The days of mostly empty GRTC Transit System buses barreling around Richmond could be numbered. Under a proposal scheduled for public hearings beginning tomorrow, the Richmond City Council will consider eliminating or severely reducing six routes and scaling back three others to help GRTC save about $1.2 million annually. Of the routes in question, the No. 68 Lunch Time Express has attracted the fewest riders—an average of 12 per day in fiscal 2008-09, compared with 641 for Westhampton. Overall, GRTC has about 40,000 riders per day on its 40 routes.

Critics of a proposed bus-transfer center at Main Street Station are pushing for a more-centralized site in downtown Richmond as the project is entering a key public-review phase. The critics have organized as the Better Station Coalition and launched a Web site urging supporters to send e-mails to city officials who will be asked to approve GRTC’s plans for the second level of the historic, city-owned train shed in Shockoe Bottom.

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones wants the city to buy the coveted site of GRTC Transit System next to the Fan District and to guide private development of the property. Tammy D. Hawley, press secretary to Jones, confirmed the city’s interest in the property, currently assessed at $3 million, and said the issue is being discussed by the boards of GRTC and the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority. She said it is unclear what type of development might be planned and whether a sale to the city will occur.

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones has declared himself intrigued by the idea of a Shockoe Bottom with high-speed rail, a bus-transfer center, black heritage sites and a ballpark surrounded by restaurants, residences and other development. But first, he wants to see if it all can fit on several blocks east of Interstate 95. At Jones’ urging, representatives of the proposed Shockoe Center ballpark development and the proposed bus-transfer center at Main Street Station said they’re working to resolve conflicts between their plans.

John M. Lewis Jr. wants to transform the bus line into a regional public transportation force that rapidly moves passengers.

Education: Allegheny College, bachelor’s degree in political science with concentration in economics, 1988
  Career path: CEO of GRTC Transit System, 2005-present; Maryland Transit Administration director of metro rail operations, 2004-05; MTA director of bus operations, 2003-04; other MTA positions, 2001-03; Maryland Department of Transportation director of special projects, office of planning and capital programs, 1999-2001; MDOT state legislative director, office of policy and governmental affairs, 1996-99; MDOT assistant to the deputy secretary, 1995-96; legislative correspondent, U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Md., 1989-94

Richmond Mayor-elect Dwight Clinton Jones met this week with committees helping his transition into City Hall but said he’ll wait until next month before rolling out any plans. “I’m very pleased with the process,“ Jones said Tuesday afternoon after wrapping up his sixth briefing of the day and seventh overall. “The citizens have taken it very seriously, very conscientiously.“

Richmond Mayor-elect Dwight Clinton Jones takes office on Thursday as the city’s second elected mayor under a new form of government. Richmond Mayor-elect Dwight Clinton Jones met this week with committees helping his transition into City Hall but said he’ll wait until next month before rolling out any plans. “I’m very pleased with the process,“ Jones said Tuesday afternoon after wrapping up his sixth briefing of the day and seventh overall. “The citizens have taken it very seriously, very conscientiously.“