Parking & Transportation

VCU Parking and Transportation Services is responsible for the management and maintenance of all university-owned and leased parking facilities as well as for the enforcement of parking policies and procedures. All VCU controlled facilities are designated by signage indicating subscriber type, located at their entrances. Vehicles not displaying the appropriate decals or temporary permits shall be subject to ticketing and/or towing.

Monroe Park Campus Parking

Parking is available to students in a number of facilities on the Monroe Park Campus and is sold on a first-come, first served basis. Commuter students may purchase parking decals per semester for:

• West Main Street Deck, 801 W. Main St.
• West Cary Street Deck, 1201 W. Cary St.
• Bowe Street Deck, 609 Bowe St.
• West Broad Street Deck, 1111 W. Broad St.
• West Franklin Street Deck, 1100 W. Franklin St.
• SJ Lot, corner of Cary and Jefferson Streets
• ZZ Lot, 620 W. Cary Street (must be a registered School of Engineering student)
• SG Lot. 301 W. Cary St.
• SL Lot, 103 South Cherry St.
• SC Lot, 412 W. Grace St.
• HB Lot, 1201 West Broad St.

Housing students residing in university-operated housing (proof of residency required) may purchase 24-hour subscriptions on a per-semester basis to the:

• West Main Street Deck
• Bowe Street Deck
• CM Lot
• GS Lot
• Broad and Belvidere Deck

MCV Campus Parking

Parking is available to students in the following locations on the MCV Campus and are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Commuter students may purchase parking decals per semester for:

• I Lot, located on Seventh Street across from the ramps to Interstates 95 and 64.
• A Lot, located behind Main Street Station
• Eighth Street Parking Deck, corner of 8th and Duvall Streets
  Housing students residing in university-operated housing (proof of residency required) may purchase 24-hour subscriptions on a per-semester basis to the:
• Broad and Belvidere Deck

VCU Transit Services provides service to these parking facilities.

Students using the Larrick Dining Center and the MCV Campus Recreation and Aquatic Center may park in the Q Lot after 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and all day on Saturday and Sunday.

Evening commuter students may purchase a discounted decal that permits parking in unrestricted university-owned facilities weekdays from 3:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. The 24-hour restricted parking facilities (those not open to EV decals on the MCV Campus) include the Visitors Deck, the G, J, K, and X Lots. EV decals are honored in the F Lot and the K Lot after 4 p.m.

Evening Permits are available to commuter students attending evening classes at a discounted rate. The Evening (EV) and Evening Plus (EP) decal permits students to park in any unrestricted VCU parking location Monday-Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.

VCU Transit Routes

The Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) operates three transit routes on the VCU campus. Collectively known as VCU Transit Services, the routes provide transportation service to students, faculty and staff. The Campus Connector and the Outer Loop provides intercampus service between VCU’s Monroe Park Campus and the MCV Campus. The VCU Medical Center route provides transit service between the VCU Medical Center and other points on the MCV Campus. For schedule and route information, visit www.bsv.vcu.edu.

All students, faculty and staff must display a valid VCUCard to ride the VCU Transit routes free of charge. Riders without a VCUCard must pay the standard transit fee of $1.50 per ride.

GRTC Transit Pass

In cooperation with the GRTC Transit System, all full-time VCU students may obtain a GRTC Student Transit Pass, for a nominal $50 per semester charge, which allows unlimited rides on all transit routes operated by the GRTC Transit System.

Automobile Licensing

Out-of-state residents enrolled full-time at an accredited Virginia school may drive in Virginia with their home-state driver’s licenses and vehicle registration plates. However, out-of-state students who are gainfully employed here, full-time or part-time, are required to be licensed to drive in Virginia, and their vehicles must be registered in Virginia. New residents must obtain Virginia driver’s licenses within 30 days of residency.

Vehicle inspection is required immediately after registration. This must be done at an official inspection station. Equipment checked includes, but is not limited to, brakes, lights, steering, signal devices, suspension, mirrors, horn, windshield glass and wipers, tires, exhaust system, license plate mounting, safety belts, emission control devices and hood latch. Numerous garages provide this service, and some are listed under “Automobile Inspection Stations” in the Verizon Yellow Pages.

Virginia localities also register residents’ vehicles. The City of Richmond requires purchase and display of a city decal on vehicles registered in Virginia, except those displaying a decal from another locality. Students with no locality decal must purchase a Richmond decal from the City Collector’s Office.

Cycle licensing/registration

Motorcycles: Operation and equipment are licensed and registered by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. For an operator’s license, testing and application procedures are the same as for other motor vehicle operator licenses, with additional fees. Specific vehicle requirements are published in the Virginia Motorcycle Operator Manual, available from the DMV.

Bicycles: On-campus residents are advised to register their bicycles with the VCU Police Department, 938 W. Grace St. A decal will be supplied, and the serial number or other identification will be recorded. If there is no serial number on the bike, police staff will engrave the owner's social security number on it. A bill of sale or other proof of purchase is helpful, but if this is unavailable, the owner may fill out an Evidence-of-Ownership form. All bicycle owners are advised to register their bicycles with the City of Richmond for a $5 fee.

Public Transportation in Richmond

Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC)

Mass transportation in the city of Richmond and Chesterfield and Henrico Counties is provided by the Greater Richmond Transit Company, with express routes operating during peak traffic periods between downtown Richmond and outlying areas. Specific routes serve Virginia Commonwealth University on both campuses as the VCU Transit Services program. The VCU Transit Services program consists of the following routes:

• The Campus Connector
• The Gateway Express
• The Medical Center Route
  
• The Outer Loop

Full time students with a valid VCUCard may purchase a GRTC Student Transit Pass, enabling them to ride all of GRTC transit routes, for only $50 per semester through VCU Parking and Transportation Services. To purchase a GRTC Student Transit Pass online, visit www.bsv.vcu.edu/vcupark.

The regular cash fare for GRTC is $1.25; super-saver tickets are available in booklets of 10 for $10. Senior citizens and the disabled may ride for reduced fares. For route information, visit www.ridegrtc.com or call 358-GRTC (4782). GRTC schedules are also available at the Information Center located in the University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave.

CARE (Community Assisted Ride Enterprise), which provides transportation for the elderly and people with disabilities, is available for commuting weekdays in Henrico and parts of Chesterfield County. CARE service is available seven days a week in the City of Richmond. To apply for a Rider Identification card, call GRTC, (804) 358-3871.