Bryte transit reports ridership gains, Lewis Street hub upgrade and paratransit expansion

Representatives from the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) told Staunton City Council on Jan. 23 that the region’s Bryte transit system has added service improvements and infrastructure upgrades intended to increase reliability and ridership.

“Bryte is a small urban and rural system that serves two cities with connections in between,” said Devon Thompson, transit program manager at the CSPDC. Thompson and Danielle Gannon, transit planner at the CSPDC, described fixed routes that include the West/North Loops, a Downtown Trolley (including a Saturday Night Trolley), a Route 250 connector, a Waynesboro circulator, a Blue Ridge Community College shuttle and the Stewart’s Draft Link, plus the Afton Express commuter route to Charlottesville.

Gannon said route-level ridership is concentrated on a few routes: the Downtown Trolley averages roughly 1,500 passenger trips per month, while the West/North Loop averages about 2,500 trips per month. Fares for the Afton Express commuter service are $3 each way, with 10-ride fare cards priced at $25.

The presentation highlighted recent operational and infrastructure changes. Bryte added a bus stop to serve Middlebrook Chase Apartments and adjusted the West/North Loop’s hours, starting two hours earlier in the morning to improve connections to employment via the 250 connector. Paratransit capacity has been increased: Bryte operates three ADA-complementary paratransit vehicles and added weekday service hours with a third vehicle during peak reservation times to respond to rising demand.

“We implemented a stop at Valley Community Services Board at Sanger’s Lane three times per day to coordinate with programming there,” Thompson said, noting an expanded partnership and funder support.

On infrastructure, the CSPDC funded a Lewis Street Hub rehabilitation with a federal Bus and Bus Facilities grant and state matching funds; the project cost was presented as approximately $160,000. Upgrades included a dedicated bus lane and parking, ADA curb ramps, sidewalks, crosswalks, security lighting, additional bike racks, repurposed shelters and landscaping. Technology upgrades included a mobile data collection system and real-time GPS tracking, which the CSPDC said can later be used to integrate a “Where’s My Bus” app for riders.

Councilors asked about on-site wayfinding and printed schedules at the Lewis Street Hub; the transit presenters said they plan to add QR-coded signage and make printed brochures available on request. They also noted a trip planner is embedded on Bryte’s website and routes are loaded into Google’s transit feed.

Nut graf: CSPDC staff told council the Bryte system is increasing service reliability and rider information through infrastructure, technology and schedule adjustments that target employment connections and paratransit demand.

The CSPDC staff invited council and community members to attend transit advisory committee meetings and offered to do outreach and rider education sessions for residents who need help using the system’s trip planner.

Ending: CSPDC staff said they will continue to refine schedules and pursue funding to expand hours; council members thanked the presenters and several asked for printed materials for elderly or non-digital riders.