HRT Increases Frequency on States Busiest Bus Route
Adds 12 New Buses to 757 Express Fleet
On Monday, November 13, Hampton Roads Transit celebrated the return of 15-minute service during peak hours on the Route 20, the busiest bus route in the Commonwealth. The event was held at the Newtown Road Station. Norfolk State University’s Hot 91.1 got the party started with live music, while staff handed out coffee and donuts to early morning riders.
To help launch the service, HRT added 12 new low-emission buses to its 757 Express fleet. The 35- and 40-foot Gillig buses hold up to 36 and 44 passengers, respectively, and are equipped with Wi-Fi for passenger convenience. They were purchased using dedicated funding established by the Virginia General Assembly in 2020. The approved legislation allocated at least $20 million annually to pay for the 757 Express program.
“These new buses will allow Hampton Roads Transit to provide a higher quality experience to our riders,” said William Harrell, President and CEO at Hampton Roads Transit. “We plan to add more buses in the future as we continue to expand the 757 Express program.”The 757 Express is envisioned as a regional transit system including a mix of high-frequency, express, and limited-stop bus service connecting commuters to major employment destinations. High frequency routes run every 15 minutes during the weekday peak hours of 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. HRT launched the 757 Express regional transit service with Route 112 in October 2022, and Route 114 was added in May. More routes will be added as HRT hires additional bus operators.
