Norfolk – Today, crews installed the 200th bus shelter at Jefferson Avenue and Meadow Creek in Newport News. This marks another milestone in Hampton Roads Transit’s mission to improve the transit experience through increased passenger amenities.
New shelters started going up in February 2021. The agency’s goal is to have 620 new bus stops with a shelter or bench, or combination of the two by 2027. That’s in addition to 300 existing bus shelters. Every new shelter is equipped with trash receptacles and solar powered lighting.
“Providing a well-lit, safe, protected place to wait at more than 900 of our 2700 bus stops will make HRT a leader among transit agencies across the country,” said Sibyl Pappas, Chief Engineering & Facilities Officer at Hampton Roads Transit.
The shelters are being installed as part of HRT’s plan to improve the overall customer experience. “We are focused on meeting riders’ needs and providing excellent customer service,” said William Harrell, President and CEO of Hampton Roads Transit, “That begins before riders ever step foot on one of our buses.”
The shelters are being paid for through the Hampton Roads Regional Transit Fund, approved by the Virginia General Assembly in 2020. The fund also provided for 24 new buses, real time bus technology and the launch of 15-minute service on HRT’s 757 Express last fall.