Changes to the Route 250 Connector Bus Service, identified as the number one priority in the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission’s Transit Development Plan (TDP), took effect in early November, and riders couldn’t be happier about the new schedule. Comments by riders to drivers and calls to the Virginia Regional Transit office reflect appreciation for the closed gaps and extra Saturday service.
Joseph Gaines, a regular rider on the line said, “The schedule changes on the Route 250 Connector are a lot more convenient for me and have solved a lot of problems with missing the bus and having to wait a long time for another one, especially if I need to do something on my lunch hour from work. I think the additional times and runs on Saturdayhave made a difference to people needing to go shopping, run errands and get to the Green Line in Staunton to go downtown too. It’s much better for what riders like me need.”
Monday through Friday service on both the eastbound and westbound 250 Connector routes now begins at 7:30 AM and runs every hour until 9:30 PM. On Saturday, the service begins operating at 8:30 AM and runs every hour until 7:30 PM. This provides improved access to jobs, shopping, and appointments, and eliminates the inconvenience of long waits that resulted from the prior schedule. The route connects to the Staunton Trolleys, the Waynesboro Circulator, the 340 Connector and the Blue Ridge Community College Shuttle, and provides service between the cities of Staunton and Waynesboro in the US 250 corridor, with stops including Augusta Health and the Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center.
Along with expanded services, the 250 Connector service debuted the new BRITE logo and color scheme, which will be transitioned to transit services throughout the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro area. The BRITE brand will give one unified look to the entire system that serves the region.
The TDP is a short-range plan that outlines the transit improvements intended during a six-year planning horizon. A primary focus of the projects included in the TDP is the development of a combined urban-rural system that ties together current services operating in the region. The program will lay the foundation for future growth as community awareness and ridership increases and additional transit partners are obtained. Modest service improvements are included within the plan, based on currently available funding resources.
In addition to the Route 250 Connector changes, the Silver Trolley route in Staunton and the Waynesboro Circulator route will be adjusted, and improvements to the transit system’s bus stops, shelters, and signage are in the works.
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Chris Graham
