Public safety agencies across the Eastern Shore of Virginia will transition to a new regional radio communications network in mid-January 2026, according to Jeffrey Flournoy, Director of the Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Center.
Flournoy said the move to the Eastern Shore of Virginia Regional Radio System, known as ESVARRS, is the result of several years of planning and development, with total project costs approaching $10 million. The new system replaces the outdated analog radio networks currently used by public safety agencies in Accomack and Northampton counties.
ESVARRS was built by L3Harris Technologies and is a digital, trunked radio system operating on the 700-megahertz spectrum. It uses six simulcasted sites across the region to improve signal reliability, coverage, and interoperability among agencies. Flournoy said the system’s advanced technology is designed to strengthen communications between responders and enhance public and responder safety…