HRT expands on-demand transit services with Via in Hampton Roads, Virginia (USA)
Hampton Roads Transit has expanded its OnDemand ridesharing service to Chesapeake and Hampton, while extending the existing program in Newport News. The expansion marks a further deployment of HRT’s app-based microtransit offering across the Hampton Roads region, adding two new service areas and prolonging operations in a third. According to a Hampton Roads Transit press […]
Hampton Roads Transit has expanded its OnDemand ridesharing service to Chesapeake and Hampton, while extending the existing program in Newport News.
The expansion marks a further deployment of HRT’s app-based microtransit offering across the Hampton Roads region, adding two new service areas and prolonging operations in a third. According to a Hampton Roads Transit press release, the OnDemand programs in Chesapeake, Hampton, and Newport News will remain in operation through October 2026, at which point they will be evaluated for continuation.
OnDemand service rollout gets wider
Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) is the public transportation authority serving the Hampton Roads metropolitan area in southeastern Virginia. The agency operates bus, light rail, paratransit, ferry, and on-demand mobility services across multiple local jurisdictions. The Hampton Roads region encompasses a coastal urban area that includes cities such as Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, and Portsmouth.
The newly launched services in Chesapeake and Hampton operate within a single designated zone in each city, while the Newport News zone has been extended. Service is available Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Ride requests are typically served within approximately 15 minutes.
Our OnDemand Ridesharing, known in the transit industry as microtransit, is a new mode of transit that is ideal for the first or last leg of a fixed route trip – it bridges an important gap to ensure customers have access to reliable, safe, efficient and sustainable transportation
William E. Harrell, HRT’s President and CEO
To mark the introduction of the service, rides in Chesapeake and Hampton are being offered free of charge from January 12 through January 26. Hampton Roads Transit states in its press release that the standard fare is set at $2 per person per ride, matching fares across its other transit modes.
OnDemand rides can be booked via the HRT OnDemand mobile application or by phone. Trips are provided by a fleet of branded vehicles that transport passengers between requested origins and destinations within the defined zones, with the possibility of picking up additional riders traveling in similar directions.
Vehicles are operated by Via Transportation, HRT’s service partner. Funding for the OnDemand programs is provided through Transit Ridership Incentive Program grants and contributions from participating cities, as outlined in the Hampton Roads Transit press release.
“Our OnDemand Ridesharing, known in the transit industry as microtransit, is a new mode of transit that is ideal for the first or last leg of a fixed route trip – it bridges an important gap to ensure customers have access to reliable, safe, efficient and sustainable transportation,” William E. Harrell, HRT’s President and CEO, said at kick-off events in both cities today. “We are delighted to expand our OnDemand service to Chesapeake and Hampton and we appreciate the support of state and local leaders who recognize the benefits of this innovative service.”
