CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The City of Charlottesville hopes to add over 40 drivers over the next four budget years to increase and enhance Charlottesville Area Transit service over that window.

“We have heard loud and clear that there’s a push and a desire for there to be more drivers, therefore enhance service,” City manager Sam Sanders said during a presentation at the Council’s Dec. 1 meeting

Sanders said at that meeting the goal is to go from the current 66 CAT drivers to 108, adding 10-11 drivers, plus support staff, per year over the next four years.

He said the hope is to add Sunday service in Year 3.

“As we add more, we can get more,” Sanders said.

That, Sanders told the Council, will allow a number of improvements to CAT service, including the return of Sunday options.

Sanders’ presentation was part of a series of debriefs he’s offered the Council in recent months, effectively previewing budget requests it can expect as it works on the budget for fiscal year 2027.

Sanders said four main areas will dominate the budget plans – transportation, affordable housing, public safety and schools.

The Dec. 1 presentation focused on transportation, including the CAT enhancements.

The goals, Sanders said, also include transitioning the CAT vehicle fleet to be all zero-emission vehicles – electric and hydrogen fuel cell buses – by 2050, after previously targeting 2040 for that goal.

The city also has plans to open a new maintenance facility to support those vehicles.