What is the Hub City Transit Master Plan?

The Hub City Transit Master Plan will serve as a roadmap for improving public transit in the Hattiesburg Urbanized Area over the next five to 10 years. It will take a comprehensive look at local needs and recommend both short- and long-range strategies to increase ridership and improve the rider experience.

What areas are included?

The plan will look at the Hattiesburg Urbanized Area (HUZA). This includes Hattiesburg, Petal and surrounding portions of Forrest and Lamar counties.

Why is this plan needed?

To effectively serve the public, Hub City Transit needs to evolve and adapt to current trends and technologies. At the same time, this planning process will provide an opportunity to better understand current and emerging transit needs. The last master plan for the transit system was developed in 2010. These types of plans are typically updated every five to 10 years.

Who is leading this planning process?

The development of the Hub City Transit Master Plan is led by the City of Hattiesburg and the Hattiesburg-Petal-Forrest-Lamar Metropolitan Planning Organization.

What are the goals of this plan?

As the planning process advances, specific goals will be developed in consultation with riders, community leaders and stakeholders. These goals will be used to craft strategies for improving transit service in the years to come. The following are the objectives of the planning process:

• Identify public transit needs using technical analysis and community input
• Recommend future changes to bus and paratransit service
• Recommend new mobility options like on-demand transit
• Develop a long-term funding strategy
• Develop a short-term and long-term implementation plan

Will my bus route change? 

Any changes to bus routes would not be implemented until the plan is complete and public meetings are conducted in accordance with the City’s Title VI policy. To develop recommendations, the project team will analyze data and community input to identify opportunities for improving existing routes and identifying areas where new service is needed.

While it is likely that changes to some bus routes may be recommended, these changes will be communicated in advance.

What other changes can I expect to my bus network or paratransit service?

There are many ways to improve transit service. Potential changes that will be considered as part of this planning process include:

• Bus route realignments (where the bus goes)
• Bus route frequencies (how often the bus stops along a specific route)
• How early or late service operates
• Days of operation
• Connections and transfer points
• New service types, such as on-demand services
• Fares and passes
• Technology
• Shelters, seating, and other amenities at stops
• Pedestrian and bicycle accessibility improvements

What is the timeline for completing the Hub City Transit Master Plan? When can I expect to see changes in services?

The planning process officially kicked off in Spring 2021 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2021. Any changes to bus routes or paratransit services would not be implemented until the plan is completed and public meetings are conducted in accordance with the City’s Title VI policy.

The planning process will occur in three phases:

• Phase 1: Listening and Learning – Spring 2021
• Phase 2: New System Visioning – Summer 2021
• Phase 3: Drafting the Plan – Fall 2021

Why is it important that I participate in this plan, and how can I get involved?

Our goal is to develop a plan that reflects the needs and preferences of current and future riders. Your feedback is critical to ensure that we get it right.

There will be an opportunity during each phase of the project for you to provide input. Information about surveys and public meetings will be posted on hubcitytransit.com and on the City of Hattiesburg’s social media accounts. You may also request to join our project contact database or submit questions and comments by emailing the project team at mpo@hattiesburgms.com.