September will mark five years since the launch of the Afton Express commuter service that travels between Staunton and Charlottesville and the entity that got the buses rolling has announced a significant uptick in ridership.
“The Afton Express has recorded a 38 percent increase in ridership in February compared to February 2025,” said Supervisor Ann Mallek at the May 6, 2026 Board meeting. “This is a really big improvement in helping a lot of people who live in the [Shenandoah Valley] or work in this area, or the reverse commute as well.
The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission coordinated planning for the Afton Express which included securing funds for the service. Albemarle County increased its funding from $2,468 in the current fiscal year to $5,241 in the next one that begins on July.
The CSPDC shared the updated information on its website and stated that the increase may be tied to a marketing campaign that runs through the end of June.
“The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) provided grant funds for the campaign which includes television and streaming commercials, interviews, and digital display advertising,” reads the CSPDC.” Staff also engaged a professional photographer and a graphic designer to develop polished, consistent promotional materials for the route.”
A new schedule went into effect on December 1 that sought to better align routes with the shifts of various employers.
More details will come out about the service when the next annual report is made. Here is a story I wrote about the last report.
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