UNOFFICIAL HRT Flickr Group

I created an UNOFFICIAL Flickr group to post your HRT pictures. It's open to anyone with pictures of HRT buses and (coming soon!) trains

It's available here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/hrt-nerds/

So Reid, no one will ride Light Rail?

Crowded
Originally uploaded by N-Sai

This is the Valley Metro Light Rail in Phoenix, Arizona. You say no one will ride? Then explain this standing load train!

Norfolk General is finally accessible

I'm going to need to hit up a #2 and check on this:

From the Busmeister:

The transfer point at Norfolk General Hospital finally gets a wheelchair ramp.

This is odd

View Flickr Page * View Larger Version

Specifically look at the word "MAX". Note how both are stylized. Coincidence? Can someone shed some light?

The METRO MAX is Phoenix's Valley Metro discount card to attract customer to Phoenix businesses that were impacted by the construction of the newly opened METRO Light Rail.

HRT MAX is our local Metro Area eXpress providing regional express bus service. Funny that this is also the same acronym (and meaning) as Portland, Oregon's MAX Light Rail.

Valley Metro Light Rail

Today marked the Grand Opening of Metro Light Rail in Phoenix, Arizona. They use the same make/model of trains as used on Charlotte's LYNX which will be the same trains seen on The Tide.

Congratulations Phoenix :)

Metro Light Rail Web Site

(In case you're wondering: Phoenix is where one of my cousins live)

What an Idiot (Extremely Foul Language)

WARNING: THERE IS EXTREMELY FOUL LANGUAGE

The road is closed, the guy is drunk, and all these witnesses see this. Guy calls all of them every name in the book

H/T Seattle Transit Blog

UPDATE DECEMBER 29: YOUTUBE REMOVED THE VIDEO FOR 'TERMS OF USE VIOLATIONS'

North Pole Bailout

Even Santa needs some help:

Flickr

I now have a Flickr Pro account, so check out my new toys:

• Photo albums are on Flickr instead of Facebook
• There's a Flickr badge across the top of this blog showing five random pictures. It changes every time you see it
  

Post 300

Wow I can't believe it. 300 posts already.

Merry Christmas

Well, now that it's past Midnight Eastern Time, Merry Christmas!

29 Pleasure Ho

Yes, you're reading this right. Uh, oops?

Bike Racks

Uh, George?? What were you thinking? Darline, why didn't you give George enough room (although you can't see it here, there's plenty of room in front of Darline's bus)

Summer Comes Early to Route 12

(as always, click each image for a larger size)

They were the Mall & Beach crowd (little English, not sure where from). Yes Henry, they're all legal (in both meanings). They got on at Indian River & Reon and I assumed they would transfer to the 29 to head to Lynnhaven, but nope. They got off at the Lynnhaven Home Depot (not Wal-Mart, but Home Depot - I saw them walking in that parking lot)

Vehicle Fire Impacted Route 13

Earlier today at the intersection of Battlefield Blvd & Great Bridge Blvd, there was a Vehicle Fire. HRT was not involved, but trips coming from TCC were late due to rubber-neckers. Trips heading to TCC were on detour as the police were requiring everyone to make a right onto Great Bridge Blvd.

**NO STOPS WERE ABLE TO BE SERVED BETWEEN GAINSBOROUGH/CHESAPEAKE REGIONAL AND BATTLEFIELD BLVD & CEDAR RD**

HRT Holiday Schedule

• Christmas Eve: WEEKDAY schedule
• Christmas Day: SUNDAY schedule (no service in Virginia Beach - except Routes 15, 20, and 960)
• New Year's Eve: WEEKDAY schedule
• New Year's Day: SUNDAY schedule (no service in Virginia Beach - except Routes 15, 20, and 960)

Christmas Day and New Year's Day: Routes 37 (Dam Neck-Oceana-Lynnhaven Mall) and 113 (Peninsula Town Center-Patrick Henry Mall-Ft. Eustis) will NOT operate

Poll Results

My poll closed and no surprise here: HRT should sell MAX passes on local buses and the Ferry.

For example, you're going from TCC Virginia Beach to Newport News. The fastest way is 36 --> 960 --> 961. That trip would be $3.50 for a local Day Pass + $1.50 for your 960 ride + $1.50 for your 961 ride. Just sell me the $5.50 Day Pass on the 36!

Route 41 Cradock: New Trip to Shipyard

Effective January 5, 2009

Dear HRT Passengers,

Please be advised starting Monday, January 5, 2009 Route 41 (7:00 am trip only) will make a route deviation from County St and Court St to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (Gate 10) then back to County St and Court St for the scheduled 7:14 am departure.

This trip will operate express. No other stops will be made.

For more information please call customer service at (757) 222-6100.

Thank you for your patronage | Printable Version

Why you shouldn't drive in Snow

This is why you should stay home during snow:



H/T to Seattle Transit Blog

VBTA: So, no one rides the buses?

So VBTA, no one rides buses? Try telling that to the people sitting on this fully loaded #194. By the way: it's a 60-foot bus and ALL seats are taken with a couple of standees.

This picture was taken during an off-peak trip at Sea-Tac Airport after loading. After leaving the Airport, the bus proceeds non-stop to Downtown Seattle and runs every 15 minutes, yet it is still a fully-loaded bus.

I'm Back - Bus Pictures from the Puget Sound

I'm back!!!

Bus pictures from out west, sorted by agency:

• Pierce Transit
• Sound Transit
• King County Metro
• The South Lake Union Trolley (The SLUT, Metro Route 98)

Here's the best part of out there:

(Larger Version Here) - (Learn More about the Washington Clean Indoor Air Act)

HRT Service Changes starting January 5th, 2009

Effective January 5, 2009

Dear HRT Passengers,

Please be advised of the following service improvements starting January 5, 2009, to provide better service and on-time performance:

Route 26: Bow Creek Blvd-Routing Change
Route 26 will be extended thru Oceana West Industrial Park (weekday only) one trip in the morning and one trip in the early evening.

Route 47: High St-Schedule Change
Route 47 will serve Tidewater Community College (Suffolk campus) and Gateway on an hourly basis. Service to Village and Academy will remain at 30 minute frequency.

Route 58: South Norfolk/Bainbridge Blvd Routing Change
Route 58 will no longer serve Campostella Rd. between Military Hwy. and Battlefield Blvd. This section of Campostella Rd. will still be served in both directions by the Route 6.

Route 300 – Downtown Portsmouth Loop Shuttle Schedule Change
Route 300 frequency will be reduced from 15 minutes to 30 minutes.

New schedules will be available for all affected routes.

For more information please call customer service at (757) 222-6100.

Thank you for your patronage | Printable Version

Out of Town: Meet Me in the Bus Tunnel

Saturday morning, I will be flying to Sea-Tac Airport (no folks, it's NOT in Seattle, it's actually in SeaTac, Washington). Norfolk, why do I need a ride? I will be exploring my old stomping grounds mainly on Tuesday and Wednesday I'm heading to Tulalip Casino. I'll be back on Thursday night.

I promise plenty of bus pictures, especially of the Tunnel*.

* link may not work after Dec 31 (see note)