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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHRT Transportation Services Plan (TSP)FY27 HRT Transportation Service Plan (TSP) Kathy Warren, Director, Planning and Community Development Hank Morrison, AICP, CZA, Comprehensive Planning Administrator City Council Briefing, January 13, 2026 Presentation Overview •What is the Transportation Services Plan (TSP) and process? •Current Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) Virginia Beach Routes and cost •Virginia Beach requested changes to FY27 program and HRT Response •Route 33 –Tidewater Community College (TCC) to Oceanfront •Bayside Microtransit Program status •Next Steps •Discussion FY2027 TSP 2 What is the Transportation Services Plan (TSP) and Process? •Annual budgeting process for Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) partner cities •Four-month process beginning in October •HRT provides proposed service hours via letter to the City Manager •City staff reviews proposal, provides data-supported requests for changes in service and cost estimates •HRT provides feedback and cost estimates •City responds with final request for service for next fiscal year •HRT finalizes Virginia Beach’s state and federal funding percentages based on the service levels requested by all partner cities •HRT Management/Finance Advisory Committee holds January meeting to review all cities’ TSPs •HRT finalizes TSP for all cities in February FY2027TSP 3 Regional System Map FY2027 TSP 4 Current Routes & Annual Cost FY2027 TSP 5 HRT provides public transit services in the City of Virginia Beach through: •11 fixed-route bus lines, •3 seasonal trolley routes, •Paratransit and •Microtransit. Virginia Beach’s FY26 TSP Program cost $8,596,142. Of the total cost: •$7,463,252 was paid for by the General Fund •$1,187,157 was paid for by the TIP Fund •The City received a reliability credit of $701,798 that was applied to the total program cost ending in the final dollar amount. FY27 Routes & Annual Cost FY2027 TSP 6 Cost Comparison Funding Source Mode FY26 FY27 Difference General Fund Fixed Route Bus $4,587,363 $4,965,793 $378,430 General Fund Paratransit $2,875,889 $2,730,130 ($145,759) TIP Trolleys $1,187,157 $1,245,311 $58,154 Total $8,596,142 $9,549,610 $953,468* *The increase in cost is due to increased costs of operations, increased levels of service on Route 20 (regional route), and a new collective bargaining agreement with HRT operators. FY2027 TSP 7 City Change Requests Staff requested the following service changes for FY27: •Reinstate Route 34 Circulator in Resort Area to be deployed only on event days. •A seasonal express route connecting Norfolk International Airport (ORF), Town Center, and Resort Area (pilot program). •New Route to serve Amazon Facilities ORF4 and DRC6. Staff received the following answers in response to the requested service changes for FY27: •HRT is unable to program the requests for Route 34 or the seasonal Airport route due to ongoing bus operator shortages. •Service to ORF4 on Dam Neck Road will operate 2 morning trips and 2 afternoon trips between Downtown Norfolk, Newtown Road Light Rail Station, Virginia Beach TCC, and ORF4. •Service will be funded by the Hampton Roads Regional Transit Fund; no city funds are required. FY2027 TSP 8 Route 33 •Year-round, fixed-route service connecting Virginia Beach TCC and Resort Area; funded by the General Fund. •In FY26, the length of route was reduced due to low ridership and poor reliability. •City Staff and HRT met with the Virginia Beach Hotel Association (VBHA) on January 5, 2026 to discuss issues they are experiencing in the “off-season” due to the change in service. •Staff has requested a quote from HRT to reinstate Route 33 to its original terminus at 68th Street and Atlantic Avenue and will continue to work with VBHA on ways to improve transportation for the workforce and visitors of the Resort Area. •City Council may decide to reinstate the original route as part of the FY27 TSP. FY2027 TSP 9 Bayside Microtransit Program •Operated through December 2025 •Partially funded through the State’s TRIP Grant •Cost of Year 2 of Microtransit: ~$700,000 •City Council can direct HRT to pursue TRIP grant; service would restart May 2026 •Transportation Planning Staff is currently in the process of creating an RFP for microtransit zones throughout Virginia Beach FY2027 TSP 10 Next Steps •Direction on Bayside Microtransit Program •Waiting on Route 33 cost estimates from HRT •Deadline for modifications to the proposed TSP is Friday, February 13, 2026 •If Virginia Beach requests to modify its local TSP after that time, the city will bear 100% of the service cost associated with the modification FY2027 TSP 11 Questions? Thank you!