Hampton Roads Transit wins grants to improve service

Norfolk, VA –Hampton Roads Transit has been awarded two grants totaling $3 million under the Federal Transit Administration’s State of Good Repair and Bus Livability programs. The money will be used to purchase new paratransit and Traffix vans and an asset management system. The grants were announced late Monday.

Paratransit services provide transportation to qualified disabled people who live within 3/4 of a mile of a regular fixed bus stop. The Traffix program provides vans and ride-sharing programs to people who want to use transit but are not served by existing bus or rail services. Hampton Roads Transit will use $2 million toward the purchase of paratransit and Traffix vehicles.

The agency also will spend $1 million for a transit asset management system that will allow it to comprehensively track all of its buildings, systems, vehicles and other assets. The system will allow HRT to more effectively manage its maintenance and depreciation schedules.

The grants are highly competitive. Hampton Roads Transit was the only agency in Virginia to receive funding under the grants.

“This award comes at a critical time for Hampton Roads Transit and it could not be more welcome,” said William Harrell, the agency’s president and CEO. “We will put this money to good use for the transit community.”

This is the third round of funding under the State of Good Repair and Bus Livability programs and the second time that Hampton Roads Transit has been successful in obtaining funding under these programs. Last year, HRT was awarded $650,000 to install new bus shelters throughout the HRT service area. To date, this federal program has supported 255 projects in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The grants announced Monday Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood totaled $787 million nationally.

For more information about Hampton Roads Transit and its services, visit www.gohrt.com.