WATA plans service‑frequency increases, new North Transit Center and expanded ticketing to attract riders

Matt Scalia, executive director of the Williamsburg Area Transit Authority, told the James City County Board that WATA's FY25 ridership on core routes surpassed pre‑COVID FY19 benchmarks and that operator strength has recovered to near 100 percent following a compensation adjustment.

Scalia described service and capital plans that include six new buses arriving in April (a mix of compressed natural gas and clean diesel), broader use of compressed natural gas beyond the colonial route, and ongoing bus stop improvements (15 stops being upgraded, 30 more expected by year‑end). He also highlighted the agency's recent rollout of mobile ticketing and a fare‑capping feature designed to make fares more equitable for riders who cannot afford monthly passes.

On infrastructure, Scalia said the new North Transit Center is expected to open in August and will replace the transfer site currently operating in a Walmart parking lot; the facility will include canopies, indoor and outdoor waiting areas, information desks, public restrooms and operator facilities. He said local governments are contributing less than 4 percent of the center's cost and that most funding is federal and state.

As part of a three‑phase strategic plan to attract "choice riders," Scalia proposed higher frequency across the network: raising Route 12 (Ironbound) to a 15‑minute frequency, moving five routes to 30‑minute frequencies (including Routes 1 and 2), and expanding some routes to better serve jobs, health appointments and tourist flows for the nation's 250th anniversary events. "Increasing frequency makes more destinations accessible in less time for a large number of people," he said.

Board members praised the bus stop improvements and asked for more detail on funding and rotational placement of new vehicles.