Mayor Shannon E. Glover, City of Portsmouth | City of Portsmouth website
Mayor Shannon E. Glover, City of Portsmouth | City of Portsmouth website
Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) is marking Earth Day with a series of initiatives throughout April, including free public transportation and community cleanups. On April 22, all bus, light rail, ferry, Paratransit, and OnDemand ridesharing services will be free to encourage residents to try transit without cost. William E. Harrell, President and CEO of HRT, stated, "HRT is excited to once again offer free travel to celebrate Earth Day as a way to thank our customers while encouraging new riders to leave their vehicles behind and try transit."
In addition to the Free Fare Day, HRT invites community organizations, corporate groups, and civic leagues to participate in bus stop cleanups across Hampton Roads. Volunteers can choose or be assigned a location for tidying up bus stops. Safety vests and cleaning supplies will be provided by HRT.
To maintain cleanliness year-round, HRT encourages the use of QR codes on bus stop signs for feedback on conditions. This anonymous feedback helps allocate cleaning resources effectively.
For those interested in long-term involvement, the Adopt-a-Stop program allows organizations and companies to maintain transit stops by picking up litter and reporting issues like graffiti or broken signage. Supplies such as trash containers and safety gear are provided by HRT.