WILLIAMSBURG — The Williamsburg Area Transit Authority is seeking public feedback on proposed route changes tied to the September opening of the WATA North Transit Center, which will become the system’s new primary transfer hub.
WATA says currently, four of its routes transfer in the space between the Walmart Supercenter and Lowe’s Home Improvement on East Rochambeau Drive. Those routes will adjust their paths and schedules since the WNTC will serve as the new main transfer point.
The transit center will provide amenities needed for both passengers and operators, as well as make transferring between routes easier, improve safety and accessibility, and help WATA provide more reliable service.
The proposed service changes are as follows:
Route 2: Will serve Walmart on East Rochambeau Drive and Great Wolf Lodge before and after transfers at the WNTC. It will be the only route serving those locations, with service in both directions.
Route 4: Will depart the WNTC via Mooretown Road and Lightfoot Road and add a new stop near the Apartments at Kelton Station. Stop 1318 at Centerville Road and Opportunity Way will be relocated to the unused shelter on Opportunity Way near the Virginia Peninsula Community College Historic Triangle Campus. The route will also serve existing stops at Harris Teeter and add new stops at the Apartments at Kelton Station and Grande Oaks before returning to the WNTC.
Route 7: Will no longer serve Walmart or Great Wolf Lodge. Those stops will be served by Route 2.
Route 9: Will no longer serve Walmart. That stop will be served by Route 2.
Route 11: Will begin at Tam-O-Shanter Boulevard and Merrimac Trail and follow its regular route to Goosley Road. Instead of turning onto Leigh Road to serve Yorktown Square and Rivermeade Apartments, the route will continue on Goosley Road. Stops 1329 and 1336 will be combined and relocated to the intersection of Goosley and Leigh roads to allow service in both directions. The route will then connect with the Yorktown Trolley at the York-Poquoson Courthouse.
Additionally, WATA says Route 11 will be making major service changes:
Route 11: Will begin at Stop 1107 – Tam-O-Shanter Blvd at Merrimac Trail and continue along its regular route until Goosley Rd. Instead of turning left onto Leigh Road to serve Yorktown Square and Rivermeade Apartments (Stops 1329 and 1336), the route will continue on Goosley Road. The two stops will be combined and relocated to the intersection of Goosley Road. and Leigh Road on both sides of the street to allow for service in both route directions. The route will then turn left onto George Washington Memorial Highway to connect with the Yorktown Trolley at the York-Poquoson Courthouse.
To gather public input, WATA will host two public town hall meetings. One will be on Tuesday, May 12 at noon, and the other on Thursday, May 14 at 5:30 p.m. Both meetings will be held at the James City County Library at 7770 Croaker Road.
During the meetings, WATA staff will explain the reasons for the proposed route changes, outline the potential benefits of the WNTC, review the implementation timeline and discuss potential future service improvements.
Community members can review the proposed changes and submit feedback online at gowata.org/200/Service-Changes.:www.gowata.org/200/Service-Changes.
