Regional Transit Authority

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The idea of a Regional Transit Authority has been discussed several times over the years. A major study was conducted in the late 2000's to create an authority to replace Charlottesville Area Transit but the idea was shelved when the General Assembly declined to pass legislation to allow the community to hold a referendum on a potential sales tax increase to pay for additional service. [citation needed]

Instead, a Regional Transit Partnership was formed in late 2017 to seek to encourage ways for the existing transit agencies of Charlottesville Area Transit, JAUNT and the University Transit System to better work together.

The rise and fall of the Regional Transit Authority and creation of the Partnership

At their July 19, 2006 meeting, the Policy Board of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) approved a resolution of intent committing the Charlottesville and Albemarle County to the establishment of a regional transit authority. [1] The University of Virginia agreed to be at the table but did not commit to the idea of joining the authority. [2]

The consultant Vanasse Hangen Brustlin was hired to study the topic. [3] There was a joint meeting of the City Council and Albemarle County Board of Supervisors on February 11, 2008. Staff report and agenda packet

In September 2008, Charlottesville city manager Gary O'Connell wrote a memo listing seven things to consider when discussing the authority. [4]

The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors voted on a resolution to request enabling legislation on November 5, 2008. [5]

The Charlottesville-Albemarle Regional Transit Authority (RTA) was enabled by the Virginia General Assembly in 2009 by HB2158. [6] However, a bill to allow Charlottesville and Albemarle County residents to vote on a proposed sales tax increase to fund the RTA's operations did not pass. Soon after, stakeholders agreed to pursue the idea and continued meeting on a provisional basis to continue planning. [7] The idea was shelved in the spring of 2010 following budgetary concerns about continuing to meet. [8] [9]

2016

A dispute about funding triggered renewed interest in an authority. In January, Charlottesville Area Transit manager John Jones told members of the MPO Policy Board that a new route would be established to serve 5th Street Station when stores began to open in the fall. He said service would be provided a month before the opening of the Wegmans. The launch of the bus was funded in part by a $100,000 one-time cash payment from Riverbend Development that was a condition of the 2008 rezoning that allowed the shopping center to be built. [10]


The Era of the Regional Transit Partnership

The idea returned in 2016 as some members of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors grew frustrated over a lack of information about potential route changes among other governance issues. [11]

History and formation

Beginning in 2016, the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission conducted a study of how existing transit systems can work together short of forming an authority. [12] The City Council and Board of Supervisors agreed to the idea in principle in February 2017 and formally agreed to enter into the partnership in September 2017. Monthly meetings began in October 2017. [13] [14]

One of the first results of the partnership was to work up a new funding agreement through which Albemarle County would pay the city of Charlottesville for fixed-route service going forward. [15] Albemarle County and Charlottesville signed the agreement in July 2019. [16]

The University of Virginia joined as a full-fledged member by the end of 2019.

2020

Albemarle County is exploring other transit options to support its government services, such as the move of the county's registrar office to Albemarle Square in the middle of 2020. [17] That idea was later discarded due to the COVID-19 Emergency.

February 27, 2020 meeting

Among the items discussed was a city review of dockless scooter data. (study)

2021

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation has awarded the TJPDC two grants to assist with a regional transit vision and to create a vision for how transit in Albemarle County might be expanded. [18]


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History of transit in the wider community

In the mid-20th century, several different companies operated different bus lines across the region. For instance, the Davis and Laurence Bus Company began service between Mission Home and Charlottesville in March 1948 to capacity crowds. [19] In the late 1970's, the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission explored the possibility of forming a committee to unite the region's bus systems. [20]


Additional routes

Meanwhile, JAUNT pursued plans to introduce a commuter service between Hollymead Town Center, the University of Virginia and downtown Charlottesville with funds provided through a proffer for the town center. This Route 29 Express was opposed by developer Wendell Wood. [21]

The Route 29 service launched on May 2, 2016. [22]

In September, Albemarle supervisors asked to be given more information about routes that travel through the county. [23] In early October, supervisors and councilors agreed to study a regional transit authority once again. [24]

Additionally, the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro has studied regional transit between Harrisonburg and Charlottesville. [12] [25] A request for funding for a pilot program was not successful so the two agencies examined a reduced program or a van-pool program. [15] Another attempt to create the Afton Express is coming before local governments in 2020. [26]

Elected officials agree to create the regional transit partnership in September 2017. [13]

Resources

References

  1. Web. Cooperation on regional transit gets support from elected officials, Brian Wheeler, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, July 24, 2006, retrieved February 5, 2019.
  2. Web. Regional transit authority moves forward, University takes a backseat, Brian Wheeler, Podcast summary, Charlottesville Tomorrow, July 24, 2006, retrieved February 5, 2019.
  3. Web. August 2007 MPO Policy Board Meeting, Blog Post, Charlottesville Tomorrow, August 17, 2015, retrieved February 5, 2019.
  4. Web. O'Connell memo on Regional Transit Authority, Gary O'Connell, September 15, 2008, retrieved May 26, 2015.
  5. Web. County of Albemarle, Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Minutes, Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, Albemarle County, November 5, 2008, retrieved September 28, 2021.
  6. Charlottesville-Albemarle Regional Transit Authority; established. (HB2158), Richmond Sunlight, retrieved 7 Jul 2009
  7. Web. [1], Brian Wheeler, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, May 26, 2009, retrieved February 5, 2019.
  8. Web. City-County effort to form regional transit authority shelved amid Albemarle’s budget woes, Brian Wheeler, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, March 25, 2010, retrieved February 5, 2019.
  9. Web. Area’s transit plans remain gridlocked, Rachana Dixit, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, 11 Jan 2010
  10. Web. Fifth Street Station and Wegmans to be served by new transit route, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, January 26, 2016, January 26, 2016, retrieved December 29, 2016.
  11. Web. Transit officials continue planning for new 5th Street Station route, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, February 2, 2016, retrieved February 5, 2019.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Web. Officials briefed on U.S. 29 work, transit study, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, May 19, 2016, retrieved February 5, 2019.
  13. 13.0 13.1 Web. Council, supervisors agree to transit partnership, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, September 22, 2017, retrieved February 5, 2019.
  14. Web. Albemarle and Charlottesville officials talk transit partnership, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, February 14, 2017, retrieved February 5, 2019.
  15. 15.0 15.1 Web. June 2019 Executive Director's Report, Chip Boyles, Report, Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, retrieved June 2, 2019.
  16. Web. Shared transit agreement approved by city and county, Staff Reports, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, July 3, 2009, retrieved July 14, 2019.
  17. Web. County approves leash ordinance, Allison Wrabel, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, February 20, 2020, retrieved February 23, 2020. Print. February 20, 2020 page A1.
  18. Web. Public transportation to Monticello? Idea part of upcoming planning efforts, Allison Wrabel, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, February 11, 2021, retrieved February 12, 2021.
  19. Web. Mission Home Bus Line Inaugurates Service, Staff Reports, Daily Progress Digitized Microfilm, Lindsay family, March 17, 1948, retrieved December 13, 2016 from University of Virginia Library.
  20. Web. County of Albemarle, Albemarle County Board of Supervisors Minutes, Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, Albemarle County, September 14, 1977, retrieved July 15, 2019.
  21. Web. Hollymead developer seeks changes to transit proffer, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, April 23, 2016, retrieved January 2, 2017.
  22. Web. Albemarle County Announces 29 Express Route Starting May 2, Press Release, Albemarle County, April 28, 2016, retrieved January 2, 2017.
  23. Web. Albemarle seeks formal reporting process for city bus system, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, October 3, 2016, retrieved January 11, 2017.
  24. Web. Supervisors and Councilors agree to discuss regional transit authority, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, October 4, 2016, retrieved January 11, 2017.
  25. Web. Groups briefed on Harrisonburg-to-Charlottesville bus service, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, September 27, 2017, retrieved October 5, 2017.
  26. Web. Charlottesville could join Waynesboro to help pay for Staunton-Charlottesville bus service, Shannon Kelly and Nolan Stout, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, January 30, 2020, retrieved February 2, 2020. Print. January 30, 2020 page A3.