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[[Image:Jaunt-logo.gif|thumb|right]]
[[File:Jaunt Logo.png|thumb]]
Jaunt, Inc. is a regional transportation system providing service to the citizens of [[Charlottesville]], [[Albemarle]], [[Fluvanna County|Fluvanna]], [[Louisa County|Louisa]], [[Nelson County|Nelson]], and [[Buckingham County|Buckingham]] counties. Jaunt runs a sixty-four vehicle fleet that carries the general public, agency clients, senior citizens and people with disabilities throughout Central Virginia. 


[[JAUNT]] Inc. is a regional transportation system providing service to the citizens of [[Charlottesville]], [[Albemarle]], [[Fluvanna County|Fluvanna]], [[Louisa County|Louisa]], [[Nelson County|Nelson]], and [[Buckingham County|Buckingham]] counties.  JAUNT runs a sixty-four vehicle fleet that carries the general public, agency clients, senior citizens and people with disabilities throughout Central Virginia.
The CEO is [[Ted Rieck]].


JAUNT was organized in 1975 under the name '''Jefferson Area United Transportation'''.  It has served 8 million passengers. <ref>{{cite web|title=Nelson resident honored as JAUNT's 8 millionth trip passenger|url=http://www.newsadvance.com/nelson_county_times/lifestyles/nelson-resident-honored-as-jaunt-s-millionth-trip-passenger/article_b6c3755c-6536-11e4-b0a1-0017a43b2370.html|author=Staff Reports|work=|publisher=Lynchburg News and Advance|location=|publishdate=|accessdate=November 5, 2014}}</ref>
==History==


JAUNT is owned by the local governments it serves and uses federal, state and local funding to supplement fares and agency payments. In 2010, it began providing rides from Culpeper to Charlottesville in collaboration with the Foothills Area Mobility system<ref>{{cite web|title=New service buses patients to Charlottesville |url=http://www2.starexponent.com/news/2010/nov/09/new-service-buses-patients-charlottesville-ar-640494/|author=Rhonda Simons|work=|publisher=Culpeper Star-Exponent|location=|publishdate=November 9, 2010|accessdate=November 9, 2010}}</ref>.
Jaunt was organized in [[1975]] under the name '''Jefferson Area United Transportation'''.  It has served 8 million passengers. <ref>{{cite web|title=Nelson resident honored as JAUNT's 8 millionth trip passenger|url=http://www.newsadvance.com/nelson_county_times/lifestyles/nelson-resident-honored-as-jaunt-s-millionth-trip-passenger/article_b6c3755c-6536-11e4-b0a1-0017a43b2370.html|author=Staff Reports|work=|publisher=Lynchburg News and Advance|location=|publishdate=|accessdate=November 5, 2014}}</ref>
 
Jaunt is owned by the local governments it serves and uses federal, state and local funding to supplement fares and agency payments. In 2010, it began providing rides from Culpeper to Charlottesville in collaboration with the Foothills Area Mobility system<ref>{{cite web|title=New service buses patients to Charlottesville |url=http://www2.starexponent.com/news/2010/nov/09/new-service-buses-patients-charlottesville-ar-640494/|author=Rhonda Simons|work=|publisher=Culpeper Star-Exponent|location=|publishdate=November 9, 2010|accessdate=November 9, 2010}}</ref>.
 
Although in 1975, Jaunt was an acronym for Jefferson Area United Transportation, in 1983, Jaunt, Inc. was created and the acronym went away.                                               
 
==Governance==
[[image:JAUNT-org-chart.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Organization chart from December 8, 2022 presentation to Regional Transit Partnership]]
{{clear}}
 
==On-demand service==
Jaunt is piloting an on-demand service. Sheffield spent the late summer and early fall of 2020 going to various boards and commissions to get feedback from elected and appointed officials. <ref>{{cite-CCE|title=July 20, 2020: Greene County water, Council action, mobile home park rezoning in Albemarle|url=https://communityengagement.substack.com/p/july-20-2020-greene-county-water|author=Sean Tubbs|work=News Article|location=Charlottesville, Virginia |publishdate=July 20, 2020|accessdate=September 12, 2020}}</ref>
 
* [[August 3]], [[2020]] &ndash; Charlottesville City Council <ref>{{cite-CCE|title=August 4, 2020: COVID concerns in Lynchburg; Council hears complaints on listening session|url=https://communityengagement.substack.com/p/august-4-2020-covid-concerns-in-lynchburg|author=Sean Tubbs|work=News Article|location=Charlottesville, Virginia |publishdate=August 4, 2020|accessdate=September 26, 2020}}</ref>


==Hollymead Transit Route==
==Hollymead Transit Route==
JAUNT launched a commuter route from [[Hollymead Town Center]] to the [[University of Virginia]] and [[Downtown Transit Center]] in 2016 called the [[Route 29 Express]]. The agency funded te service in part through a proffer for a section of the center known as A-1. However, developer [[Wendell Wood]] is asking that the proffer be amended. <ref>{{cite web|title=Hollymead developer seeks changes to transit proffer|url=http://cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/23609-hollymead-transit-proffers/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=April 23, 2016|accessdate=April 25, 2016}}</ref>
Jaunt launched a commuter route from [[Hollymead Town Center]] to the [[University of Virginia]] and [[Downtown Transit Center]] in 2016 called the [[Route 29 Express]]. The agency funded te service in part through a proffer for a section of the center known as A-1. However, developer [[Wendell Wood]] is asking that the proffer be amended. <ref>{{cite web|title=Hollymead developer seeks changes to transit proffer|url=http://cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/23609-hollymead-transit-proffers/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=April 23, 2016|accessdate=April 25, 2016}}</ref>


The service launched on May 2, 2016. <ref>{{cite web|title=Albemarle County Announces 29 Express Route Starting May 2|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/23655-albemarle-county-announces-29-express-route-starti/|author=|work=Press Release|publisher=Albemarle County|location=|publishdate=April 28, 2016|accessdate=January 2, 2017}}</ref>
The service launched on May 2, 2016. <ref>{{cite web|title=Albemarle County Announces 29 Express Route Starting May 2|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/23655-albemarle-county-announces-29-express-route-starti/|author=|work=Press Release|publisher=Albemarle County|location=|publishdate=April 28, 2016|accessdate=January 2, 2017}}</ref>


==Park Connect==
==Park Connect==
JAUNT partnered with the [[UVA Foundation]] in the summer of 2018 to plan for a free commuter route connecting Central Grounds with the [[UVA Research Park]]. <ref>{{cite web|title=FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE LAUNCHING AUGUST 2018|url=http://www.uvaresearchpark.com/2018/08/free-shuttle-service-launching-august-2018/|author=|work=Press Release|publisher=UVA Foundation|location=|publishdate=|accessdate=September 9, 2018}}</ref>
Jaunt partnered with the [[UVA Foundation]] in the summer of 2018 to plan for a free commuter route connecting Central Grounds with the [[UVA Research Park]]. <ref>{{cite web|title=FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE LAUNCHING AUGUST 2018|url=http://www.uvaresearchpark.com/2018/08/free-shuttle-service-launching-august-2018/|author=|work=Press Release|publisher=UVA Foundation|location=|publishdate=|accessdate=September 9, 2018}}</ref>


==Crozet services==
==Crozet services==
Line 19: Line 33:


==Fluvanna exit==
==Fluvanna exit==
[[Fluvanna County]] experienced significant budget shortfalls for the 2013 fiscal year, resulting in complete cuts to funding for JAUNT and end of service in Fluvanna July 1 2012. In 2011 JAUNT provided about 21,000 trips to Fluvanna residents and operated an afterschool activity shuttle bus service for county schools.<ref name=jaunt>{{cite-progress|url=http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2012/may/09/jaunt-end-bus-service-fluvanna-ar-1903632/|title= JAUNT to end bus service in Fluvanna|author=Bryan McKenzie|publishdate=May 9 2012}}</ref>
[[Fluvanna County]] experienced significant budget shortfalls for the 2013 fiscal year, resulting in complete cuts to funding for Jaunt and end of service in Fluvanna July 1 2012. In 2011 Jaunt provided about 21,000 trips to Fluvanna residents and operated an afterschool activity shuttle bus service for county schools.<ref name=jaunt>{{cite-progress|url=http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2012/may/09/jaunt-end-bus-service-fluvanna-ar-1903632/|title= JAUNT to end bus service in Fluvanna|author=Bryan McKenzie|publishdate=May 9 2012}}</ref>


==Salary increase?==
==Salary increase?==
In the budget process for FY2019, JAUNT sought to increase the salary of its bus drivers from the current median wage of $14.89 an hour to $16.43 an hour. Albemarle's proposed budget for FY2019 includes an additional $142,000 for this purpose, but a $105,000 request from Charlottesville was not included in their proposed FY2019 budget. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=JAUNT fighting for wage increases as city withholds funding|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/jaunt-fighting-for-wage-increases-as-city-withholds-funding/article_c7a026ee-2019-11e8-9510-2bc2b1710aab.html|author=Allison Wrabel|pageno=|printdate=March 4, 2018|publishdate=March 4, 2018|accessdate=March 5, 2018}}</ref>
In the budget process for FY2019, Jaunt sought to increase the salary of its bus drivers from the current median wage of $14.89 an hour to $16.43 an hour. Albemarle's proposed budget for FY2019 includes an additional $142,000 for this purpose, but a $105,000 request from Charlottesville was not included in their proposed FY2019 budget. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=JAUNT fighting for wage increases as city withholds funding|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/jaunt-fighting-for-wage-increases-as-city-withholds-funding/article_c7a026ee-2019-11e8-9510-2bc2b1710aab.html|author=Allison Wrabel|pageno=|printdate=March 4, 2018|publishdate=March 4, 2018|accessdate=March 5, 2018}}</ref>


==TONY==
==TONY==
JAUNT is working with [[Perrone Robotics]] on an autonomous shuttle that will serve the Crozet area. The project is called TONY, short for To Navigate You. <ref>{{cite web|title=TONY Spotted Downtown|url=https://www.crozetgazette.com/2019/04/05/tony-spotted-downtown/|author=Theresa Curry|work=News Article|publisher=Crozet Gazette|location=|publishdate=April 5, 2019|accessdate=April 13, 2019}}</ref>
Jaunt is working with [[Perrone Robotics]] on an autonomous shuttle that will serve the Crozet area. The project is called TONY, short for To Navigate You. <ref>{{cite web|title=TONY Spotted Downtown|url=https://www.crozetgazette.com/2019/04/05/tony-spotted-downtown/|author=Theresa Curry|work=News Article|publisher=Crozet Gazette|location=|publishdate=April 5, 2019|accessdate=April 13, 2019}}</ref>


==Greene County
==Greene County==
Jaunt took over operations and administration of Greene County Transit on [[July 1]], [[2020]]. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Greene County Transit now under Jaunt|url=https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/greene-county-transit-now-under-jaunt/article_2a57a1cf-7d0e-5526-898d-33785f0e3c8e.html|author=Staff reports|pageno=|printdate=July 1, 2020|publishdate=July 1, 2020|accessdate=July 4, 2020}}</ref>
Jaunt took over operations and administration of Greene County Transit on [[July 1]], [[2020]]. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Greene County Transit now under Jaunt|url=https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/greene-county-transit-now-under-jaunt/article_2a57a1cf-7d0e-5526-898d-33785f0e3c8e.html|author=Staff reports|pageno=|printdate=July 1, 2020|publishdate=July 1, 2020|accessdate=July 4, 2020}}</ref>
==Sheffield resignation and subsequent investigation==
Former director Brad Sheffield was asked to resign following an investigation by radio host [[Rob Schilling]] into questionable spending led to an audit that revealed tens of thousands of expenses on business trips. Sheffield resigned but claimed no wrong-doing. In May 2021, the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation announced an investigation. <ref>{{cite web|title=State launches investigation into JAUNT’s “troubling” spending, funding paused|url=https://www.nbc29.com/2021/05/21/state-launches-investigation-into-jaunts-troubling-spending-funding-paused/|author=RIley Wyant|work=News Article|publisher=WVIR NBC29|location=|publishdate=May 21, 2021|accessdate=May 26, 2021}}</ref>
==Board of Directors==
*Randolph Parker, President, Executive Committee, Regional Transit Partnership Rural Representative (Louisa County)
*Lucas Ames, Vice President, Executive Committee, Regional Transit Partnership Urban Representative (City of Charlottesville)
*Raymond East, Treasurer, Executive Committee, Finance Committee (Albemarle County)
*Harold Morgan, Secretary, Executive Committee (Fluvanna County)
*Fran Hooper, Finance Committee (Albemarle County)
*William Wuensch (Albemarle County)
*Audrey Dannenberg (City of Charlottesville)
*J. Raymond Heron, Finance Committee (City of Charlottesville)
*Christine Appert, Executive Committee (City of Charlottesville)
*Willie Gentry (Louisa County)
*Diane Mcnaught (Nelson County)
*Vacant (Fluvanna County)
*Vacant (Nelson County)
*Karl Carter, Executive Committee (Buckingham County) <ref>{{cite web|title=Jaunt Board of Directors|url=https://ridejaunt.org/board-of-directors/|author=|work=Website|publisher=Jaunt|location=|publishdate=|accessdate=March 17, 2021}}</ref>


==Staff==
==Staff==
*[[Brad Sheffield]], Executive Director
*[[Karen Davis]], Interim Executive Director
*[[Karen Davis]], Assistant Director


===Former Staff===
===Former Staff===


*Ike Eichling, Executive Director c. 1975
*Ike Eichling, Executive Director c. 1975
*[[Brad Sheffield]], Executive Director (2017 to 2020).


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 10:18, 20 September 2023

Jaunt Logo.png

Jaunt, Inc. is a regional transportation system providing service to the citizens of Charlottesville, Albemarle, Fluvanna, Louisa, Nelson, and Buckingham counties. Jaunt runs a sixty-four vehicle fleet that carries the general public, agency clients, senior citizens and people with disabilities throughout Central Virginia.

The CEO is Ted Rieck.

History

Jaunt was organized in 1975 under the name Jefferson Area United Transportation. It has served 8 million passengers. [1]

Jaunt is owned by the local governments it serves and uses federal, state and local funding to supplement fares and agency payments. In 2010, it began providing rides from Culpeper to Charlottesville in collaboration with the Foothills Area Mobility system[2].

Although in 1975, Jaunt was an acronym for Jefferson Area United Transportation, in 1983, Jaunt, Inc. was created and the acronym went away.

Governance

Organization chart from December 8, 2022 presentation to Regional Transit Partnership

On-demand service

Jaunt is piloting an on-demand service. Sheffield spent the late summer and early fall of 2020 going to various boards and commissions to get feedback from elected and appointed officials. [3]

Hollymead Transit Route

Jaunt launched a commuter route from Hollymead Town Center to the University of Virginia and Downtown Transit Center in 2016 called the Route 29 Express. The agency funded te service in part through a proffer for a section of the center known as A-1. However, developer Wendell Wood is asking that the proffer be amended. [5]

The service launched on May 2, 2016. [6]

Park Connect

Jaunt partnered with the UVA Foundation in the summer of 2018 to plan for a free commuter route connecting Central Grounds with the UVA Research Park. [7]

Crozet services

JAUNT Connect bus crossing the Downtown Mall in 2019

Service between Crozet and Charlottesville began on August 5, 2019. [8]

Fluvanna exit

Fluvanna County experienced significant budget shortfalls for the 2013 fiscal year, resulting in complete cuts to funding for Jaunt and end of service in Fluvanna July 1 2012. In 2011 Jaunt provided about 21,000 trips to Fluvanna residents and operated an afterschool activity shuttle bus service for county schools.[9]

Salary increase?

In the budget process for FY2019, Jaunt sought to increase the salary of its bus drivers from the current median wage of $14.89 an hour to $16.43 an hour. Albemarle's proposed budget for FY2019 includes an additional $142,000 for this purpose, but a $105,000 request from Charlottesville was not included in their proposed FY2019 budget. [10]

TONY

Jaunt is working with Perrone Robotics on an autonomous shuttle that will serve the Crozet area. The project is called TONY, short for To Navigate You. [11]

Greene County

Jaunt took over operations and administration of Greene County Transit on July 1, 2020. [12]

Sheffield resignation and subsequent investigation

Former director Brad Sheffield was asked to resign following an investigation by radio host Rob Schilling into questionable spending led to an audit that revealed tens of thousands of expenses on business trips. Sheffield resigned but claimed no wrong-doing. In May 2021, the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation announced an investigation. [13]

Board of Directors

  • Randolph Parker, President, Executive Committee, Regional Transit Partnership Rural Representative (Louisa County)
  • Lucas Ames, Vice President, Executive Committee, Regional Transit Partnership Urban Representative (City of Charlottesville)
  • Raymond East, Treasurer, Executive Committee, Finance Committee (Albemarle County)
  • Harold Morgan, Secretary, Executive Committee (Fluvanna County)
  • Fran Hooper, Finance Committee (Albemarle County)
  • William Wuensch (Albemarle County)
  • Audrey Dannenberg (City of Charlottesville)
  • J. Raymond Heron, Finance Committee (City of Charlottesville)
  • Christine Appert, Executive Committee (City of Charlottesville)
  • Willie Gentry (Louisa County)
  • Diane Mcnaught (Nelson County)
  • Vacant (Fluvanna County)
  • Vacant (Nelson County)
  • Karl Carter, Executive Committee (Buckingham County) [14]

Staff

Former Staff

  • Ike Eichling, Executive Director c. 1975
  • Brad Sheffield, Executive Director (2017 to 2020).

References

  1. Web. Nelson resident honored as JAUNT's 8 millionth trip passenger, Staff Reports, Lynchburg News and Advance, retrieved November 5, 2014.
  2. Web. New service buses patients to Charlottesville, Rhonda Simons, Culpeper Star-Exponent, November 9, 2010, retrieved November 9, 2010.
  3. Web. July 20, 2020: Greene County water, Council action, mobile home park rezoning in Albemarle, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Community Engagement, Town Crier Productions, July 20, 2020, retrieved September 12, 2020.
  4. Web. August 4, 2020: COVID concerns in Lynchburg; Council hears complaints on listening session, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Community Engagement, Town Crier Productions, August 4, 2020, retrieved September 26, 2020.
  5. Web. Hollymead developer seeks changes to transit proffer, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Tomorrow, April 23, 2016, retrieved April 25, 2016.
  6. Web. Albemarle County Announces 29 Express Route Starting May 2, Press Release, Albemarle County, April 28, 2016, retrieved January 2, 2017.
  7. Web. FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE LAUNCHING AUGUST 2018, Press Release, UVA Foundation, retrieved September 9, 2018.
  8. Web. Input sought on Crozet-Charlottesville bus, Allison Wrabel, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, April 15, 2019, retrieved April 19, 2019.
  9. Web. JAUNT to end bus service in Fluvanna, Bryan McKenzie, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, May 9 2012
  10. Web. JAUNT fighting for wage increases as city withholds funding, Allison Wrabel, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, March 4, 2018, retrieved March 5, 2018.
  11. Web. TONY Spotted Downtown, Theresa Curry, News Article, Crozet Gazette, April 5, 2019, retrieved April 13, 2019.
  12. Web. Greene County Transit now under Jaunt, Staff reports, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, July 1, 2020, retrieved July 4, 2020.
  13. Web. State launches investigation into JAUNT’s “troubling” spending, funding paused, RIley Wyant, News Article, WVIR NBC29, May 21, 2021, retrieved May 26, 2021.
  14. Web. Jaunt Board of Directors, Website, Jaunt, retrieved March 17, 2021.

External Links

official site