A decade ago, the regional transportation planning entities for the Charlottesville area and the Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro area began meeting to discuss ways they could work together.
- Charlottesville and Staunton transportation groups meet to discuss collaboration, Charlottesville Tomorrow, October 8, 2015
- Staunton, Charlottesville transportation groups discuss cooperation on I-64, Charlottesville Tomorrow, October 26, 2016
- Groups briefed on Harrisonburg-to-Charlottesville bus service, Charlottesville Tomorrow, September 17, 2017
One identified initiative was increased transit between the two communities. After years of planning by the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission, the Afton Express launched in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Regional Transit Partnership got an update on how they’re doing at their meeting in late April.
“Ridership on the Afton Express continues to increase year-by-year with 19,146 passenger trips taken in 2024,” reads the executive summary of the annual report. “This represents a 16% increase from the previous year and is the highest recorded ridership in a single year since the launch of the service.”
In 2024, the University of Virginia began covering the cost of all employees who use the service. To be eligible, however, employees have to give up a yearly parking pass. Those can now cost over $1,500 a year according to the report.
Bus stops in Staunton and Fisherville were relocated to be closer to other transit services operated by BRITE.
Ridership varies throughout the year with a high of 2,004 rides in October and a low of 1,292 in January.
Before you go: This story about one of the transit components in this area was first published in the June 4, 2025 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. This is all part of Town Crier Productions. Want to help me be able to hire someone one day? Take a look here!
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