VDOT and city unveil plan for about 40 shelters and 40 benches in Hampton

VDOT and city staff presented a prioritized plan to add passenger amenities in Hampton: roughly 40 new shelters and 40 benches with solar lights and trash receptacles in fiscal year 2021.

"So the goal is to look at approximately 40 shelters and 40 benches within the city of Hampton," Lynn Keenan, VDOT project manager, told the council, explaining the selection was data driven and prioritized high‑volume stops and the regional backbone. Keenan said Hampton has 412 stops and 52 existing amenities; within higher‑volume stops (108) only 23 currently have amenities.

She identified proposed locations and counts, including about 26 proposed shelters along Mercury Boulevard and several on King Street, Kecoughtan and other corridors. Keenan noted some proposed sites will require additional work such as easements or relocation of existing features and said the proposals are notional pending right‑of‑way and constructability checks.

Vice Mayor Gray and other council members asked about outstanding King Street installations; staff said one shelter has been installed at Langley and King and the King/Rip Rap location awaits final easement paperwork though the shelter is already in city possession.

VDOT and HRT staff said they plan to coordinate siting, right‑of‑way issues and construction timing with city departments as the shelter program moves forward.