WILLIAMSBURG — The Williamsburg Area Transit Authority (WATA) announced Thursday it would begin a new bus route for Colonial Williamsburg to replace the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s current transportation operations starting Sept. 10.
According to WATA, the service will be referenced in the WATA system as Route 15: Colonial.
“WATA is excited to expand its operations to include a new route through Colonial Williamsburg,” said Matthew Scalia, WATA executive director. “Tourism is a vibrant and vital part of our community and economy, and visitors to the area will continue to count on reliable and accessible public transit to visit the wonderful sites. In fact, our new route will make it even easier for them to move throughout the greater Williamsburg area with easier connections to our other routes. This will be a benefit to them and our local businesses.”
Operating hours for the route will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Service will not run on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve will run on the Sunday schedule, WATA said.
With one exception, Route 15: Colonial will mirror the current shuttle service, with an additional stop added at the Williamsburg Transportation Center. According to WATA, the route will begin at the Williamsburg Transportation Center and pick up the current pattern at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center.
Riders can find maps for the route at the Williamsburg Transportation Center and the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center. WATA also encourages riders to download Transit app, which provides information on all of its routes.
“The Williamsburg Area Transit Authority is well suited to operate the shuttle route through our historic campus. Enhancing the Historic Area route while maintaining this free transportation service will benefit riders and lets us focus on our educational mission,” said Robert Underwood, vice president of Operations for The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.
The route will be free to the public, however, riders transferring to other routes will be required to pay the standard fare. A standard one-day bus fare is $3.
WATA’s policies and Code of Conduct will apply to the new route, it said, and returning tourists may notice some changes to the service:
- Manual and Powered Wheelchairs — All riders are to have wheelchairs secured while aboard a transit bus in order to meet the Department of Transportation regulations supporting the Americans with Disability Act (ADA).
- Strollers — Strollers, carts, or similar items must be collapsed prior to boarding and must not block the aisle.
- Pets — In order to meet the Department of Transportation regulations supporting the ADA, WATA only accepts service animals which are trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability. Comfort and companion animals are not considered to be service animals.
- Lost and Found — Any items left on buses at the end of the day will be taken to the Williamsburg Transportation Center. If a customer believes they have left an item on a bus, they can call the WATA Store at 757-790-2339. Items that are not claimed by the owner will be kept for at least 30 days. Perishable items will be discarded immediately. WATA is not responsible for lost or stolen items or any damage to items left behind.
Visit the WATA website for more information on the route and its schedule.
