Hampton Roads Transit to install new bus shelters, benches and solar lights at Hampton stops
For years, Hampton Roads Transit riders have resorted to some creative solutions -- such as adding a kitchen chair at a bus stop while they wait -- to make up for the lack of benches.
They’ve also sat on overturned shopping carts, or transformers, which don’t help much when it’s raining.
Hampton officials have long heard complaints from riders, among their own complaints, about the lack of shelters, benches or poorly lit bus stops.
Officials at the cash-strapped agency also heard. Now that state lawmakers approved permanent funding sources in February, the agency is finally doing something.
The agency announced a plan to install bus shelters, benches, trash cans and solar lights at as many as 40 high-volume stops across the city.
“This is an issue of dignity for our customers. Nothing is more frustrating for a customer out in the elements to be sitting on a cart.” said William Harrell, the agency’s chief operating office told City Council members Wednesday. “Part of implementing is to improve the customer experience."
Of Hampton’s 412 stops, only 12.6% or 52 have amenities such as shelters, benches and trash cans. Hampton staff has identified at least 47 bus stops in need of a shelter.
The city-wide installations, which will be at routes along Mercury Boulevard, Kecoughtan Road, Mallory and King streets, among dozen more are set to begin in January.
The agency that serves six cities across the region is set to launch a pilot program later this year that will test a small fleet of electric buses running from downtown Norfolk to the Virginia Beach oceanfront, the agency’s longest route, Harrell said.
“That’ll help us ascertain what the salespeople told us these buses are capable of doing and (how they) really perform in the real life world with a full passenger load and 97 degree days, 90% humidity, running 24 miles up to the oceanfront, and then in the rain and the snow,” chief planning and development officer Ray Amoruso said Wednesday. “The future is electric buses. We feel that the industry is moving more toward all electric buses.”
The funding sources include money drawn from a $.06 per $100 of assessed value surcharge pulled from a grantor’s tax on real estate transactions and deeds and other state taxes to record real estate sales. Another source comes from regional hotel occupancy fees collected at 1% per stay. Due to the pandemic the latter is on hold until May.
The state will place those collected amounts -- potentially some $31 million -- in a special fund, which HRT will ultimately use to invest a regional express-bus network.
“When you look at the funding level for transit in this area, it’s been significantly low compared to other regions. So this new legislation is a game change,” Harrell said.
“Every year I used to complain. I’ve advocated for those improvements since I’ve probably been on Council,” said Mayor Donnie Tuck, who has served since 2010. “I’m just happy for our residents that use transit.”
Vice Mayor Jimmy Gray added that the new investments into the regional routes, coupled with the coming expansion of the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel will help to improve service on some of Hampton’s “backbone” routes.
“A lot of people do crisscross the region (between the Peninsula and the southside) you know, to get to work,” Gray said.
Lisa Vernon Sparks, 757-247-4832, lvernonsparks@dailypress.com
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