Planning & Development
The HRT Chief Planning and Development Officer works with HRT staff to set the level of transit service for the region. The Planning and Development department includes Planning and Scheduling, Long-Range Planning, the TRAFFIX Program – Transportation Demand Management (TDM), Sales and Advertising, and Customer Service.
Service Planning, Scheduling, Long Range Planning: Working in coordination with local cities, the Planning and Development Department develops the routes, frequency of service, and location of transit services based on the ability of a city to share in the cost of the transit service. The department is also responsible for major high capacity/fixed guideway corridor studies, and projects to expand bus or rail service. The department is also responsible for the preparation of the ten-year Transit Development Plan (TDP), and the agency’s six-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Information and statistics for the National Transit Database Program (NTD) is managed within Planning and Development in order to fulfill the reporting requirements of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
TRAFFIX: A Transportation Demand Management program that assists in efforts to decrease traffic congestion by reducing the number of Single Occupancy Vehicles commuting to work, by encouraging the use of HOV lanes through ridesharing, and by encouraging the use of alternatives to driving such as public transportation, teleworking, biking, and walking.
Customer Relations Division: The Customer Relations Division engages and communicates with HRT’s customers regarding transit service. The division operates the call center and the customer service windows at all transit centers, investigates customer complaints, prepares and issues customer alerts and manages lost and found.
Business Development Division: This division’s functional areas are divided among the following responsibility areas:
- Advertising Sales and Fare Media: This unit is responsible for the sale of fare media through business partnerships and to area businesses. Responsibilities include all internal and external bus, ferry, and rail advertising. This division provides direct oversight over all sales aspects for HRT; including, sales advertising, station panels, exterior and interior bus advertisements, interior light rail advertising, train wraps, train articulation vinyl applications, bus wraps, and the GoPass 365 program.
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Transportation Demand Management Program (TRAFFIX): This unit provides commuter options to those who are not immediately served by existing transit services, yet wish to take advantage of the economic benefits of transit and/or alternative transportation. Services include carpool/vanpool ridematching, commuter rewards, guaranteed and emergency ride home, telework, vanpool assistance, and employer commuter programs.
TRAFFIX works closely with the Department of Rail and Public Transit (DRPT), Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), Hampton Roads Transportation and Planning Organization (HRTPO), local municipalities, and military installations. This unit develops new “Park & Ride” and Rideshare Parking locations when and where appropriate, for vehicles to park as they wait for transit opportunities (carpool, bus, train, vanpools, etc.).