News Flash

April 9, 2020 - The governing board of Hampton Roads Transit on Thursday agreed to suspend temporarily all transit fares for HRT services effective Friday, April 10, through June 10, unless modified or rescinded by the board.

 The Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads will use available COVID-19 emergency state and federal funds to satisfy each participating city’s FY20 budgeted ridership for the duration of this free-fare period.

The move is part of the continuing effort to limit social contact by allowing customers to forego paying a fare, limit interaction with the operator, and not contact the fare box, among the most touched objects in a transit bus.

During this period of no fare collection, HRT also is encouraging customers to board and exit at the rear of the bus, if they are able, while handicapped patrons and others requiring the bus to kneel for easy front access can still board at the front.

HRT continues to encourage all residents to avoid unnecessary travel. If travel is necessary, the use of a face mask by all persons is encouraged for the safety of bus operators and other customers.

During the pandemic, HRT is operating an “Essential Service Plan” that provides core transit services to major activity centers but on reduced hours of operation. Ridership across all of HRT’s modes has dropped significantly as the public practices social distancing and employers temporarily close.

HRT has already set up social distancing procedures to protect drivers while also encouraging customers to keep their distance from one another by blocking off select seats. It is continuing a campaign of heightened cleaning of all surfaces in buses, light rail vehicles, ferries and transit centers that customers and operators are likely to contact.

Paratransit services are available.