*VPM News intern Adiah Gholston reported this story.
On Wednesday, Richmond city officials announced the public engagement phase of a multimodal transportation plan.
In September 2020, Mayor Levar Stoney created the Office of Equitable Transit Mobility, with the goal to enhance transportation options for all residents. The office is led by Dironna Clarke.
At Wednesday's press event, Clarke said, “The voice of Richmonders is stronger than ever. We hear you and we want to hear more about how transportation has been the root cause of some of the inequities you may face in the city.”
Community input will help inform a policy document for the multimodal transportation plan, called “Path to Equity.”
The document aims to create a framework of how to achieve an equitable transportation system by addressing long standing inequalities.
“The policy guide will build on existing efforts, they will reiterate the transportation vision goals and objectives developed in our Richmond 300 Master Plan, and accordingly, much of the content will be shaped by the responses from you, the public and our steering and Advisory Committee,” Clarke said.
Clarke’s office is hosting several community events to encourage public participation. The series of events is called “Tacos for Transportation.” In exchange for taking a survey, attendees will receive a ticket for a free taco.
The first “Tacos for Transportation” event will be held on Saturday, June 26 at Calhoun Community Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. On July 17, the second event will be held at Byrd Park by Fountain Lake from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The third and final event will be held on July 31 at Blackwell Pool from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
