The public service corporation that provides paratransit and fixed-route bus services throughout the region is seeking input to help prepare for its future.
“Complete this short survey and help us improve your ride–plus enter to win one of 24 gift cards of $25 each,” reads the home page of Jaunt, an agency that turns 50 this year.
The questions seek information on how Jaunt is perceived in the community and how people find out about services. Another important question is whether people ride. Take the survey here.
Transit agencies in the United States report data each year to the Federal Transit Administration. In 2023, Jaunt listed a ridership of its commuter routes of 46,242 and 193,993 in rides classified as “demand response.” Passengers traveled a cumulative 2,433,504 miles that year.
The promotional materials for the survey in both English and Spanish. Take the survey here. (Credit: Jaunt)
Charlottesville Area Transit reported ridership of 1,147,018 in 2023. Look here for their report.
The University Transit Service does not have report ridership to the federal government because it does not receive federal funding.
Jaunt’s survey comes at a time when Albemarle County and Charlottesville have formed a regional transit authority to implement recent studies. So far the group has met three times.
One item on the agenda for the May meeting was who what organizations should fill the four slots for non-voting members of the Charlottesville Albemarle Regional Transit Authority’s Board of Directors. Staff recommended the University of Virginia be invited.
“As a large university and the largest employer in the region, the University of Virginia is a major trip generator that facilitates travel demand within the region,” reads the memo from transit planner Lucinda Shannon with the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission.
Shannon did not recommend inviting Jaunt or Charlottesville Area Transit to join as a non-voting member.
“To avoid potential conflicts of interest, transit service providers are not recommended to participate as non-voting members influencing the allocation of funds that could directly support their potential operations,” Shannon wrote.
However, they may be invited to serve on CARTA subcommittees.
Before you make your next click: This story about transit in the community was posted in the June 9, 2025 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. This is a product of Town Crier Productions and if you would like to know more about how you can support the work, visit this page!
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