Because transportation is essential for our community’s public health, economic development, and the health of our voluntary associations, VIA is working to bring county-wide, door-to-door demand response transit to our community. This service would be operated by an existing, qualified public transit operator, who would extend their services to Rockingham County.  The operator would apply to and be awarded funding by the state transit agency. 

We have completed the feasibility study. The next step is a one year, no-risk demonstration project to assess and learn whether this service model works for our community. 

Moving forward with the demonstration project requires 2 things:

1. Local matching funds

VIA is organizing the local match funding from area employers, service providers, and non-profit organizations. Currently, we are organizing $200,000 for the local match. This would put 4 vehicles on the road, Monday-Friday from 6 am-7 pm.

1. A letter of support from Rockingham County Board of Supervisors

Similar to the letter Supervisors sent granting the feasibility study, the Board of Supervisors must send a letter to the state transit agency allowing them to award funding for a qualified transit operator to run service in our area. 

What is demand-response transit? 

A public transit rideshare. A rider can call up to 24 hours in advance and make a reservation to get picked up at a location and taken to their destination. The reservationist makes a route, sends an appropriate sized vehicle and driver. This kind of transit service is especially fit for rural areas. It already exists in places like Albemarle and Greene Counties, as well as Roanoke Valley, and Southwest Virginia. 

Who can ride? 

Anyone - regardless of age, income, or status. And for any reason. 

Where does it go? 

For any trip starting in or going to Rockingham County. Live in Harrisonburg and need to go to Sentara? Live in Bridgewater and need to get to downtown Harrisonburg? This is for you! It will also tie into existing transit routes adjacent to our area, for example ShenGo.

When can I ride? 

The exact schedule will be determined by need and resources available. Our proposed local match of $200,000 would provide 4 vehicles operating Monday-Friday from 6am-7pm.  

How is this paid for?

70% of all public transit in the country comes from long-standing federal and state funds, specifically the Federal Transit Administration and Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transit.

Right now, our tax dollars are funding transit in other cities. We are leaving money on the table! The 30% local match can come from private or public sources. We have been talking with area employers, retirement communities, and nonprofits to estimate their current transportation costs and explore whether this service would provide better service for their buck.

Is this going to cost taxpayers money?  

We are already taxed for it.  Our tax dollars are currently going to provide transit service in other areas across the state. This is a way to bring our fair share of those tax dollars back to Rockingham County. 

How is the operator chosen?

The operator would apply to and be awarded funding by the state transit agency. The local match dollars would go to the operator with a successful application. 

How much does it cost the rider?

Fare charges are determined by the transit operator. Many operators have chosen to be fare-free. 

Typically, fares account for less than 2% of an operator’s budget. Any fare charged at the door is considered revenue on top of regular operating funds and cannot be used for the local match. 

How do you ensure the service will not be abused? 

Since riders must make a reservation for service, the operator is aware of patterns of abuse. Each transit operator has their own internal protocols to protect against abuse of the system. 

Will corporations' benefit?  

We hope all will benefit, including families, volunteer groups, local businesses and major employers, and our local government. VIA’s proposal for a public-private partnership means that residents will be able to get to work, their doctor appointments, shopping, church, and other community events.  Studies have shown that for every dollar spent on transit, there is $3 returned to the local economy.

What happens after the one year demonstration project?

Throughout and at completion of the demonstration project, stakeholders will assess whether this transit service model is effective. If the project is successful, stakeholders may choose to continue funding the local match for service, and the operator would again apply for state and federal operating funds.

Like all public transit in the country, ongoing service would be funded on an annual basis. While it requires an annual application, public transit has a consistent source of public funding, similar to public education. As long as the operator is meeting state and federal requirements, we can expect that funding to be available. 

If the project is not successful, it ends. There is no ongoing commitment.

Will Rockingham County have to pay to maintain services after the demonstration project? 

No.  Interested stakeholders will decide whether to fund the local match for ongoing service. Again, if the demonstration project is not successful, IT GOES AWAY!  

How will this affect service agencies that currently provide transportation services?

There are a handful of social service agencies currently providing transportation services to their clients. These are important services, and they serve specific populations based on age, disability, and income for specific purposes. These agencies are not primarily transit operators, and they do not have the capacity to expand their service model to meet the need.  County-wide demand response transit service would complement current services provided by social service agencies and enable more residents to live independently. 

What were the results of the feasibility study?

The feasibility study found a significant need for transportation across Rockingham County. While the consultant recommended demand-response type service rather than fixed-route, they focused on micro-transit, an on-demand service model that would operate like a public Uber for Bridgewater, Dayton, and Harrisonburg. While county-wide demand response requires a reservation up to 24 hours in advance, on-demand micro-transit can be requested up to 20 minutes in advance. The cost is the same for on-demand  Bridgewater-Harrisonburg service and county-wide demand response service.   The consultant’s rationale is that a 20 minute wait time is “better quality” service than having to make a reservation 24 hours in advance.

VIA has had conversations with over 1,500 residents. We live here. And, we know there is a deep need across the county. Requiring riders to make a reservation a day in advance, so that all can access this service is worth the wait.

Ultimately, it is up to the state transit agency if they will grant funding for a demonstration project proposal. Given this, VIA asked the state transit agency if they would consider awarding a demonstration project for county-wide demand-response, rather than on-demand. The state transit agency has written that it would.