Temporary CONNECT Stop Relocation

November 30, 2021 Janet and Robin Community, News

Begins: November 30, 2021, at 4:03 p.m.

Ends: November 2023.

Affected Routes:

29N: 29 North CONNECT
CROZ-L: Crozet CONNECT Loop
CROZ-E: Crozet East CONNECT
CROZ-W: Crozet West CONNECT
BUCK-N: Buck North CONNECT

Affected Stops:

Emmet St @ Ridley Hall. Click here for updated Google Maps location.
Emmet St @ Central Grounds Garage. Click here for updated Google Maps location.

The stops listed above have been temporarily moved south approximately 300 feet due to construction. There are new signs in place to help you identify the new stops.

CONNECT Services Adopt Stop Points to Improve Commuter Experience

October 27, 2021 Janet and Robin News

Starting on Monday, November 1st, 2021, a small schedule change will go into effect. All drop-off stops will be converted from “time points” to “stop points.” Instead of strict departure times, these stops will now be published with an estimated time, denoted with a “~” symbol. Starting November 1st, drivers will not wait at these drop-off stops before moving to the next stop.

This change is being made to benefit the majority of our passengers who use CONNECT services as a commuter transportation option from the rural areas to urban Albemarle and Charlottesville. By making these changes, commuters will have to wait less when getting dropped off at work in the morning and at home in the evening. Pickup times will not be affected. Drivers will still wait until the advertised departure time before leaving pickup stops.

For passengers interested in “reverse commuting” by boarding the bus at a drop-off stop, you will now need to use the Transloc app to determine the location of the bus and estimated arrival time to your stop. The times published in the route schedule are estimates, not guarantees!

For more information on how these changes will affect schedules, please visit our CONNECT page.

2021 Jaunt City Art Bus Revealed

October 20, 2021 Janet and Robin Community, News, Partners

The Tom Tom Festival, Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT), and Jaunt revealed this year’s first winning artist for the 7th annual City Art Bus competition. Each year, a mural wrap is installed on buses from both agencies, which travel on local roadways for the next year.

The Jaunt bus design, unveiled on Wednesday, October 20th at 10:00AM at the Center at Belvedere (540 Belvedere Boulevard, Charlottesville), features Lindsay Heider Diamond’s design, “Things to Teach Our Children,” a colorful illustration of children from international backgrounds, with values such as Love, Purpose, Honesty, and Understanding inscribed.

“We’re excited to be partnering again with the Tom Tom Festival on this public art initiative and we’re so proud to have Ms. Diamond’s design on one of our buses,” said Jody Saunders, Director of Public Relations at Jaunt. “The values that Ms. Diamond wove into her design truly complement the intent behind Jaunt’s service: compassionate, attentive, and inclusive transportation for everyone.”

Lindsay Heider Diamond has worked as a professional illustrator, graphic designer, and creative director on both coasts. Diamond created this design as a poster, initially to create an awareness of these values in our world and raise funds for the International Neighbors organization in Charlottesville, VA.

“My hope is that people who see the bus take a word or two away each time they view it passing and contemplate how they live by those values in their own life and encourage those values in others around them,” said Lindsay Heider Diamond. “May the bus design be a reminder that we are all able to continue to learn and grow and that we have the opportunity to start practicing and teaching these values every moment we are alive. We are never too young or too old.”

The two moving murals operate on bus lines throughout Charlottesville and Albemarle County. and will be seen by an estimated 200,000+ riders and residents.

Pictures of this year’s bus and more information on the City Art Bus competition can be found at http://www.tomtomfoundation.org/city-art-bus.

Statement Regarding Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation’s Review of Jaunt’s Financial, Operational, and Management Practices

October 11, 2021 Janet and Robin News, Policy

Jaunt is firmly committed to operating from a place of honesty, openness, and transparency. To that end, Jaunt has received the results of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation’s (DRPT) review of our financial, operational, and management practices. A full version of DRPT’s letter can be found here, on our website.

The conclusion of this review is disturbing but not surprising. For the last ten months, the Board and current leadership have been working to undo the damage exacted on the organization by the former CEO’s financial mismanagement. Corrective actions include:

Requested a thorough investigation by our auditors into Jaunt’s FY20 finances
Requested the resignation of former CEO, Brad Sheffield
Put in place a system of checks and balances, changes in management structure, and other guardrails intended to ensure that this can never happen again
Appointed an ethics officer, conducted ethics training at all levels of the organization, and formalized a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct
Fully cooperated with DRPT’S review
Selected Ted Rieck to fill the CEO position, effective December 6

It is critical to understand that Jaunt is still fully operational. The steps identified by DPRT allow Jaunt to continue to serve the community while simultaneously taking appropriate steps to bring Jaunt back into compliance with state and federal funding requirements.

Jaunt is grateful to DRPT for the extensive time and energy that went into this review, and for the steps identified to bring us into compliance and reestablish our standing as a responsible and trusted steward of public funds. Jaunt views its relationship with DRPT as critical to its success in fulfilling its mission of meeting critical public transportation needs for the residents of Central Virginia.

Jaunt, Inc. Announces Hiring of CEO

October 6, 2021 Janet and Robin News

Ted Rieck to start December 6, 2021

Jaunt’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the hiring of its new Chief Executive Officer. Ted Rieck will join Jaunt, effective December 6, 2021. Karen Davis, who has been acting Chief Executive Officer, as well as Chief Operating Officer, since December 6, 2020, will continue as Chief Operating Officer.

“The Board is pleased to welcome Ted Rieck to Jaunt. He is a highly experienced transit leader with the right blend of operations, planning, finance, and program development skills,” said Jaunt Board of Directors President Randy Parker. “Is it with immeasurable gratitude that we thank Karen Davis for her leadership over the last year. Under her direction, Jaunt has continued to provide exemplary service to this community, fulfilling the organization’s mission and vision. We are excited about what Ted and Karen will do together.”

Mr. Rieck brings over 30 years of transit leadership experience to the role, most recently as Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority. There, he is responsible for more than 250 direct and indirect employees, serves five communities, oversees a $23 million annual budget, and reports to a seven-member Board. Throughout his career, Mr. Rieck has demonstrated talent in business development, collaborating and consensus building with diverse stakeholder groups, transportation planning, and strategic financial management.

“I am very excited to be a part of this successful regional transit enterprise,” said Rieck. “With 45 years of growth and service evolution, Jaunt brings tremendous resources and experience to Central Virginia. I’m looking forward to working with all of Jaunt’s stakeholders to continue to address the tremendous need for affordable, accessible transportation in central Virginia.”

Mr. Rieck holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New Hampshire, Durham, a Master of City and Regional Planning from The Ohio State University, a Master of Business Administration from Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Missouri, and has completed postgraduate work in corporate finance.

Area Agencies Highlight Transit Options for Discover Transit Month

October 6, 2021 Janet and Robin News, Partners

Local transportation providers, CAT, Jaunt, UTS and RideShare are working together to remind the community of the ways they can use transit during Discover Transit Month. Each week a new video will be released on how to ride our different transit options. Videos will highlight how to plan or schedule a ride, what it looks like to reach your destination using transit and the benefits our community sees from the service.

“Transit services are vital to many community members, local businesses and visitors. Our transit providers, Jaunt, UTS and CAT, are working hard to provide services now while planning for the future,” said Diantha McKeel, Regional Transit Partnership Chair and member of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors. “October is Transit Month! Take advantage of the nice weather to change up your routine and try transit.”

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