For the more than 70,000 service members and civilians who make the sprawling Naval Station Norfolk tick, the free Base Express bus service has become an essential part of navigating life since it launched in December 2022, far exceeding ridership expectations, according to the Navy and Hampton Roads Transit.
Its initial goal was to serve 26,000 passengers in its first three years. It blew past that in less than a year.
As of May, Base Express had served more than 188,000 passengers, more than 4,500 riders per month, according to HRT data. It has averaged between 6,000 and 7,000 per month since March…