Greyhound sprucing up its digs; you’re paying for it
The Greyhound station on Boulevard is getting a face-lift. According to RTD:
The planned changes include new exterior signs and a new food kiosk, widescreen televisions and additional seating in the lobby. Plumbing work and a new air-conditioning system also are planned.
However, tax payers are picking up the tab, with a half-million dollar grant from the Virginia Department of Transportation. Greyhound is kicking in $100K.
Another disturbing fact - the rehab is taking place without considering the redevelopment efforts in the area. It seems like city planners should make sure that the location is the best solution for the Greyhound station when considering the redevelopment options before pouring in over $600K to fix it up.
Also in the RTD article were some interesting Greyhound stats.
- 900K riders pass through Richmond each year
- 45% of passengers transfer in Richmond
- Average layover: 45 mins
- 50% of the 65 daily (summer) arrivals are between midnight and 7 am
It doesn’t appear that the station is a boon to the community, with half of the arrivals coming in the wee hours of the morning. With the average layover of 45 minutes, it gives visitors enough time to knock-off local businesses before boarding their connecting bus.
photo by: immeltron
