Hampton Roads Transit proposes ending Sunday service on two low‑ridership routes

Hampton Roads Transit staff told the council that two local routes fail HRT's productivity thresholds and that the FY21 Transportation Service Plan therefore recommends eliminating Sunday service on Route 102 and Route 111.

Ray Amoruso, HRT's chief of planning and development, explained the productivity thresholds that guide state operating assistance and HRT decisions: HRT uses a minimum standard of about 10 passengers per hour for a typical weekday and 8 passengers per hour on weekends. Amoruso said the recommendation to remove Sunday service on Route 102 would save about 687 annual service hours and currently affects roughly 61 passengers on a typical Sunday; Sunday service on Route 111 would save about 212 annual hours and affect roughly 134 passengers on a typical Sunday.

Staff emphasized alternative Sunday service coverage on many segments via other routes and said the overall FY21 plan is largely similar to the current year, with the two Sunday eliminations highlighted because of consistently low ridership. HRT also told council members the agency spends roughly $4,800,000 of city funds and delivers about 82,000 service hours in the member cities, and that the TSP is the basis for HRT's operating budget request.

The city manager has been asked to respond to HRT's proposed plan by Nov. 15; HRT staff said draft budgets would be available to member cities on Dec. 9 and final city service plans would be available no later than Feb. 14.

Sources: Presentation by Ray Amoruso and HRT staff to Hampton City Council.