VIRGINIA BEACH — A rideshare program that served residents in the Bayside area two years ago could be coming back this fall. And Virginia Beach could add a second zone either at the Oceanfront or in another part of the city that’s underserved by public transportation.
Hampton Roads Transit recently received a $3.5 million Transit Ridership Incentive Program grant from the Virginia Department of Transportation to fund new microtransit pilot projects in Virginia Beach and Newport News.
The program requires a 20% match by the localities. If Virginia Beach chooses a second zone, it will be on the hook for a total of $466,000, Ray Amoruso, HRT’s chief planning and development officer, told the City Council at its last meeting in July before going on summer break.
“Think of it as when you take your car into the dealership for service,” Amoruso said. “They have a courtesy van or shuttle where you might jump in that courtesy van or shuttle with other people and go to a nearby destination.”