The Virginia Informer

Last Updated:4/22/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Shep Walker Less of this: More frequent bus routes are expected to reduce wait times. As well, a completed website allows students to easily find bus routes from A to B.

In an attempt to improve the bus system, Williamsburg Area Transport has added an extra bus to each of the grey, tan, blue and orange lines according to Mark Rickards, the executive director of Williamsburg Area Transport. Students may be familiar with these lines especially the blue line which stops at the outlets, and the tan line which goes to Wal-Mart.

With the extra bus added to each line, people will now only have to wait a half hour in between buses instead of an hour. Rickards notes that the green line already has two buses running on it, making it a more efficient line. He says the extra buses will be around for at least the next three years, as this will give them a "good understanding of the need for the services," and they have the funding for three years. Rickards says that these buses were added based on rider feedback and because it is "an industry standard."

Williamsburg Area Transport has a website with a complete list of their routes and times and also now has a Facebook page. Also noteworthy is that WAT is now on Google Transit. Students can simply type in their present address and their desired destination and Google will find a route instructing students on how to use the bus system to get to the end location. Google Transit includes alternative routes with detailed instructions, estimated times, and prices.

WAT currently is in the process of implementing a new trolley-bus. Rickards says the route is not finalized, but it will include stops at Merchant Square, High street, and New Town. The line will begin this summer and will be available to students when they return in the fall.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools