Examining the Transit Accessibility and Poverty Issues from New Perspectives in Richmond, Virginia

The Richmond region is currently facing a severe poverty crisis and a transit crisis. These two types of crises are inherently linked. Piggybacking on the Richmond City Mayor’s Anti-Poverty Commission Report, this study has conducted a comprehensive transit accessibility analysis for the Richmond City using both Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and statistical tools. Through this empirical study, it has found that, overall, GRTC provides adequate transit services within the boundary of Richmond City. However, its existing hub-and-spoke transit system cannot properly address the spatial mismatch issue. This study recommends shifting more transit services to the south side and along circumferential routes to better match the origin-destination travel patterns of those low-income, transit captive riders, who need to access low-skilled jobs.