Latest news with #TheVirginiaMercury
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Richmond's zero-fare bus funding could run out soon
A GRTC bus in downtown Richmond in March 2025. (Photo by Ian Stewart for The Virginia Mercury) During fiscal year 2024, almost 11 million riders rode the bus in Richmond, or used paratransit, or LINK Microtransit services, according to the Greater Richmond Transit Company, an increase of 14% percent over last year. That boost is almost certainly due to GRTC's zero-fare program that has allowed people to catch rides for free. But the program, which started during the pandemic, may be eliminated this summer, if a funding gap isn't closed. To spur corporations and the public into action, the non-profit advocacy group RVA Rapid Transit released a report last week at the University of Richmond's Queally Center. Called, 'Free to Move: The Role of Zero-Fare Transit in Advancing Health and Justice in Richmond,' the report breaks down the history of zero-fare, the demographics of riders and how the funding gap could damage ridership. Faith Walker, executive director of RVA Rapid Transit, said her group spoke to 100 bus riders about how zero fare transit plays a critical role in their lives. Their report shows a funding need of $6.8 million for next year. 'The report clearly outlines the impact of fare free public transit, connecting individuals to jobs, health care, education, and essential services,' she said, 'while contributing to reduced carbon emissions and more sustainable urban development. The need for accessible transit is urgent and we must act now to sustain and expand this vital service.' The need Walker spoke of is a daily reality for Aqiyla McMillan, who has been riding the bus for more than a year, after her car broke down and an injury also sidelined her from driving. 'I had a surgery, so I had to start getting around, getting to doctor's appointments, getting to physical therapy, getting the kids to school,' said McMillan. 'So I got on the bus one day thinking I had to pay and they were like, 'Oh, no, the bus is free.'' McMillan said not having to pay for the bus on a regular basis has been a lifesaver. 'I would have never been able to do that if there was fare on the bus,' she said. The transit service gets funding from a variety of sources, including state and federal grants. Separate funding injections come from nearby localities and from the Central Virginia Transit Authority. But these funding sources help cover GRTC's entire budget, not just the zero-fare program, according to spokesperson Ashley Potter. A state grant of $8 million from the Virginia Department of Rail & Public Transportation (DRPT) called the Transit Ridership Incentive Program (TRIP) launched GRTC's zero-fare ridership at the end of 2021. The purpose was to study and implement zero-fare service for a limited time, according to GRTC. Over a three year period, the funding would dwindle to zero. The net cost for the zero- fare program for that time period was $20.4 million, according to Mass Transit, a trade publication. That's after removing $1.2 million for fare collection costs. With the $8 million TRIP grant in place, other funding sources had to come forward to make the $20 million mark. So Virginia Commonwealth University stepped up to contribute $3.8 million, and GRTC ponied up $8.56 million in funds. The city of Richmond also contributed some funds. Knowing the DRPT grant was set to expire, GRTC launched a Transit Access Partnership program in 2023 to seek out other corporate sponsors and individuals to help sustain zero-fare ridership. 'Our focus for zero-fare and our TAP program has been at the forefront of what we've been doing over the last couple of months,' said Sheryl Adams, GRTC's chief executive officer. 'So, with the TAP program anyone can contribute. If you're an organization, you can do a tax write-off through our 501C, which is Ride Finders.' Torres said to help keep the program afloat, GRTC has also been seeking a variety of new sources. 'We have kind of gone after several paths to keep it sustained for the next year,' said Torres. 'We've applied for a congestion mitigation air quality grant and that's $2 million.' New revenue from an expanded advertising program will also help with zero-fare funding, said Torres, who hopes to get up to two million dollars from it. 'We worked with the city and they did a franchise agreement, which now allows us to do advertising basically in any right of way, so not just at the pole stations, but at bus stops, shelters, poles, benches. We've also expanded the ability to advertise on our vehicles,' she said. Adrienne Torres, the bus company's chief of staff, said they've also been looking through their budget to see where else they can help with funds for the program.'We feel like we're pretty close. Like I said, we have zero-fare in there for this year, but we still need to continue to have support for it,' she said. 'Our grant applications are still pending. So hopefully we'll know for sure in the next month or two where we are. Our budget's going to go to the board in May. We have a strategy and a plan that hopefully will come to fruition for FY2026.' Walker hopes her group's new report on zero fare encourages everyone, from the members of the public to those with legislative power, to do all they can to help keep the service running. 'I am calling on elected officials, employers, transit riders, environmentalists and everyday Richmonders to support the future of zero-fare transit through the GRTC Transit Access Partnership Program and their advertisement program,' said Walker. 'It's time to champion tap funding and ensure continued support for zero fare transit services.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Virginia Lottery set to lower disclosure amount for winners
Virginia Lottery offices in Richmond. (Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce for The Virginia Mercury) By Marlin Adams/VCU Capital News Service RICHMOND, Va. – Lawmakers this session voted to lower the Virginia Lottery disclosure amount to provide more privacy to big ticket winners. Del. Scott Wyatt, R-Mechanicsville, introduced House Bill 1799, which protects the personal information of $1 million or more lottery winners. Virginia Lottery winners are currently required to release personal information, including their name and photo, for any amount under $10 million. Forty-five states have lotteries, and 21 allow winners to stay anonymous, according to World Population Review, which tracks global population data and trends. Virginia requires the highest amount needed to stay anonymous. Those opposed to the bill believe the required disclosure adds needed transparency, while those in support cited examples of personal privacy breaches because of the current law. Megan Rhyne, executive director for the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, spoke against lowering the disclosure amount during the ABC-Gaming subcommittee meeting on Jan 14. The current law was established to promote the lottery and its winners; essentially for residents to see real Virginians winning real prizes, according to Rhyne. The current disclosure amount also supports state law that prevents Virginia Lottery board members, officers and employees from participating in the lottery, Rhyne said. This includes the purchase of tickets by any person residing in the same household of such a member. Disclosure can help prevent 'nefarious activities,' such as when a computer programmer working with the Multi-State Lottery Association rigged several lotteries and collected over $2 million in winnings, Rhyne said. Eddie Tipton pleaded guilty to rigging the lottery winnings in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, according to the Associated Press. He had help from his brother Tommy Tipton, a former Texas judge. The bill's sponsor told the House panel that a previous $1 million Virginia winner was the target of several scams, including on social media, after her identity was posted on the lottery's website. Virginia Lottery Executive Director Khalid Jones, spoke in support of Wyatt's bill. Any prize under $600 can be paid out at any participating lottery retailer. Anything over that limit, and winners are required to report it to the Virginia Lottery to claim the prize, according to Jones. The Virginia Lottery is responsible for verifying the identity and address of any winner over $600. 'We run those names through our internal system to ensure that they're not the members of the lottery playing themselves,' Jones said. This creates internal accountability, but FOIA gives the public a measure of external accountability, Rhyne said. Any winner whose prize value is $1 million or greater will not be disclosed through the Freedom of Information Act, which allows citizens to request the name, hometown and amount won of a lottery winner, according to the bill. That part of state law was previously set at $10 million or greater. Other U.S. states have varying disclosure amounts and rules. A handful of states do not allow any anonymity. In Michigan, players winning over $10,000 from in-state games are allowed to stay anonymous if they choose. In Florida, collecting any amount over $250,000 gives winners the option to have their personal information temporarily disclosed for 90 days after the winnings are collected. After 90 days their information is no longer private. Wyatt's bill sailed through the House with unanimous votes. Three Democrats and one Republican voted against it in the Senate. The bill currently sits with the governor, awaiting further action. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Virginia Lottery set to lower disclosure amount for winners
Virginia Lottery offices in Richmond. (Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce for The Virginia Mercury) By Marlin Adams/VCU Capital News Service RICHMOND, Va. – Lawmakers this session voted to lower the Virginia Lottery disclosure amount to provide more privacy to big ticket winners. Del. Scott Wyatt, R-Mechanicsville, introduced House Bill 1799, which protects the personal information of $1 million or more lottery winners. Virginia Lottery winners are currently required to release personal information, including their name and photo, for any amount under $10 million. Forty-five states have lotteries, and 21 allow winners to stay anonymous, according to World Population Review, which tracks global population data and trends. Virginia requires the highest amount needed to stay anonymous. Those opposed to the bill believe the required disclosure adds needed transparency, while those in support cited examples of personal privacy breaches because of the current law. Megan Rhyne, executive director for the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, spoke against lowering the disclosure amount during the ABC-Gaming subcommittee meeting on Jan 14. The current law was established to promote the lottery and its winners; essentially for residents to see real Virginians winning real prizes, according to Rhyne. The current disclosure amount also supports state law that prevents Virginia Lottery board members, officers and employees from participating in the lottery, Rhyne said. This includes the purchase of tickets by any person residing in the same household of such a member. Disclosure can help prevent 'nefarious activities,' such as when a computer programmer working with the Multi-State Lottery Association rigged several lotteries and collected over $2 million in winnings, Rhyne said. Eddie Tipton pleaded guilty to rigging the lottery winnings in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, according to the Associated Press. He had help from his brother Tommy Tipton, a former Texas judge. The bill's sponsor told the House panel that a previous $1 million Virginia winner was the target of several scams, including on social media, after her identity was posted on the lottery's website. Virginia Lottery Executive Director Khalid Jones, spoke in support of Wyatt's bill. Any prize under $600 can be paid out at any participating lottery retailer. Anything over that limit, and winners are required to report it to the Virginia Lottery to claim the prize, according to Jones. The Virginia Lottery is responsible for verifying the identity and address of any winner over $600. 'We run those names through our internal system to ensure that they're not the members of the lottery playing themselves,' Jones said. This creates internal accountability, but FOIA gives the public a measure of external accountability, Rhyne said. Any winner whose prize value is $1 million or greater will not be disclosed through the Freedom of Information Act, which allows citizens to request the name, hometown and amount won of a lottery winner, according to the bill. That part of state law was previously set at $10 million or greater. Other U.S. states have varying disclosure amounts and rules. A handful of states do not allow any anonymity. In Michigan, players winning over $10,000 from in-state games are allowed to stay anonymous if they choose. In Florida, collecting any amount over $250,000 gives winners the option to have their personal information temporarily disclosed for 90 days after the winnings are collected. After 90 days their information is no longer private. Wyatt's bill sailed through the House with unanimous votes. Three Democrats and one Republican voted against it in the Senate. The bill currently sits with the governor, awaiting further action. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
VDOT bets on AI to cut costs and keep Virginia roads smooth
Virginia Department of Transportation in Richmond. (Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce for The Virginia Mercury) With highway construction costs surging 68% nationwide since 2020, Virginia's transportation officials are turning to artificial intelligence to improve how the state estimates costs and manages pavement upkeep. The move comes as the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) faces increasing financial strain from rising material and labor prices, supply chain disruptions, fuel costs, and unpredictable weather events — all of which have made forecasting and budgeting more difficult. 'It is a great time for VDOT to investigate the potential for Artificial Intelligence to enhance the way we make decisions given our ongoing commitment to improving our data collection and management,' said Cathy McGhee, chief deputy commissioner for VDOT, in a statement to the Mercury. McGhee emphasized that with the cost of construction climbing, AI-driven insights could help maximize VDOT's investments in maintenance and repairs. 'Increasing construction costs make it even more important than ever to have data-driven decisions with respect to our investments,' she said. 'Although we believe that there are many areas where AI could be beneficial, these initial pilots will focus on cost estimation and pavement management, two areas where cost impacts could be significant.' Virginia maintains one of the largest state-controlled roadway networks in the country, covering nearly 60,000 miles of roads, in addition to at least 10,000 miles in cities and towns.. Over the past decade, 3,200 additional lane-miles have been added to VDOT's maintenance list. Pavement resurfacing alone has risen as much as 45% since 2019, and VDOT is responsible for a growing list of maintenance projects, including patching potholes, resurfacing roads, and mowing roadside vegetation. During a recent presentation to the Commonwealth Transportation Board's Subcommittee on Innovation, McGhee and VDOT staff outlined their goals for the AI pilots, emphasizing that the technology could provide deeper insights into the lifecycle of pavement beyond existing agency data. Gov. Glenn Youngkin's administration and state lawmakers have been actively preparing Virginia for AI integration across multiple sectors, including communications, health care, and security. However, AI's potential for misuse in politics has also led to increased scrutiny and regulatory efforts. Last year, Youngkin signed an executive order establishing standards and guidelines for AI use in government, forming a task force to help lawmakers create guardrails for responsible AI implementation. The governor is now considering some AI-related legislation passed by the General Assembly, including House Bill 2094, introduced by Del. Michelle Maldonado, D-Manassas, which would create requirements for developing, deploying and using high-risk AI systems, along with civil penalties for noncompliance. Other proposed measures would limit social media use for minors under 16, create enhanced penalties for AI-generated deepfakes used in fraud, slander, libel or defamation, and require political ads to disclose when artificial intelligence has been used. As Virginia awaits Youngkin's final decisions on AI legislation, Maldonado said she is particularly interested in the results from VDOT's AI-driven pilots. 'I think it's a very good start,' Maldonado said. 'I think it's a smart way to use AI, which helps to augment versus replace the human element, and provides better data analysis and hopefully traffic flow.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
