PORTSMOUTH, Va. — With a continuing shortage of bus drivers and a push to improve transportation in underserved communities, Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) is proposing a major redesign of its bus system that could include new on-demand microtransit services.

At a Portsmouth Public Works session on Monday, HRT officials presented their System Optimization Plan, a long-term strategy to increase ridership and ensure more reliable transportation, particularly in low-performing service areas.

“It’s time to take a serious look at whether we can eliminate some underused routes and serve the people a different way,” said Ray Amoruso, HRT’s chief planning and development officer.

One proposed solution is microtransit, a flexible rideshare-style service that operates more like Uber or Lyft, allow

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