If I ran Richmond I would have put in a light rail to the University from downtown and streetcar along the riverfront years ago using the old CSX Branch Line. I would have also run a commuter shuttle train from the Suburban Henrico Amtrak Station to the Downtown Station. Oh yes and I would have decent weekend suburban bus service as well. Fpr a state capital of its size It has a sorry public transit system almost as bad as Indy Indiana
Richmond didn't have other counties funding the system until last year.
They also did a transit study, and found light rail/ commuter not cost effective, in most cases.
Which is the river branch? The Richmond district?