The Danville Transportation Advisory Committee will hear a presentation at its meeting at noon Tuesday about the feasibility of implementing a commuter bus system in the city. The bus service, if implemented, could run between Danville, Lynchburg, Martinsville and Greensboro, North Carolina.
Lib Rood, senior transportation planner for the KFH Group, will give the presentation to the seven-member committee. The KFH Group is a Maryland-based transportation planning and consulting firm.
The feasibility study, financed by the city of Danville, was partially prompted by activity at the Caesars Virginia casino resort and the Southern Virginia Megasite at Berry Hill.
Both of these sites “could generate significant work trip activity for commuter bus service,” according to a 2024 request for proposals document for the feasibility study. The study evaluates work trip demand, as well as other passenger demand for a bus service.
Chatham and Gretna, as well as Reidsville, North Carolina, would be included as stops along the routes linking Danville to Lynchburg and Greensboro, respectively.
“The possible startup date for regional bus service is not expected until the summer/fall of 2026,” the RFP says.
Danville Transit, the city’s existing mass transit system, would not directly operate this service, so the study also analyzes the feasibility of a third party operator.
This study had to be completed by December 2024, in time for the city to apply for state grants.
Danville Transit is not eligible for grants through the Transit Ridership Incentive Program. The city lost its status as a metropolitan area when the population fell below 50,000. However, the city is eligible for a state demonstration grant.
There is currently no bus service between Danville and Greensboro, though Greyhound used to provide this route, according to the RFP. Virginia Breeze currently connects Danville to other nearby localities like Altavista, Lynchburg, South Boston and Martinsville, as well as Charlottesville, Culpeper, Warrenton, Gainesville, Dulles International Airport, Washington, Farmville and Richmond.
The transportation advisory committee will also hear financial status, ridership and employment status reports during its meeting, as well as capital project and budget updates.
The complete agenda can be found here.