HRT changes Peninsula commuter routes

NEWS RELEASE

HAMPTON, Va. – Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) announced today that it will launch an improved version of its existing “Work Trips” commuter service beginning June 15.

The new service will be a system of eleven routes designed to connect commuters to some of the Peninsula’s major employment destinations. These work sites include The ARC and the Copeland Industrial Park in Hampton, as well as the Oakland Industrial Park, the Cannon production facility and the Northrop Grumman shipyard in Newport News. In addition to connections to these locations, some commuters will have the option of using the park and ride lots at Denbigh and the Hampton Transfer Center during their commute.

These routes have been known as the “Work Trips” service because their final destinations are employment centers. After studying the routes, HRT determined 12 of the 23 routes should be discontinued because they were inefficient. The remaining routes will stay the same, expand to include additional service areas, or merge with similar routes.

The service will also have a new name: Peninsula Commuter Service. It will operate Monday through Friday. Routes will leave the garage as early as 5 a.m. and return as late as 1 a.m. The one-way fare for this service will remain $1.50. Passengers will have the option of purchasing an all-day pass on board the bus for $3.50.

“HRT is happy to provide increased access to the Peninsula’s major employment sites,” said Michael Townes, HRT’s president and chief executive officer. “Accessibility to these destinations is important as over 70 percent of every trip taken on HRT services is to get to and from work.”

For a complete listing of Peninsula Commuter Service bus routes, maps and timetables, visit gohrt.com or call customer service at 222-6100.