LYNCHBURG, Va. – Riders who rely on Greater Lynchburg Transit Company buses on Sundays will soon be left without a ride.
GLTC is suspending all Sunday bus service beginning April 27, and transit officials say a shortage of drivers — compounded by failed drug screenings — forced the decision. The agency says it has no timetable for restoring Sunday service.
A shortage years in the making
The driver shortage isn’t the result of a single problem. GLTC General Manager Josh Moore says a combination of illness, retirement and a thin applicant pool has made Sunday staffing impossible to sustain.
Bus driver Robert Williams says interest in the job is low from the start.
“A lot of people hear ‘big buses’ and don’t want to do the training to get there. We just don’t have enough applicants that’s applying for the job,” Williams said.
Officials also point to failed drug tests as a significant barrier to hiring. Some of those failed tests, they say, were tied to CBD products that can contain trace amounts of THC.
GLTC passenger Ben Blanks says the situation is understandable, even if it’s painful for riders.
“A combination of factors with people being out sick with the flu, and people retiring, it’s a tough situation to be in,” Blanks said.
Who rides on Sundays — and what they stand to lose
Sunday ridership is the smallest of the week, but for many in Lynchburg, those buses are essential. Moore outlined the scope of the ridership gap between weekdays and weekends.
“Normal weekday service, we have about 2,100 to 2,200 passengers riding each week. For Saturdays, it’s about 1,600. Sundays, it’s between 800 and 840,” Moore said.
Those hundreds of riders include people traveling to work, church and medical appointments. Without Sunday service, many say they face an impossible choice. Moore said the financial math can quickly turn against low-wage workers.
“A cab or an Uber going both directions could run you 30 or 40 dollars if you were trying to go to work on a Sunday. Depending on how long you’re working and what your wage was, it may not make a lot of sense to work,” Moore said.
What GLTC is doing next
GLTC says it is stepping up recruitment efforts and reviewing its hiring and drug-screening policies. In the meantime, riders are encouraged to visit GLTC’s website for service updates and information on alternate travel options.