Richmond Transportation Tips by b1bob Top 5 Page for this destination

Richmond International Airport Richmond International Airport (RIC) Review

Richmond International Airport is 10 minutes from downtown. More than 180 domestic flights are made to and from other major cities. There are 6 major carriers and 7 regional passenger airlines. Richmond International Airport was formerly known as Byrd Field. Locals, notorious for being slow to change with the times (and that's not wholly a bad thing- I archived the photo as "byrdairport.jpg"), still refer to it as Byrd Field. Given that Richmond is less than 10 miles (16 km.) from my house, you'd think I would use this as my launching point more often. However, Richmond is not always the cheapest airport out of which to fly. The good thing about RIC is that it is compact and very easy to make your gate in time. As always, allow more time for augmented security scrutiny. Second photo courtesy of "frankcanfly".

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Type: Airplane

Bridges of Richmond Martin Luther King bridge Review

The Martin Luther King Memorial Bridge is a 6-lane bridge connecting downtown to East Richmond. Its structural design is like that of a future envisaged in the mid 1970s when it was built. The King Bridge rises 100 feet (30 m.) over Interstate 95 and the Shockoe Valley. Unlike most bridges of this length (more than 2000 ft., 610 m.) also has sidewalks on each side for pedestrians.

The Lee Bridge, the newest bridge downtown, replaced the old Lee Bridge. The new bridge has a pedestrian bridge suspended under it to Belle Island and it offers panoramic views of the Richmond skyline and cityscape.

Mayo Bridge (or the 14th St. Bridge) is a four-lane structure, it transports Route 360 across the James River. The bridge comes in two sections, separated in the middle by Mayo Island. The total length is 1374 feet (419 m.). The bridge as it looks now was built in 1913 for streetcar traffic. It is Richmond's oldest highway bridge across the James River. It was built on the site of the city's first bridge completed in 1788 by John Mayo Jr., the grandson of the man who first laid out Richmond's grid pattern. Rising just 30 feet (9 m.) above the water line, the Mayo Bridge is currently Richmond's only bridge vulnerable to flooding. Of all the bridges in Richmond, I use this one the most often taking Route 360 to get to Southside Virginia.

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Type: Other

Downtown Expressway Downtown Expressway Review

Richmond's Downtown Expressway opened in 1976 and it made getting to Southside much quicker and more convenient. Before it opened, motorists had to suffer through seemingly infinite traffic lights driving through downtown. The Downtown Expressway passes south of Richmond's central business district and north of the James River. From Downtown Express, you can get a good view of Richmond's skyline.

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Type: Other

Greyhound Bus Greyhound Bus Review

Greyhound buses go through Richmond. The station is located minutes north of downtown on 2910 N. Boulevard directly across from the Diamond baseball stadium. Since Richmond is a key transfer point, that station is much better appointed than those in smaller towns. For example, the one in Durham, NC is an old garage. The one in Henderson is in a laundromat. The Richmond bus station has a small canteen and lots of places to sit and wait for your bus.

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Type: Bus

Staples Mill Station Amtrak Review

Amtrak may be a little slower than flying, but in "the new normal", you might actually get to and from the northeast FASTER door to door. Staples Mill Station has a fairly large waiting room with lots of uncomfortable seats, loos, and a canteen- certainly no Union or 30th Street Station. The train station is now just north of town, but they refurbished the old station downtown. Amtrak has gone retro- to a point- reopening the old, more ornate Main Street Station station to some passenger rail traffic as part of downtown Richmond's comeback effort.

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Type: Train

Canal Boats Canal Boats Review

Historically narrated tours of the James River and Kanawha Canal are offered from the Turning Basin along the Canal Walk between 14th and Virginia Streets. Cruises run from noon through to 7pm Fridays and Saturdays from spring to autumn; noon to 7pm Wednesdays to Saturdays in summer; and noon through to 5pm on Sundays. Group and dining charters are also available.

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Phone: (804) 649-2800

Type: Ship/Boat

Website: http://www.richmondriverfront.com

Greater Richmond Transit Greater Richmond Transit Review

GRTC (Greater Richmond Transit) bus fares cost $1.50 each, or a Super Saver ticket book offers rides at $1.25 or less ($12.50 per book, $7.50 per book for senior citzens). Transfers cost 15¢ for cash fares and 10¢ for Super Saver ticket holders, while senior citizens transfer free on local routes. For bus schedules, call the number below or visit the included website. GRTC has the Lunchtime Express, a network of free bus rides that operates during the week from 11:30am to 2:30pm. along a route through downtown and the Shockoe area.

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Phone: (804) 358-4782

Type: Bus

Website: http://www.ridegrtc.com

Getting around by car BY CAR Review

Even those new to the area will find getting around Richmond easier than most places. True, or mass transport is almost nonexistent, however except for some weekday rush hour delays, traffic is fairly light and parking is better than most places. It might be easier to travel around the West End with the new Route 288 which connects Southside to West End and Goochland. Here are a few miscellaneous tips I hope you will find helpful:

- Right turns are allowed on red unless posted otherwise.

- Left turns on red are only allowed from a one-way street onto another, unless otherwise noted.

- With the exception of Broad Street, downtown streets are generally one-way.

- Tolls from 20¢ to $2 are found on Downtown Expressway, Powhite Parkway, and Pocohantas Parkway.

- Many parking lots are dispersed throughout the city for prices from less than $1 to $6 per hour.

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Type: Car/Motor Home

Car Hires & Charters Car Hire Review

Charters, limos, specialised transport, and most car hires run throughout the Richmond area. For rides to and from the airport, rely on taxi companies or Groome Transportation.

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Type: Car/Motor Home

Taxis Taxis Review

Taxi service is available in Richmond including the Richmond International Airport, the bus station, Amtrak, and hotels. Prices start at a regionally regulated $2.50 plus $1.50 per mile.

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Type: Car/Motor Home