Five years after installing the East-West Pulse bus rapid-transit line, GRTC has embraced a vision of a adding a North-South line – though it is at least seven years and $100 million or so away from development.

The transit company’s board voted Oct. 13 to start the planning process for the new line, which is expected to take five years with plenty of community meetings, as was the case with the popular Pulse line that went into service in June 2018.

If all goes well, including the financing, construction could begin by 2029, according to information presented to the board.

The vote endorses a proposal that calls for an end of the line at Azalea Avenue in the North Side and a southern terminus on Midlothian Turnpike, though the ending point remains to be decided through further study.

The route the board supported would run south along U.S. 1 (Chamberlayne Avenue), then shift east on Brook Road at some point to enter Downtown. The projected route would then move along Leigh Street to 8th Street to connect with the transfer station and then travel south to cross the James River on the Manchester Bridge.

The released map shows the route then connects with Hull Street, heads west to Southside Plaza, turns north, possibly on Belt Boulevard and then makes a connection with Midlothian Turnpike to head west.

The coming studies and meetings would help determine the final route and the stations on the line. The financing has not been determined, but would likely require state and federal support as was the case with the East-West Pulse.

The Pulse is a 7.6-mile line that runs primarily on Broad and Main streets between Rocketts Landing and Willow Lawn.

About $65 million was spent developing that line, with $25 million coming from the federal government and the remainder split between a state grant and contributions from Richmond and Henrico County.