NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Hampton Roads Transit is conducting an online survey to gather public input on a transit and funding plan for next year.

Hampton Roads Transit president and CEO William Harrell tells The Virginian-Pilot (http://bit.ly/1mXBvLy ) it’s the first time that the agency has sought such wide-ranging input from the public.

The goal is to develop a plan that can be used to lobby state lawmakers for help.

The Connect Hampton Roads initiative launched in late June and runs through the end of September.

Harrell says the survey recorded about 2,000 responses in its first week. He says he would like 50,000 people respond before the survey ends.

He says the campaign’s first phase cost about $50,000. That includes development of the survey, analysis and marketing efforts.

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Information from: The Virginian-Pilot, http://pilotonline.com

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