With gas prices rising, many that work and learn at UVA may experience greater financial stress due to the cost of their commute. Fortunately, Charlottesville has many alterative transportation options from the surrounding areas that can meet the needs of many commuters. Below is a breakdown of the different options and how much money users can save. Use the cost calculator at the bottom of this page to calculate the cost of your commute.
If you have any questions about how you can save money using the commuter options below, email transportation@virginia.edu.
Afton Express
The Afton Express is a public transportation service that connect Staunton, Fishersville, and Waynesboro to UVA, stopping at the UVA Bookstore and Health System. The Afton Express makes multiple trips per day, and its buses feature comfortable seating with optional seat belts, Wi-Fi, USB charging, overhead storage, and bicycle racks. The buses are lift-equipped to assist passengers with mobility needs. Route maps, time tables, and fares, can be found here and discounted passes can be purchased through P&T. Commuters that ride at least twice a week can sign up for the Guaranteed Ride Home program.
| Locations | Total Miles To & From UVA | Commuting Days/Month | Avg Miles/Gallon | Individual Driver Cost - Fuel Only* | Afton Express Cost** | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waynesboro | 52 | 22 | 25 | $153/month | $88/month | $65/month |
| Fishersville | 58 | 22 | 25 | $171/month | $88/month | $83/month |
| Staunton | 72 | 22 | 25 | $212/month | $88/month | $124/month |
*Avg cost per gallon is $3.35 (9.27.2022). The cost of commuting for the individual driver is even greater when factoring in the maintenance cost associated with vehicle wear and tear and the cost of parking.
**Cost if purchasing the $20 Afton Express pass from UVA P&T.
Jaunt CONNECT
Jaunt has four CONNECT bus routes that provide convenient public transit for commuters from Crozet, Route 29 North, Lovingston, and Buckingham/Scottsville. CONNECT buses offer comfortable seating, free Wi-Fi, and USB device charging. Timetables and route maps with pickup locations for each route can be found here. To get real-time tracking of the CONNECT buses, download the TransLoc app. Commuters that ride at least twice a week can sign up for the Guaranteed Ride Home program.
| Locations | Total Miles To & From UVA | Commuting Days/Month | Avg Miles/Gallon | Individual Driver Cost - Fuel Only* | CONNECT Cost | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 North | 18 | 22 | 25 | $53/month | Free | $53/month |
| Buckingham/Scottsville | 86/48 | 22 | 25 | $254 or $142/month | Free | $254 or $142/month |
| Crozet | 24 | 22 | 25 | $71/month | Free | $71/month |
| Lovingston | 62 | 22 | 25 | $183/month | Free | $183/month |
*Avg cost per gallon is $3.35 (9.27.2022). The cost of commuting for the individual driver is even greater when factoring in the maintenance cost associated with vehicle wear and tear and the cost of parking.
Carpools & Vanpools
For those that public transit isn't an option, ridesharing via carpools and vanpools is a great way to save on fuel. They can originate from anywhere and all they require are at least two individuals with similar schedules and travel routes, making partners, roommates, and colleagues natural fits. UVA currently has 154 active carpools with 339 members, and sponsors two vanpools from Richmond. Carpools and vanpools are also eligible for CavPool benefits such as discounted parking permits and a guaranteed ride home.
The savings from carpooling vary depending on travel distance, but are easy to determine. Just calculate the total cost spent on fuel for the commute and divide by the number of participants in the carpool. For vanpools, UVA has partnered with Enterprise to provide the vehicle, insurance, maintenance, and fuel with each vanpool participant just make a single monthly payment for everything. Below is an example of the cost savings if commuting via vanpool from Richmond.
| Location | Total Miles To and From UVA | Commuting Days/Month | Avg Miles/Gallon | Individual Driver Cost - Fuel Only* | Vanpool Cost** | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | 130 | 22 | 25 | $383/month | $180/month | $203/month |
*Avg cost per gallon is $3.35 (9.27.2022). The cost of commuting for the individual driver is even greater when factoring in the maintenance cost associated with vehicle wear and tear and the cost of parking.
**Cost varies depending on the number of vanpool participants, ranging from 5-15. This examples is for 8 participants.
UTS & CAT & Micromobility
Residents of the Greater Charlottesville Area have access to two public transit agencies: University Transit Service (UTS) and Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT). UTS serves the residential areas immediately around the University and has many stops on Grounds. CAT serves most of Charlottesville and has several routes with stops on Grounds, specifically Routes 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and the Free Trolley, in addition to having convenient transfer points for other the other routes. Both are free to ride and offer real-time bus tracking in the TransLoc (UTS) and SPOT (CAT) apps.
Living in Charlottesville also makes it possible for many to commute using micromobility devices such as bikes and scooters. Manual and electrical-powered devices are significantly cheaper to fuel and maintain, and there is free parking available at bike racks all across Grounds.
Both bus riders and micromobility users are eligible to sign up for the Guaranteed Ride Home program if they commute using these methods at least twice a week.
Commute Calculator
Use the Commute Solutions calculator to determine the fuel cost of your commute. Use the inputs below if you don't know your commute's specifics.
Inputs
- Total Commute Miles = X
- Working Days per Month = 22
- Miles per Gallon = 25 (national average as of 2020)
- Cost per Gallon = $3.35 (average cost in Virginia as of 9.27.2022)
- Can ignore Vehicle Type, Model Year, Car Payment, and Parking Cost if just calculating the cost of gas.