Hampton City Council Work Session - January 28, 2026

The Hampton City Council held a work session on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, beginning at 1:00 PM and adjourning at 4:23 PM. All seven council members were present, with Councilwoman Hope L. Harper arriving at 1:30 PM. The meeting featured two major presentations: an update on Hampton City Schools capital improvements and an update on the Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) System Optimization Plan (SOP). The session also included a closed session to discuss real property disposition and appointments, followed by certification.

Discussion Items

Hampton City Schools Capital Projects Update

• City Manager Mary Bunting introduced the presentation, noting that council members had toured school facilities the previous day. The presentation showed before-and-after images of capital improvements funded by the city.
• School Board Chair Dr. Richard Mason expressed appreciation for the partnership with City Council, describing it as rooted in mutual respect and shared responsibility.
• Superintendent Dr. Raymond Haynes echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that the capital improvement tour demonstrated how tax dollars are used to transform learning spaces.
• Dr. Dan Bowling, Chief Operations Officer, detailed summer 2025 projects, including:
  • Complete renovation of Bassette Elementary School (built 1970, never renovated) at a cost of approximately $4–5 million (vs. over $30 million for a new school).
  • Renovation of 16 science classrooms and 9 prep rooms at Lindsay, Eaton, and Tarrant Middle Schools (original to 60-year-old buildings).
  • Renovation of media centers at eight schools, including 315 new bookshelves (capacity >60,000 books), 185 soft seating options, 65 tables, and 260 chairs.
  • Safety improvements: enclosure of breezeways at six schools, track renovations at all middle and high schools, baseball/softball field upgrades at four high schools.
  • Roof replacements (258,000 sq ft) at Smith Elementary, Langley Elementary, and Bethel High School.
  • HVAC upgrades at Burbank Elementary and Phoebus High School (over 250 tons of capacity).
  • Installation of 17 digital marquees (now every school has one).
  • Jones Magnet School: ceiling replacements, 1,000+ LED lights, 233 new doors, bathroom upgrades.
• City Manager Bunting provided financial context: the city typically allocates ~$7.5 million annually for school maintenance and technology. The adopted five-year Capital Improvement Plan (FY26–30) increases to ~$11.5 million annually in later years, totaling just under $66 million. About $11.4 million was spent on summer 2025 projects.
• Vice Mayor Steven L. Brown described the tour as eye-opening and praised the investment in Title I schools like Bassette.
• Councilwoman Carolyn S. Campbell noted students expressed a desire for schools that feel more connected to real life; she praised the Academies model and future hospital simulation at Bethel.
• Councilwoman Michelle Taylor Ferebee, a Hampton City Schools graduate, expressed pride in the transformation.
• Councilwoman Martha M. Mugler, a former educator, commended thoughtful design choices, furniture, lighting, restroom safety, and the removal of portable classrooms at Kecoughtan High School.
• Councilman Randy C. Bowman, Sr. noted that students voluntarily attended the tour on a staff day and were enthusiastic, and he highlighted the single-use restrooms that eliminate gender-related concerns.
• Mayor Jimmy Gray tied the presentation to Hampton’s strategic priority of an educated citizenry, noting that the city has invested significantly while lowering the tax rate by 10 cents. He requested a comprehensive report detailing total capital investments over the years to communicate the scale to the public.

Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) System Optimization Plan Update

• Deputy City Manager Brian DeProfio explained that HRT faces challenges including ridership still below pre-pandemic levels, a driver shortage (approximately 100 fewer drivers than needed), and financial constraints.
• The SOP aims to maximize drivers and funding, simplify routes, reduce transfers, and align service with current ridership patterns.
• A key component is micro-transit—on-demand service using smaller vehicles within defined zones. A pilot program launched on January 12, 2025.
• Current weekday midday service: most routes operate at 60-minute intervals, with limited 30-minute service on Jefferson Avenue, Shell Road, and Mercury Boulevard. Under the proposed plan, most 60-minute routes would transition to 30-minute service.
• Micro-transit zones would replace certain 60-minute fixed routes in the existing pilot zone, plus proposed zones in Fox Hill and along Mallory Street (lower density, lower ridership).
• Examples of route modifications: Route 103 connecting eastern Hampton to the shipyard; Route 109 connecting the VA Medical Center to Thomas Nelson Community College.
• The plan would reduce required drivers on the Peninsula by approximately 25 (from ~158 to ~133) and service hours from 237,000 to about 195,000.
• Transit proximity would improve slightly: percentage of residents near transit increases from 59% to 61%. The number of residents and jobs near 30-minute service would double.
• HRT will begin public outreach; the HRT Board is expected to consider action in April 2026, with implementation beginning in October 2027.
• Mayor Gray asked about farebox recovery for micro-transit. Mr. DeProfio replied that data is limited as the pilot is grant-funded; fixed-route farebox recovery is currently 6–7%. Karen Kitsis, Chief Planning and Development Officer for HRT, stated that financial assumptions are being developed as the pilot matures.
• Mayor Gray suggested evaluating a micro-transit zone serving Hampton University as possibly more cost-effective than the current circulator. Mr. DeProfio noted that the revised Route 109 would provide 30-minute service to the university, and staff would evaluate micro-transit options.

Key Outcomes

• City Manager Bunting agreed to compile a report detailing total city investment in school capital improvements over the years, as requested by Mayor Gray.
• The HRT SOP will undergo public outreach, with HRT Board action expected in April 2026 and implementation in October 2027.
• Council unanimously approved a motion to convene a closed session (7-0) to discuss real property disposition in Downtown Hampton, Phoebus, Coliseum Central, and Briarfield Road, and to discuss appointments. The closed session began at 2:15 PM.
• After closed session, council unanimously approved a resolution certifying the closed session (7-0) at 4:23 PM, followed by adjournment.