Embracing Regional Transit Authorities: A Path Forward for Charlottesville and Albemarle County

The shared future of transit in Charlottesville and Albemarle County has reached a pivotal moment. On Wednesday, December 11, and Monday, December 16, respectively, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors and Charlottesville City Council are expected to vote in favor of forming a Regional Transit Authority (RTA). An RTA is a governance body that can streamline transportation services across localities, manage regional transit systems, and secure dedicated funding for public transportation. 

Increased focus on sustainability, equity, and regional collaboration has thrown a spotlight onto the myriad issues preventing Charlottesville and Albemarle County residents from accessing basic public transit across the region, and setting up a Charlottesville-Albemarle Regional Transit Authority, known as CARTA, will allow our transit planners, including Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT), to serve the region in a more cohesive, holistic way. This blog will explore the benefits of an RTA between Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

Why form a Charlottesville-Albemarle Regional Transit Authority?

An RTA is a public entity that oversees and operates transit services across multiple jurisdictions. It allows for centralized planning, coordinated routes, and pooled resources to better serve an entire region. By breaking down jurisdictional barriers, RTAs can more efficiently address regional transit needs, from daily commutes to transportation equity for under-resourced communities, in a manner much more in line with how people actually live, work, and travel between jurisdictions. In contrast with an agency, a transit authority can seek approval from the state General Assembly to directly appropriate funding from taxation, streamlining the funding process for public transit.

In conversation with C3 about the benefits CARTA would bring to the region, Chet Parsons, Executive Director for the Central Virginia Transportation Authority, emphasized an RTA's strength in streamlining collaboration among multiple localities, allowing for greater buying power and competitiveness when pursuing federal funding. When more jurisdictions are involved, there is a greater pool of available funding that can be leveraged for federal matches, making transit projects both more attractive and feasible.

For Charlottesville and Albemarle County, this would mean enhanced bus service, expanded new transit options, more efficient route connectivity, and an overall shift toward sustainable mobility that benefits residents and businesses alike. 

Charlottesville and Albemarle County’s Journey Toward an RTA

The idea of a Regional Transit Authority has been discussed in Charlottesville and Albemarle County for over a decade. In 2009, local leaders initiated discussions about forming an RTA, seeing the potential for more comprehensive regional transit services. However, those efforts stalled, largely due to concerns about governance structures, local autonomy, and funding mechanisms. Amidst this setback, the need for an RTA has only grown more urgent, with the fragmented transit network across the City and County’s urban area losing more and more CAT riders every year.

Representatives from CAT, Charlottesville City government, Albemarle Board of Supervisors, and the Thomas Jefferson Planning District learning about regional collaboration toward low- and no-emission buses in Champaign-Urbana, IL

As our region sees more development and density in the planned growth areas, CARTA would help ensure that transit keeps pace, reducing the environmental impact of increased traffic while supporting climate goals. While collaboration between the two different localities has been a barrier to setting up CARTA in the past, this upcoming vote and the current relationships between Charlottesville and Albemarle represent the closest the area has ever come to setting up a functioning RTA.

GRTC: A Success Story in Regional Transit

As Charlottesville and Albemarle County embark on the work of establishing an RTA, it’s crucial to learn from the experiences of other cities and rural areas that have joined together their transit decision-making, particularly Richmond’s success with GRTC. While the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) does not function quite as a transit “authority,” its composition of 9 separate jurisdictions offers a compelling example of how regional transit decision-making can transform transit services and improve access to funding. GRTC, which is jointly owned by the City of Richmond and Chesterfield County, serves the City and its surrounding counties and has flourished under its regional service model.

As a result of expanding its footprint and connecting different localities, GRTC has been able to tap into federal and state funds more effectively than individual jurisdictions could alone. This includes major grants from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), which have allowed GRTC to invest in service expansions, transit equipment and vehicles, and infrastructure improvements. 

With its expanded funding access, GRTC has implemented system-wide improvements that have enhanced the passenger experience. Notable initiatives include the launch of the Pulse Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which offers faster, more reliable service on dedicated lanes, and which CAT’s Director Garland Williams was instrumental in bringing to fruition in his former role as Director of Planning and Scheduling for GRTC. Additionally, having nine jurisdictions allows GRTC to broaden its reach into rural areas with on-demand microtransit, allowing the agency to serve a greater swath of the population.

Why a “Yes” vote to join CARTA matters

It has become increasingly evident over the past year that both Albemarle County and Charlottesville’s decision-makers understand a core truth: public transit is a public good and a net contributor to thriving, sustainable, equity-forward communities. Over the next few weeks, Charlottesville City Councillors and Albemarle County Board of Supervisors will be voting on more than just transit governance but on building better connections across the communities that make up Charlottesville and Albemarle. A regional approach to transit seeks to ensure that underserved communities—both urban and rural—have better access to reliable transportation. This is essential for providing economic opportunities, reducing disparities in mobility, and reducing emissions from transportation. By pooling resources and expertise, CARTA can make our transit system more efficient with better planning, integrated services, and a higher-quality experience for riders across the region.

Charlottesville and Albemarle County have the opportunity to take a bold step forward by voting to join an RTA. Join us in calling for a “yes” vote to establish the Charlottesville/Albemarle Regional Transit Authority and make a lasting investment in the future of our community’s transit system!