Back to full service

The Culpeper Trolleys are zooming back at full speed.

A week after Virginia Regional Transit cut 14 hours from the weekly schedule because of funding constraints, the hours are being restored in full starting Monday.

That’s because the town and Culpeper Human Services, partners in local funding for the transit service, are stepping up to make the funding whole.

At its meeting last week, the Town Council Finance Committee recommended that the town chip in half of the $12,675 needed to reinstate the two-trolley service to its normal 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. service Monday through Friday.

The two trolleys will also resume normal Saturday service next weekend with both running from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The recommendation for the funding boost goes to council for final approval at its regular meeting Thursday.

Likewise, Chip Coleman, director of Culpeper Human Services, will take the request to his board to pick up the other half at its Nov. 19 meeting.

Coleman, who’s also a councilman, said he’s hopeful both entities would agree to chip in the extra funding.

“This is a wonderful service to our citizens,” he said.

In good faith anticipation that the funding will be approved, VRT is resuming normal trolley hours starting Monday.

“It’s a partnership,” said Mark McGregor, CEO of the Purcellville-based nonprofit public transit provider, “and we will do what we can to keep the level of service at what it is. The bottom line is the people.”

McGregor said VRT made the decision in late October to cut the trolley hours after the local contribution came in less than requested. However, town and CHS officials said they were not aware of the funding shortfall until contacted by the Star-Exponent about the service cuts.

“It was lack of communication on our part,” McGregor said.

The Culpeper Trolleys, like 16 other transit systems statewide, are funded with a combination of federal, state and local dollars. It costs $59 an hour to run the trolleys. Five years ago, it cost $42 an hour to run the service in Culpeper — a 40 percent increase.

Local officials say an extra $12,675 split two ways is not that significant to keep the trolleys running on the normal schedule. However, officials warned, the local share could increase again next year as state and federal dollars for transportation continue to decrease.

Five years ago, the local share for the transit service was 25 percent. That local match is now 32 percent — and expected to rise.

Allison Brophy Champion can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 101 or abrophy@starexponent.com.