigh in on RRTPO funding decisions
Evaluation
Review regional projects, investment strategy, and draft plan document
Adopt the Plan
Collaborate and agree on projects and priorities by member governments and agencies
The ConnectRVA 2045 plan includes:
- Public engagement process for developing the ConnectRVA 2045 plan
- Transportation vision, goals and objectives for the Richmond metro area
- Census-based adjustments to population, employment, and travel data
- Update of the travel demand model to identify current and future deficiencies in the road network
- Safety, efficiency, and connectivity of the multimodal transportation network
- Technology acquisition and partnership strategy in support of performance-based planning
- Proposed system improvements
- Prioritization of projects
- Development of a fiscally constrained project list
- Financial analysis and projected timing for project development
ConnectRVA 2045 Projects
Types of Projects
ConnectRVA 2045 focuses on all modes of travel, including transit, highways, bicycles, and pedestrians.
Highways: The Richmond Region has an extensive network of interstate highways, non-interstate expressways, US and state highways, arterials, collectors and minor streets.
Public Transit: The Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) operates the regional public transit service primarily serving the population in the City of Richmond, and along major corridors into Henrico and Chesterfield counties.
Regional Park & Ride: Park & Ride lots strategically placed throughout the region provide opportunities to expand the reach of public transit, relieve congestion, and enhance multimodal transportation options by making better use of the existing highway infrastructure.
Active Transportation: Concurrent with the ConnectRVA 2045 process, PlanRVA worked with a steering committee to update the 2004 Richmond Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plans. Many positive steps have moved the region forward to a more active transportation system, including the following projects: Virginia Capital Trail, James River Park System, Huguenot Bridge, Cannon Creek Greenway, Gambles Mill Eco-Corridor, Gillies Creek Greenway, Appomattox River Trail, Fall Line, Locality Comprehensive/Master Plans, and Bicycle Networks.
Passenger Rail: The Richmond Region rail network provides critical links for efficient, low-cost, environmentally friendly movement of people and goods throughout the state and beyond.
Freight and Intermodal: The Region’s multimodal freight systems are intended to efficiently move freight and are linked together and operate from storage and distribution hubs at the Richmond Marine Terminal, the Richmond International Airport, distribution centers, and rail yards. The rail and highway systems in the region are intended to efficiently move.
Goals and Objectives
ConnectRVA 2045 considers major issues that need to be addressed in the long term and works to find realistic ways to make projects happen that will improve safety, reliability, and access for everyone. Each proposed ConnectRVA 2045 project was evaluated based on the five ConnectRVA 2045 goals developed by staff and the public.
Interact with the Maps Below
Interact with the following maps by clicking on a project line. A pop-up will appear with more information associated with that project. Click on the circle in the bottom left of the map to display the legend associated with the map.
Safety: Improve the safety of the transportation system for all people
- Enhanced safety and comforts of bicycle and pedestrian facilities
- Work to eliminate serious injuries and fatalities resulting from vehicular accidents
Key Outcome:
- Annual Savings from Crash Reduction in 2045: $120,583,000
Mobility: Increase travel efficiency and mode choices by maintaining the transportation system in a state of good repair
- Increase the percent of complete streets across the highway network to maximize use of available capacity
- Increase system efficiency through operations, transportation demand management, and technology-based solutions
- Improve system reliability across all modes
Key Outcome:
- Annual Savings from Mobility Improvements in 2045: $485,254,000
Equity/Accessibility: Improve equitable access through greater availability of mode choices that are affordable and efficient
- Reduce trip lengths for all people with a focus on Environmental Justice populations
- Increase access to jobs and community services via transit, walking, and biking for all people with a focus on Environmental Justice populations
Key Outcomes:
- Increase in average number of jobs accessible per person in 30 minutes (all modes): 485 jobs
- Increase in average number of destinations accessible per person in 30 minutes (all modes): 5 destinations
Economic Development: Improve connectivity and mobility for strong economic vitality
- Reduce peak period travel times
- Increase transportation investment which focuses on economic vitality
- Improve reliability and accessibility of travel to and within the regional activity centers
- Reduce freight bottlenecks
- Increase multimodal access to tourist destinations
Key Outcome:
- Net Annual Economic Impact to the Richmond Gross Regional Product (GRP) in 2045: $15 billion
Environment/Land Use: Reduce the negative impact the transportation system has on the natural and built environment
- Address roadways prone to flooding and consider climate impacts in transportation planning prioritization and funding decisions
- Reduce transportation related pollutants
- Reduce vehicle miles traveled per capita
- Increase number of trips taken by shared and active transportation modes
- Tie land use planning to transportation investments through encouragement of walkable and transit-oriented communities
- Minimize impacts of transportation system on natural resources and communities with particular emphasis on Environmental Justice populations.
Key Outcome:
- Annual Savings from Reduced Pollutant Emissions in 2045: $348,000
The table below identifies the various measures used to evaluate these programs and their associated weight in the evaluation process. Each project was evaluated using 15 performance measures shown below to assess the project benefits relative to the plan's vision and goals.
Bridge rehabilitation and replacement projects were included automatically as programmatic projects and rail projects were excluded as rail revenue amounts are not provided at the MPO level.
ConnectRVA 2045 Sample Project Scorecard
Funding
Under Federal law, the plan must be "financially constrained," meaning only revenues that can be reasonably expected can be considered in funding the recommendations documented within ConnectRVA 2045. RRTPO is required to develop a financial plan to ensure there is enough money to pay for the recommended projects.
Although project-based solutions were outcomes of the planning process, policies to impact long-term transportation decisions were needed. Focusing on efforts at both the regional and local scale is the most effective way to enact change when understanding future changes in development, infrastructure, housing, and transit use.
The project needs of the region exceeded the expected revenue by $4.4 billion. As additional revenue is made available, these projects will be considered. The Plan includes these projects within Technical Report F, Vision List of Regional Projects.
Investments were divided into programmatic (operation and maintenance of the existing system), local, and regional projects.
The main purpose of the financial plan is to show that cost of planned investments is less than or equal to expected revenues. The chart below summarizes the available revenues and planned investments in ConnectRVA 2045 and shows how the plan meets the financial constraint requirements.
Financial Plan Chart
How the Plan is Used
ConnectRVA 2045 will serve as the foundation for the development of the RRTPO's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), allocation of other grant funds, and short-range capital improvement programs, as well as the RRTPO's annual work program activities.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration,
The diversity of transportation assets, the varied conditions, the sensitive environments and the growing and evolving needs of the visitors to these federal lands are among the challenges that are faced. Adding to these challenges are the modern-day needs related to safety, congestion, and addressing the implications of climate change, all of this occurring in a fiscally constrained environment. It is imperative that communities prioritize their transportation needs and investments across all travel modes and facilities and spend transportation dollars wisely.
ConnectRVA 2045 is an important step to provide a framework to prioritize the Richmond Region's transportation projects and programs. The results of strategic analysis combined with public comments and feedback form the basis for identifying future transportation needs in the Region.
Public Engagement
Planning for ConnectRVA 2045 began in October 2019. Since then, RRTPO has held six comment periods, garnering the most feedback in the agency's history, in order to get feedback on:
- Transportation concerns and needs assessment
- Vision, Goals, and Strategies for ConnectRVA 2045
- Universe of Projects to be evaluated
- Use of Transportation Funds
- Constrained Project List
- Air Quality Conformity Determination
The final Public Review Period for ConnectRVA 2045 is open from August 16 to September 15, 2021.
In-Person Events
RRTPO is also offering in-person opportunities for members of the community to review the draft plan and ask questions:
August 25, 5:30-7:30pm
Ashland Branch Library 201 S Railroad Ave, Ashland, VA 23005
August 26, 6-8pm
Twin Hickory Library 5001 Twin Hickory Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23059
August 30, 6-8pm
Atlee Branch Library 9212 Rutlandshire Dr, Mechanicsville, VA 23116
August 31, 2-4pm
Main Library 101 E Franklin St, Richmond, VA 23219
September 1, 6-8pm
Chesterfield Career and Technical Center 13900 Hull Street Rd, Midlothian, VA 23112
September 14, 6-8pm
Fairfield Area Library 1401 N Laburnum Ave, Richmond, VA 23223
Virtual Events
Provide Comments
Comments on the draft plan can be submitted online in the form below or emailed to ConnectRVA2045@planrva.org .
Draft ConnectRVA 2045 Public Review
Learn More
The full LRTP document is available for viewing at the following link:
