VCU news

By Jonsette Calloway

Beginning on Wednesday, Jan. 2, the Campus Connector will shift to an express route, serving James Branch Cabell Library, One Capitol Square, 8th and Main streets, Sanger Hall and J. Sargeant Reynolds RamRide stops only. (The new plans for the Connector Express originally did not include stops at One Capitol Square and 8th and Main streets. The stops were added based on feedback in response to the initial announcement of the change.)

This change comes as VCU enters into the second phase of its pilot program with GRTC, originally announced in August. As part of this agreement, students and employees of VCU and VCU Health System, including Virginia Premier, receive unlimited transportation on the GRTC Pulse Bus Rapid Transit and regular fixed-route bus service (local and express) at no cost to the rider.  

Students and employees are encouraged to use GRTC’s Pulse and No. 5 routes for travel between the Monroe Park and MCV campuses. The Pulse is a modern, high-capacity rapid-transit system serving a 7.6-mile route along Broad and Main streets between Rocketts Landing and Willow Lawn. Route 5 is high-frequency and runs near the university’s existing Campus Connector route and easily connects to the Pulse.

The Campus Connector will be renamed the Connector Express and will operate on the same daily schedule as the existing Campus Connector for the spring and summer semesters; however, service will be modified slightly through Jan. 11.

• Jan. 2-4: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 
• Jan. 5-6: No service
• Jan. 7-11: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m

Normal service resumes on Jan. 12, with buses operating Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to midnight, and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to midnight. During the summer semester, buses operate Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Students and employees will continue to present their VCU, VCU Health System or Virginia Premier ID card to the GRTC bus driver upon boarding to take advantage of the pilot program until the new GRTC passes are distributed in early 2019.

RamRide shuttles to the remote parking facilities (A, I, M, R Lots) on the MCV Campus will continue to serve these locations as normal.

For a detailed map of the new Connector Express route, including operating times, visit go.vcu.edu/ramride.

For additional information about GRTC, visit ridegrtc.com.

Students and employees with questions regarding the GRTC pilot program can visit parking.vcu.edu/transportation/GRTC, or contact VCU Parking and Transportation at (804) 828-7275 (PARK).

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