Richmond Moves, the city’s affordable, on-demand shuttle service, is set to expand its services citywide thanks to additional grant funding.
Last year, the city was able to expand this shuttle service, which costs $2 per ride and is free for students and seniors, to most of the city thanks to grant funding from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP), matched with grant funding from the Chevron Environmental and Community Investment Agreement (ECIA).
But the expansion did not include service to the majority of District 4, such as East Richmond Heights, May Valley, El Sobrante Hills and Carriage Hills.
A $300,000 state Clean Mobility Options grant is enabling the expansion of service for one year as part of a pilot project, according to the city.
Since its launch in 2022, the city received $8,035,000 in outside grant funding to operate Richmond Moves as a pilot project through 2027, including about $3.1 million from the TIRCP grant and $3.1 million from the matching Chevron ECIA grant. The program also received grants via the California Air Resources Board and previously received a $500,000 grant from the Clean Mobility Options program.
The City Council is scheduled to be asked at its next meeting Tuesday to approve the additional $300,000 in grant funding to expand Richmond Moves’ service area through April 2026. Residents within the district expressed desire to use the shuttle service as they have limited bus access, according to the city.
“This expansion will also support school-aged youth, especially at DeAnza High School,” city staff said.
New vehicles will be procured as part of the service expansion. The new District 4 service will be reassessed next year to determine if it is worth continuing the pilot program.
Richmond Moves provides affordable rides connecting residents to key transit hubs like BART and the ferry terminal. It currently operates 10 fully electrified vehicles and uses an app to match riders headed in the same direction. The service aims to fill transportation gaps in Richmond, such as connections with transit hubs.
Richmond Moves operates Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.