Category Archives: transportation

Laurel and Broad

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This photo shows the RF&P RR train tracks on Broad Street in the first quarter of the 20th century. This view (maybe 1915?) is westward, with the Elba train station at the rear of the view. This playground was arranged through the R.F. & P. RR by “Mrs. Bolling, of the Richmond Playgrounds Association”. It harkens to a time when Oregon Hill could sort of claim to extend to Broad Street.

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Here is part of the 1889 Baist map, which shows how the train turns from W. Broad to Belvidere then heads down past the penitentiary. The train tracks turned at Pine, thence south on Belvidere, and turned east along Byrd street, entered level, through a tunnel, to continue downtown to the old Byrd street depot.

(Special thanks to Richard Lee Bland and Fred Rodgers for the images and history notes, as seen on the Fans of Monroe Park FaceBook page.)

RPD Collecting Bicycles for Community Ride

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From Richmond Police Department:

The Richmond Police Department is collecting bicycles for our 1st annual Community Bike Ride on the Southside of Richmond.
Please donate your gently used (or new) bicycles, of any size, to us by emailing us at RPDCares@richmondgov.com or call us at 646-0407. We are willing to pick up the bicycles.
Deadline for donation is September 16, 2016.
In advance, thank you!

Truck For Sale

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From Craigslist ad:

1986 Ford Bronco XLT – $2000
Moving out of state and cannot take her with me :'( This is a project truck that runs great! With a little TLC this truck would be the ultimate beach cruiser. Recently replaced fuel tank and sending unit, rear brake shoes, rebuilt motorcraft 2150 2bbl carburetor. Contact me for more info if you’re interested.

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Stolen Bicycle

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From posting:

IF ANYONE HAS SEEN THIS BIKE PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!! Tonight someone stole my bike from a house in Oregon Hill! If anyone sees it, please immediately let me know! It is a white road bike with pink grips and a pink seat. It is a little dirty, and below the stem it has a sticker of a traditional devil tattoo design captioned “ADAMS.” Please help me; I use it as my transportation to and from work, and it also has a lot of sentimental value to me! I need it back!!!!!

Richmond BikeShare ‘B’ Coming To Oregon Hill?

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From Times Dispatch article:

Trimmed in yellow and black, with a honeycomb motif, the bike unveiled Wednesday at a news conference by Dotson, Mayor Dwight C. Jones and Jakob Helmboldt, the city’s pedestrian, bicycle and trails coordinator, will be among 220 installed at up to 22 docking stations, called hives, starting this fall.
Bike-share systems allow users to check out a bike from one location and return it elsewhere for a fee, filling gaps between trips that are too far to walk but too short for driving, as well as to extend the reach for public transit.
“What we want the B to do is to be used by everyday people for everyday things,” the mayor said. “We want people to use it for working, playing and just an alternative transportation opportunity. … Biking’s just fun, so we encourage all of our citizens to become a part of the biking community and use the B.”
Today, the city’s Urban Design Committee takes up the proposed location and design of the first phase of stations, which will be concentrated in the central business district, Carver, Jackson Ward and the Fan District, with other stations in Carytown, Scott’s Addition and Oregon Hill.

Request for Bike Share Station

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A neighbor is reiterating his request that the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association request a bike share station. According to the neighbor, there are 20 stations going in around the City but Oregon Hill is being left out, even though it has 11% of the population of the service area. He further suggests a street parking space next to Pleasants Park (corner of Albemarle and S. Laurel).

Click here to learn more about the City’s bike share program planning.

Transit Meetings Tonight and Tomorrow

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While Oregon Hill lost the GRTC route that used to go down S. Laurel Street years ago, we have lots of buses stopping on Belvidere Street.

As for the future of local mass transit, I have tried to chime in with some thoughts in the past, now here’s some more chances for more residents to give theirs. From Partnership for Smarter Growth announcement:

Don’t forget, tonight and tomorrow afternoon are the first round of Richmond Transit Network Plan meetings. This will be our plan for the next 20 years.
We’ll be talking about important questions, like where do we need service, how to improve access to jobs, how to link to revitalization of neighborhoods, do you want more frequency and reliability even if it means a slightly longer walk to a stop?
Make sure your voice is heard!
Tuesday, May 3, 6-8 p.m.
DMV Richmond Central Service Center
2300 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23230
Wednesday, May 4, 12-2 p.m.
Main Public Library Auditorium
101 East Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23219

Public Meeting Wednesday to Detail Main and Franklin Streets Separated Bike Lane Project

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From City press release:

Public Meeting to Detail Main and Franklin Streets
Separated Bike Lane Project
~Community meeting scheduled to obtain resident input ~

Richmond, VA – The initial design details for the proposed Separated Bike Lane Project, also known as a Cycle Track, will be available at a public informational meeting next week. The bike lanes start at Ninth Street on both Main and Franklin streets and end at Laurel Street. A separated bike lane is a path with the on-street infrastructure of a conventional bike lane however, it is physically separated from motor traffic and distinct from the sidewalk.

The meeting to review the plans will be on Wednesday, March 16 at 5:30 p.m. at the Richmond Main Library, 101 East Franklin Street. Residents are invited to attend this meeting to learn more about the project, the roadway analysis and to review the designs as well as provide feedback and recommendations.

The City’s Department of Public Works and Department of Planning and Development Review will be joined by VHB, the consultant, to address questions and concerns during the community meeting.

This project was first proposed in the Strategic Multimodal Transportation Plan known as Richmond Connects and it was also included in the Bike Master Plan. Federal funds will cover 80% of the project’s $300,000 cost with the city providing $60,000 in funding.

Once completed, this cycle track will provide a continuous east/west route along with a connection to the Floyd Avenue Bike Boulevard.

For more information on City services, please visit www.RichmondGov.com.

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