When GRTC Transit, the public transportation agency serving the City of Richmond and Chesterfield County, in Virginia, created a GIS of its bus routes and stops, it was not part of the plan to use it to protect its ridership from snipers. The idea was to improve its planning process designed to serve its rapidly expanding customer base.

GRTC’s first step was to map its 2,500 bus stops. The agency wanted to know the details about each one, such as curb length, type and condition of the signs, benches, shelters, ramps, and trashcans at each stop. Within months of collecting this information, GRTC was using the GIS to analyze its bus routes and to consider requests from customers for changes and additions to the routes and also for amenities at the stops. With the ease of viewing lots of information in context that the GIS provides, the agency has implemented many improvements to its service.

In November 2001, the northern and central parts of Virginia were beset by sniper attacks, and no one knew where they were coming from, why they were occurring, or how to stop them. GRTC Transit was able to use its GIS to quickly provide the police with information on bus stops where passengers’ lives could have been at risk from sniper attacks because of on/off highway ramps close by.