Hampton Roads Transit Celebrates recent improvements to Hampton Transit Center

HAMPTON, VA – Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), along with the City of Hampton, the Virginia Peninsula Chamber, and Congressman Bobby Scott celebrated the recent reopening of Hampton Transit Center with members of the community. After nearly eleven months of renovations to the bus loop and parking areas, the transit center is back to full operations serving customers.

Hampton Transit Center is the third busiest stop in HRT’s region-wide system. “The Hampton Transit Center is the heart of transit service for Hampton. Over 1,500 customers along 12 routes flow in and out of the center each day,” stated William Harrell, President & CEO Hampton Roads Transit.

HRT utilized a $3.5 million Smart Scale grant to reconstruct the exterior bus facilities to support additional commuters and routes while also increasing its parking capacity. The reconfiguration also allowed for additional shelters, new landscaping, and bicycle improvements.

Watch video from the ribbon cutting.

Congressman Scott who participated in today’s celebration is a staunch proponent of public transit helping to champion $1.2 billion for Virginia to modernize public transportation system in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. “You can’t go to work if you can’t get to work,” said Congressman Scott, who serves as the ranking member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce.

The construction project culminated with segment 4 of the King Street Corridor Master Plan improvements completed by the City of Hampton and its contractors. This segment included realigning, repaving, and restriping North King Street in front of the transit center, adding the segments multiuse trail, adding right turn lanes to Pembroke Ave, removing overhead utility poles on the west side of the street, upgrading the signalization system at the intersection and replacing the failing Brights Creek culvert. Mayor Donnie Tuck was able to report the city successfully completed the project within budget.

Also, on hand to speak at the event was Vice Mayor and HRT Commissioner Jimmy Gray and Bob McKenna, President & CEO of the Virginia Peninsula Chamber.

In addition to the new improvements, HRT is promoting the upcoming launch of Route 114 to 757 Express Service during peak hours beginning May 14. This route begins near the city line and continues along Mercury Boulevard through Coliseum Central arriving at Hampton Transit Center. “The increased frequency with 757 Express service during peak hours will make it easier for commuters to get to work and back home,” said Mayor Tuck. “Collectively these improvements will create a more sustainable transit system now and into the future for Hampton residents.”

HRT’s mission is to connect Hampton Roads with transportation solutions that are reliable, safe, efficient, and sustainable.