Adrian, a GRTC representative, told the board that GRTC’s regional network now serves seven counties and combines bus rapid transit, fixed‑route, express and microtransit services. “We have been 0 fare since 2020,” he said, and reported a fiscal‑year 2025 total of about 12,000,000 unlinked passenger trips compared with roughly 8,500,000 before the COVID‑19 pandemic.

GRTC’s operating budget is about $94,000,000 with a $43,000,000 capital budget, Adrian said. He described the fleet as roughly 161 fixed‑route vehicles (including four new 60‑foot buses), 88 paratransit vehicles and 12 microtransit‑linked vehicles. “Our mission, connect people to opportunities,” he said, characterizing the system’s role across jurisdictions.

On Chesterfield service specifically, Adrian highlighted Route 1A (launched January 2024) as carrying roughly 180,000 riders per quarter; he said about 20% of those trips report Chesterfield stops as the destination. He also reviewed Routes 2A/2B and 3B/3C, and cited express routes 64 and 82 that serve Chesterfield park‑and‑ride locations. Adrian said Route 1A ranks among GRTC’s top three routes systemwide and that ridership increases coincide with service extensions and the fare‑free policy.

GRTC described two microtransit pilot zones that include Chesterfield: a Cloverdale zone and another pilot that 'touches' Chesterfield. Adrian said Cloverdale’s performance is improving month‑to‑month and that the agency is considering expanding the Cloverdale zone northward after receiving feedback that activity‑center‑only zones miss residential neighborhoods. He also described changes to Powhatan’s rural pilot that expanded the zone beyond activity centers to increase usefulness; pilot ridership in one rural pocket rose from about six users to 12–14 during the period discussed.

Adrian reviewed paratransit and on‑demand options available to Chesterfield residents, including CARE/CARE+ services and a CARE on‑demand product that uses YouServe (a rider pays $6 for the first seven miles, with additional per‑mile charges thereafter). He said paratransit coverage follows the federal standard of roughly three‑quarters of a mile from fixed routes.

Looking ahead to capital needs, Adrian presented a concept for a phased North–South BRT line that would run roughly 12.6 miles and carry a planning estimate of about $360,000,000. He said the project would be implemented in phases, with operating costs higher on southern portions if frequency increases from 30 minutes to 10 minutes. On stops and customer amenities, GRTC reported installing 10 benches and five shelters in the calendar year (three new shelters completed), and said the agency’s near‑term target is to get 50% of bus stops to have a bench or shelter by 2027 (a longer‑term objective is roughly 75%). GRTC also said it is piloting lighting improvements — including solar options — and has used automated photographic surveys to prioritize locations.

Board members and attendees praised the Cloverdale pilot and asked about the role of regional funding. A board member said the Central Virginia Transportation Authority (CVTA) helped fund the microtransit study; Adrian agreed CVTA was a catalyst for conversations and funding that helped expand services into adjoining localities. The presentation closed with an invitation for further board questions and county coordination.

The board did not take votes on GRTC items during the presentation; GRTC staff said they will continue to refine pilots, seek funding for shelters and monitor Route 1A performance.