Tag Archives: transit

Afton Express and UVA Recognized for Sustainability and Transit Partnership

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This spring, the Afton Express and its partner, the University of Virginia (UVA), received two awards recognizing the route’s environmental impact and the strength of the regional partnership behind it.

On May 1, UVA honored the Afton Express at its annual Sustainability Leadership Awards luncheon. Paula Melester, Devon Thompson, and Danielle Gannon received the award on behalf of BRITE Transit and CSPDC alongside Kendall Howell and Patrick Clark of UVA Parking and Transportation.

The award recognizes the Afton Express and Wahoo Commute partnership, under which  UVA faculty, staff and students ride free, which supported 23,725 passenger trips in 2025. Those passenger trips eliminated an estimated 733,103 vehicle miles traveled and 260 metric tons of tailpipe emissions as compared to people driving alone, and the average rider saved approximately $5,500 in commuting costs including gas, vehicle wear and tear, and parking.

On May 20, the Virginia Transit Association (VTA) presented UVA’s Department of Parking and Transportation with its Outstanding Contribution by a Partner Award at the 2026 Annual Conference for its sustained role in advancing the Afton Express. The award, selected from nearly three dozen submissions by transit colleagues across the Commonwealth, cited UVA’s sustained financial investment, technical engagement during the recent service procurement process, and its Wahoo Commute incentive program, which rewards employees who choose transit and other alternatives to single-occupancy vehicles. In 2025, the Afton Express recorded nearly 24,000 total passenger boardings, with approximately 80 percent of riders affiliated with UVA, generating an estimated $872,751 in avoided commuting costs for UVA riders.

CSPDC and UVA will continue working together to grow ridership, strengthen service, and expand sustainable commuting options for travelers between Augusta County, Waynesboro, and Charlottesville.

 

CSPDC Staff Present at VTA Annual Conference & Bus Expo

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Director of Transportation Paula Melester and JMU Graduate Assistant Kayla Dixon presented “Stories That Move People: Building Transit’s Case in the Community” at the Virginia Transit Association (VTA) Annual Conference on May 19–20. The session outlined BRITE Transit’s research-backed, story-centered outreach campaign built around three pillars — information, relevance, and compelling stories — and featured CSPDC’s Value of Transit video. CSPDC’s Value of Transit campaign uses the stories of riders, employers and local officials to demonstrate the return on investment in the BRITE system.

With a transit marketing grant through the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), in the coming fiscal year we will design and implement a multimedia campaign to promote BRITE Transit and expand the Value of Transit project. The campaign will include marketing toolkits for our regional partners tailored to their needs, television and radio ads, and digital content to meet BRITE’s goal of increasing access and growing ridership on the system.

Danielle Gannon Graduates from Virginia Transit Leadership Institute

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We are proud to share that Danielle Gannon, Transit Planner at CSPDC, has graduated from the Virginia Transit Association’s (VTA) Virginia Transit Leadership Institute (VTLI). The graduation ceremony was held during the VTA Annual Conference and Expo in Fredericksburg on May 19–20, 2026.

In August 2025, Danielle was selected to participate in the third cohort of VTLI, a nine-month intensive program designed to develop the next generation of transit leaders. Over the course of the program, Danielle joined peers from across Virginia’s transit providers for five immersive full-day sessions covering a broad range of transit-related topics. From legislation to funding to leadership development, service planning, and community outreach, the program offered a comprehensive, statewide perspective on public transportation.

The knowledge, professional connections, and leadership skills Danielle has gained through VTLI will directly benefit BRITE Transit and Afton Express operations, and we look forward to seeing the continued impact of her work in transit planning and commuter assistance in our region. Please join us in congratulating Danielle on this well-deserved milestone.

Afton Express Sees Ridership Surge

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The Afton Express recorded a 38% increase in ridership this February compared to February 2025, a milestone for BRITE Transit’s commuter route connecting the Central Shenandoah Valley to Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

The increase follows a marketing campaign that launched in fall 2025 and runs through the end of June, 2026. The Virginia  Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) provided grant funds for the campaign which  includes television and streaming commercials, interviews, and digital display advertising. Staff also engaged a professional photographer and a graphic designer to develop polished, consistent promotional materials for the route.

Afton Express also implemented a new schedule on December 1, 2025 to better align departure and arrival times with employer schedules and rider requests — another driver of the ridership surge. For more information on Afton Express, see our 2025 Annual Report.

 

Virginia Breeze Launches Tidewater Current, Connecting the Valley to the Coast

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Getting from the Shenandoah Valley to Virginia Beach is about to get a lot easier. The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) is launching the Tidewater Current, a new Virginia Breeze intercity bus route that will begin service on April 20. This is the first east-west transit service in the Virginia Breeze network, linking Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads with Richmond, Charlottesville, Staunton, and Harrisonburg along the I-64 corridor.

For Valley residents already familiar with the Virginia Breeze’s Valley Flyer, which connects Blacksburg to Washington, D.C., the Tidewater Current provides even more opportunities for connections in an entirely new direction. The route makes ten stops across the state:

  • Virginia Beach Convention Center
  • Norforlk – Military Highway Park & Ride
  • Newport News – Newport News Transportation Center
  • Williamsburg – Williamsburg Transportation Center
  • New Kent – Colonial Downs/Rosie’s Gaming Emporium
  • Richmond International Airport
  • Richmond Main Street Station
  • Charlottesville – Scott Stadium
  • Staunton – Crossing Way Park & Ride
  • Harrisonburg – Godwin Transit Center

“Expanding the Virginia Breeze intercity bus network is part of our commitment to providing more transportation choices for all Virginians,” said Mariia Zimmerman, director of DRPT. “The Tidewater Current creates an important east-west connection across the Commonwealth, helping people travel safely, affordably, and conveniently while supporting tourism and economic opportunity.”

Ticket pricing is destination based, and buses include roomy seating, a restroom, free Wi-Fi, and in-seat power outlets. All vehicles are wheelchair accessible and include luggage storage.

Tickets are available at virginiabreeze.drpt.virginia.gov.

CSPDC Selects New Contractor for BRITE Transit Operations

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The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission (CSPDC) is pleased to announce the selection of Resource Management Systems, Inc. (RMS) as the new contractor for turnkey operations and maintenance of the BRITE Transit system. RMS will assume operations beginning July 1, 2026, under a five-year base contract with options to extend for up to nine years total.

RMS is a Georgia-based transit service provider with over 30 years of experience delivering public transportation, paratransit, and non-emergency medical transportation services to communities across the country. They are no strangers to regions like ours — RMS currently provides transit services to numerous rural counties and planning commissions across Georgia, giving them a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities that come with serving rural communities. The CSPDC is confident that RMS’s experience and commitment to accessible, reliable transportation make them an excellent fit for BRITE and the communities we serve.

As recipients of federal and state funding, the CSPDC is required to conduct a fully open and competitive procurement at the end of each contract term. That process was completed this year, resulting in the award to RMS.

This transition also marks the close of a long and valued chapter with our outgoing contractor, Virginia Regional Transit (VRT). VRT has operated the BRITE system since before the CSPDC assumed oversight of the program, and their dedication to this region has been immeasurable. The hard work, institutional knowledge, and care that VRT’s team has brought to BRITE over the years has shaped the system into what it is today, and we are deeply grateful for their partnership and service.

As the June 30, 2026 contract end date approaches, the CSPDC will work closely with both VRT and RMS to ensure a seamless transition. Our top priority is continuity of service — riders should experience no disruption on July 1st. In fact, the most noticeable change may simply be some fresh, new vehicles on the road.

CSPDC Honored at ACEC Virginia Engineering Excellence Awards

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Pictured Left to Right: Jeff LaHood, Jon Oliver, Chloe Harwood, Paula Melester, Ann Cundy, Duncan Stewart, and Alan Saunders

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Virginia recognized CSPDC with a Merit Award for the Lewis Street Transit Hub Project at the 2026 Engineering Excellence Awards Gala on February 5th. The gala, held at the Dewey Gottwald Center at the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond, celebrated outstanding engineering achievements across the Commonwealth. CSPDC’s Executive Director, Ann Cundy and Director of Transportation Paula Melester joined Lewis Street Hub project team members Duncan Stewart (MBP), Alan Saunders (DRPT), and Chloe Harwood, Jeff LaHood, and Jon Oliver (all of Kimley-Horn) for the evening’s festivities. Paula and Jeff LaHood accepted the award on behalf of the project team. 

The Lewis Street Transit Hub, completed in August 2024, represents a significant investment in BRITE Transit’s regional infrastructure and passenger experience. The Merit Award recognizes the project’s achievement in innovation, complexity, and value — a testament to the strong collaborative effort among CSPDC, Kimley-Horn, MBP, and DRPT throughout planning, design, and construction. CSPDC is proud to share this recognition with all the partners who helped bring this important transit facility to life. 

Transit Equity Day & Winter Storm Fern Response

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BRITE Bus celebrated Transit Equity Day on February 4 with fare-free rides on all BRITE routes. Transit Equity Day pays homage to Civil Rights icon Rosa Parks and her courageous acts in fighting for the right to equitable transportation. This day of action serves as a reminder of the importance of removing barriers to accessible transportation. 

Prior to honoring Ms. Parks’ legacy, Winter Storm Fern impacted operations. BRITE Bus prepared for the storm by ending service early on January 24, and provided fare-free rides for the day so residents could access transportation without barriers to prepare for the storm. Once services resumed, BRITE staff reiterated to riders how to safely access BRITE services with the plethora of snow/ice around typical bus stops and pedestrian infrastructure. We thank the Cities of Staunton and Waynesboro and Augusta County staff who assisted in making the bus stop areas accessible to riders. 

The Afton Express Celebrates Four Years While Planning for the Future

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Image of an Afton Express Bus

The Afton Express is celebrating its fourth anniversary this September, marking a major milestone for a service that has become a key asset for commuters traveling along the I-64 corridor. Since its launch in 2021, Afton Express has seen steady growth, with ridership increasing by 56% from its inception to the end of 2024, with a projected increase of 84% from inception to December 2025.

In addition to the anniversary, a new proposed schedule for the Afton Express is now available for public comment. We are revising the schedule using rider and stakeholder feedback as well as ridership data to better align with passenger needs. The public can provide feedback on the proposed schedule by visiting the Afton Express page on CSPDC Connects.

To celebrate the anniversary and discuss the future of the service, CSPDC staff are hosting pop-up events at the Staunton and Waynesboro Park and Ride lots and the UVA Bavaro Hall stop in Charlottesville. These events will provide an opportunity for staff to thank riders, share Rideshare resources, and engage with the Afton Express community.

Following the public comment period, we will make necessary revisions and implement the new schedule on Monday, November 3.

Augusta Health Awarded Outstanding Business Partner at CTAV Conference

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Image of CSPDC and Augusta Health Staff holding an award plaque

The Community Transportation Association of Virginia (CTAV) honored Augusta Health with its Outstanding Business Partner Award at the Annual Conference and Expo, recognizing the hospital’s partnership, engagement, and commitment to public transportation in the region. Augusta Health Community Outreach Manager Abby Calvert, pictured above with CSPDC staff, attended to accept the award. CTAV’s Outstanding Business Partner Award recognizes exceptional support for community transportation throughout Virginia.

As a dedicated funding and community partner for BRITE Bus, Augusta Health exemplifies how healthcare organizations can support mobility for all. Through partnering to provide fare-free rides to all Augusta Health facilities, purchasing farecards in bulk for community distribution, and advocating for accessibility through the BRITE Transit Advisory Committee, Augusta Health’s partnership removes transportation barriers to accessing healthcare and other essential services throughout the region.  Their multifaceted commitment to healthcare access demonstrates how strengthened regional transportation networks can advance community health was applauded and recognized through this award.