Title
Update on Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) Transit Strategic Plan
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
This briefing is to update Council on the implementation of the HRT Transit Strategic Plan.
Discussion:
Over the last year, HRT staff has been working with the staffs of its member communities and receiving public input on their Transit Strategic Plan (TSP). The HRT Board approved the plan at their June 25, 2020 meeting. This Plan is intended to transform the regional transit system and attract new riders by increasing the effectiveness of the service it provides. At their September 2020 meeting, the HRT Board was briefed on the steps HRT staff is taking to implement the Transit Strategic Plan. The plan includes changes to the design, frequency and run time of routes throughout the Hampton Roads region. No changes proposed in the plan will be implemented in FY2021. Changes will only be implemented with the approval of the annual Transportation Service Plans by each locality. The plan will be updated annually with a major update planned for every 5 years.
Overall in Hampton, the service area remains largely the same with the primary changes being increase frequency, streamlining of routes, reducing route overlap and merging some routes to improve their efficiency and effectiveness. Probably the biggest proposed changes relate to increases in the frequency of Routes 101, which serves Kecoughtan Road and 114 that runs along Mercury Boulevard to 15-minute peak service and the potential elimination of Route 118. Route 118 has marginal ridership and the parts that have the most riders are covered by other routes. While it eliminates fixed route bus service around Langley and service near Y.H. Thomas Neighborhood Center, staff has been working with HRT to identify alternative service options for these parts of the City, such as microtransit, shuttle service and other options. Staff has communicated to HRT that we would need to delay the implementation of the el...
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