Title
Hampton Roads Transit Update
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
To update City Council on the Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) Transit Strategic Plan (TSP) and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Study.
Discussion:
The HRT Board approved the original 10-year Transit Strategic Plan (TSP) 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 transit services in the region. In the plan approved on June 25, 2020, the service area in Hampton remains largely the same with the primary changes being; increase frequency, streamlining of routes, reducing route overlap, additional bus stop amenities 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. The increased frequency on these routes will be covered by the new regional transit funds approved by the 2020 General Assembly, since they have been identified as part of the Regional Backbone for transit service in Hampton Roads. The TSP also contemplates 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 near Y.H. Thomas Neighborhood Center, staff has been working with HRT to identify alternative service options for these parts of the City. HRT will update Council on how these areas will be served under the new plan as well as some other recommended changes to the TSP adopted on June 25, 2020.
HRT staff will also update Council on the BRT study that was initiated a few years ago. HRT has been working with staff and the public to identify potential options for implementing bus rapid transit in Hampton and Newport News. The objective is to identify a preferred alternative for w...
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