New Free Bus Route to Colonial Williamsburg Starting September 10th Replacing CW buses

The Williamsburg Area Transit Authority (WATA) will be launching a new free bus route to Colonial Williamsburg on September 10th. The route, which will be called Route 15: Colonial, will replace the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s current shuttle service.

The new route will operate from 9am to 9pm Monday through Saturday and 8am to 6pm on Sunday. It will not run on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Day. Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve will run on the Sunday schedule.

Route 15: Colonial will keep the same route as the original shuttle service, with one important exception. An additional stop will be added to the route at the Williamsburg Transportation Center. The route will begin at the Williamsburg Transportation Center and pick up the current pattern at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center.

Riders can find physical maps for the route at the Williamsburg Transportation Center as well as the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center. Riders are encouraged to download the Transit app, which provides information on all WATA routes.

Route 15: Colonial will be free to the public. However, riders transferring to other routes will be required to pay the standard fare. A standard one-day bus fare is $3.

As the service will be a part of WATA’s route system, riders will follow WATA’s policies and Code of Conduct. Returning tourists may notice some significant changes to the service that will take affect September 10th, some of those changes are listed here:

• Manual and Powered Wheelchairs: In order to meet the Department of Transportation regulations supporting the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), all riders are to have their wheelchairs secured while aboard a transit bus.
• Strollers: Strollers, carts, or similar items must be collapsed prior to boarding and must not block the aisle.
• Pets: In order to meet the Department of Transportation regulations supporting the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), WATA accepts on its buses only service animals which are trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability. WATA does not consider comfort and companion animals to be service animals.
• Lost and Found: Any items left on the buses at the end of the day will be taken to the Williamsburg Transportation Center at 468 N Boundary St, Williamsburg, VA 23185. If a customer believes they have left an item on a bus, they can call the WATA Store at 757-790-2339. Items that are not claimed by the owner will be kept for at least 30 days. Perishable items are discarded immediately. WATA is not responsible for lost or stolen items or any damage to items left behind.

For more information on Route 15: Colonial and its schedule, please visit our website.

We hope this new bus route will make it easier for visitors to get around Colonial Williamsburg and enjoy all that the area has to offer.