The Northern Neck Rideshare Program

Warsaw Transit Facility Breaks Ground

WARSAW – 27 APRIL 2009 – After years of planning and searching for funding, Bay Transit celebrated the beginning of construction for what will become the Northern Neck’s first modern transit facility.

More than a passenger depot, the 10,000 square-foot structure will provide space for bus maintenance and administration offices, helping Bay Transit become more of a regional transit provider and gradually overcome the limitations imposed by purely county-based operations.

Speaking to those attending, Corey Hill, Chief of Public Transportation at the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, said that the facility is one of fifteen that VDRPT has been able to provide funds for in the last five years. “Bay transit is so important to this area of the state because it serves fourteen communities,” he said. “It provides absolutely essential public transportation services.” Bay Transit’s ridership is up 4.2% this year, he added, qualifying the increase as “fantastic.”

In 1996, when Bay Transit inaugurated its service, there was only one bus that served Gloucester County. Today, ten counties in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula, plus Charles City and New Kent Counties, have the service, which is extremely affordable to riders ($8 for a booklet of ten tickets) and operates weekdays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. as an on-demand transit system (riders must call 24 hours in advance to indicate the location and time of pickup and their destination). In 2008, Bay Transit provided more than 156,000 rides.

Hill said that public transportation is expanding at the state level. Virginia will receive $30.5 million in stimulus-package funds meant for rural transportation. VDRPT has recommended that approximately $400,000 of that be directed to Bay Transit.

Also attending the groundbreaking ceremony for the $2-million facility were Delegate Albert Pollard, State Senator Richard Stuart, Congressman Robert Wittman, several county and town officials, Bay Transit employees, riders, and members of the construction team.

Click on the photo below to see the slide show: