WATA bus service coming to U.S. 17 in York County
Bus service is coming next year to York County’s U.S. 17 corridor, in a three-year demonstration project to test demand and need.
The service would run between the York-Poquoson Courthouse in Yorktown to the York County Walmart, at the intersection of U.S. 17 and Victory Boulevard, roughly 11 miles.
For the past five years, a line on U.S. 17 has been a high priority for both the county and the Williamsburg Area Transit Authority, which recently won a grant of up to $1.5 million for a three year test of the idea.
The line would extend WATA service to lower York County for the first time.
WATA currently reaches Yorktown with service along Yorktown and Old Williamsburg roads, which was launched to connect the Lackey Clinic with the Hampton Roads Transit system. It also operates the Historic Yorktown Trolley.
On the U.S. 17 line, current thinking is that there would be 14 stops, including at the county library, Fort Eustis Boulevard, Goodwin Neck Road, and the York Village and Washington Square shopping centers, according to a briefing paper for the county Board of Supervisors.
At the end of the demonstration period, a decision will be made about whether to continue the service.
Meanwhile, the county and WATA are planning to launch a paratransit service for people with disabilities. The Federal Transportation Administration’s recent triennial review of the Yorktown Trolley Service found that a paratransit service to complement the trolley is required by federal regulations. Those regulations say people with disabilities are entitled to a comparable level of service to what others can get with a fixed-route service.
The paratransit service must cover points up to 3/4 of mile from any point on the trolley service.
Dave Ress, 757-247-4535, dress@dailypress.com
