Bay Aging, in partnership with New Kent County and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, launched Bay Transit Microtransit on April 1 to provide affordable, on-demand transportation throughout the county. The service was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 7.
The new microtransit system is designed to improve access for residents and visitors by offering flexible rides connecting neighborhoods in New Kent and Quinton to employment centers, healthcare facilities, shopping areas, dining venues, recreation sites, and community destinations. This initiative addresses the lack of ride-hailing options such as Uber or Lyft in the area.
“What a welcomed service for New Kent County, especially for our aging community,” said Amy Pearson, District 3 Supervisor. “With little to no Uber or Lyft opportunities in New Kent County, this is a step in the right direction to bring transit to the county. This is an incredibly affordable option for our citizens to travel to the grocery store, doctor’s appointments, county events, and more. A big thank you to our Transportation Development Director, Amy Inman, and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) for making this happen.” Bay Transit Director David Fols said: “The Bay Transit Microtransit service in New Kent was thoughtfully designed to connect residents with some of the area’s most popular and essential destinations. This includes healthcare facilities, community centers, parks, and key shopping and dining locations throughout the county.”
Bay Transit Microtransit operates Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., offering shared-ride services at $1 per one-way trip. Riders can schedule trips using a mobile app or by calling Bay Transit’s office; phone bookings require exact change upon boarding.
New Kent County has seen recent growth among its school-aged population as well. The only public school district enrolled 3,536 students during the 2023-24 school year according to state data. Of these students,New Kent High School had the highest enrollment with 1,116 students across five schools.White students represented about 73% of enrollment, while Black students made up nearly 12%. Overall student numbers rose by almost three percent compared with last year as reported by education officials. For younger children,Quinton Elementary School enrolled over half of all pre-kindergarteners whileNew Kent Elementary had nearly two-fifths of kindergarteners.
Bay Aging operates Bay Transit across Virginia’s Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck regions providing various transportation options including demand-response services for older adults or people with disabilities.
