Lynchburg warns of service cuts
Greater Lynchburg Transit Company told city leaders that rising costs and expiring grants could force bus‑route cuts unless additional local funding is secured. Agency officials publicly sought city support to avoid reductions that would affect route coverage and frequency (wset.com).
Lynchburg transit leaders told city officials on April 14 that bus routes could be cut unless the city and state put in more money. (wset.com) Greater Lynchburg Transit Company General Manager Josh Moore said fuel, wages, health care and other operating costs have risen while grants are expiring. He said the agency wants the city to accept a new grant package that would require a $2.4 million local match over five years. (wset.com) The warning came during a budget workshop with Lynchburg City Council and city staff. Councilman Chris Faraldi said he questioned “putting this much investment” into a system he described as serving 15 percent, while Councilwoman Stephanie Reed said the city did not want to see Greater Lynchburg Transit Company fail. (wset.com) The funding fight lands after the transit agency already approved a separate service cut tied to staffing. On April 1, the board voted to suspend all Sunday fixed-route, paratransit and Flex microtransit service starting May 3, with the last Sunday service set for April 26. (gltconline.com) Greater Lynchburg Transit Company said that Sunday shutdown was driven by a bus-operator shortage and described Sunday as its lowest-ridership day. The board said it will review the suspension every 90 days while weekday and Saturday service continue on regular schedules. (gltconline.com) Agency planning documents show the problem is broader than one day of service. In a March 19 board retreat, Greater Lynchburg Transit Company said “expiring state grants + flat City funding” were colliding with rising operating costs and laid out service scenarios ranging from full funding to a level-funded option focused on efficiencies. (gltconline.com) That same retreat document says the system runs fixed-route buses, paratransit and microtransit across Lynchburg and into parts of Madison Heights, Bedford County and Campbell County. It says buses operate 17 hours a day on weekdays, 16 on Saturdays and 10 on Sundays, with service provided 359 days a year. (gltconline.com) Greater Lynchburg Transit Company told city leaders that 68 percent of fixed-route and Flex trips are work trips, while 49 percent of paratransit trips are for medical appointments. Board president Cameron Howe said transit is how riders get to jobs, doctor visits and community activities, including some board members getting to the April 14 meeting. (gltconline.com; wset.com) The city’s proposed fiscal 2026 budget kept its local contribution to Greater Lynchburg Transit Company at $1.9 million, the same as the adopted fiscal 2025 budget. That left the transit agency asking for more support as the city’s spring budget process moved into April work sessions and a public hearing scheduled for April 23. (lynchburgva.gov; cardinalnews.org) No funding decision was made on April 14. Mayor Larry Taylor said the talks would continue, and Howe said Greater Lynchburg Transit Company hoped to reach an agreement with the city on a path forward. (wset.com)
