Disturbing Thoughts from Unnamed Drivers

These drivers reporting this shall remain unnamed for their protection

It has come to my attention as of late that HRT is not treating its drivers well. For example, one transferred between bases and got to keep the seniority from the original base, thus pushing down drivers who were at the destination base.
Just the other week, Norfolk Dispatch yelled at Virginia Beach Dispatch as well as some Beach drivers for using the old radio instead of the new radio. The reason the drivers used the old radio? The new one wasn't working.
The whole agency is like this, and something needs to be done.

Route 25: A Phantom!?

So, 18th Street, why does Trolley Base have a Phantom? Trolley Base: what's it doing on the 25?

Route 47 TCC

When will the updated Route 47 schedule come out? The service change was ages ago, let's update the schedule.

Route 36

Today the 36 that was due at TCC at 1:45 failed to show up. Eventually the 2:45 bus showed up and will have a double load

What happened to the 1:45 bus?

919 NAVAL STATION MAX

It's Here! The 919 NAVAL STATION MAX did run this morning and did cause confusion if it's free or not ($1.50 Route 19 fare requested). Passengers were already talking about the MAX when 960s came through ("this is what our bus will be in September") and got confused since they knew The MAX was free for the first two weeks. There were two Gillig Phantom (1800 series) Route 19s that came through, then the rest were 919 MAX buses. The decision to dispatch MAX buses was that of 18th Street Dispatch.

I arrived around 4:30 AM not knowing it would only take me 20 minutes to ride up Independence on a bike and helped until the 36 showed up at 6:30 (it was supposed to be there just before 6:18, the Holland & S. Plaza timepoint) so I could get to the dentist.

All 19s and 919s had difficulty with their signs. The only sign towards the base we (myself, a driver, and supervisor) could find was 19 STAFF COLLEGE/LAFAYETTE ANNEX so everyone else stayed with 19 SILVERLEAF STATION or 919 MAX SILVERLEAF

Southside Dispatcher

Yes, I have dispatcher phone numbers for 18th Street, Trolley Base, and Hampton.

18th Street: You specifically tell drivers NOT to give your phone number to passengers (Michelle, I remember you specifically giving a radio transmission). Maybe you should tell HRT to not give out your phone number as well. The Southside Dispatcher phone number is located directly on the HRT website, under Traffix.

Operator 9517

This message is to Southside Operator 9517:

Thanks for holding for me at the railroad tracks. I am the passenger who transferred off of the 36 on your 11:03 AM departure from Pembroke.

Trolley 667

This hunk of junk has no air and may need a 10-14 (which, by the way, are all housed in Norfolk) to haul it back to the base

Route 33

Every day 6 days a week, the 9:45 AM trip from TCC is always late coming from the garage. HRT: explain yourself

I understand once or twice, but this is every day on this specific trip

I can't wait until Trolley Base takes over June 27tth

1409

Broken front door meaning all passengers in and out the back. There's a triangle holding the door shut but it's flimsy and it fell off so the door somewhat flopped open.

Dead radio so no calling for help

Wonderful bus. At least 2502 got a replacement at Military Circle. It better be a bus (though it's coming from 18th Street so maybe...)

Problems with Route 33

This morning, the 33 that was due at TCC at 6:45 AM never showed up. I arrived at 7:10 (when my mother dropped me off so I could catch the 25 leaving at 7:53) and there were 6 passengers (including one with a bike). Eventually, the 7:45 bus showed up to pick them up.

I gave Customer Service a 10-5 and they contacted 18th Street. According to 18th Street: No luck contacting the driver.

I can't wait until this route comes from Trolley Base starting June 27th. Then it won't be late. It's biggest problems is almost every hour in the morning, a new bus takes over every trip from TCC. Someone from HRT care to chime in why this there's a new bus most every hour at TCC?

Route 317

This is an idea I've been having for a bit:

When the hybrids come out, renumber Route 17 (The NET) as Route 317 to keep with HRT's new "300 series" routes denoting local circulators (300: Portsmouth Loop; 310: Downtown Norfolk Shuttle) and extend it to the Cedar Grove transfer center as an "in addition" to Route 310. Route and times would be the same, just one extra stop.

As a TCC student who used to attend the Downtown campus, Route 17 is an invaluable asset. When I used to live off Hampton Blvd, I would take Route 2 to Olney & Granby and transfer to Route 17 at its Stop #4 and get off at Stop #7 all the time. This extension should run all day 7 days a week.

Speaking of The NET, Norfolk: why are there no signs at Stop #1 telling passengers that service is only 9 AM to 3 PM weekdays at that stop?

The Hybrids

So now the question is: Given the condition of the trolleys, should HQ allow Trolley Base use the hybrids immediately?

This is primarily for the mainline routes (25, 26, 27, 29, and 33*) since I feel that's where bike racks are needed. Besides, due to the nature of any hybrid vehicle, they don't make sense on stop-and-go traffic of Atlantic Ave.


* Effective June 27th, Trolley Base will take Route 33 and 18th Street will take Route 85.

Route 23's Problems

Word from operators, as well as my observations in the morning at Military Circle, and from reading fellow blogger entries, that there's problems with Route 23. These days, Route 23 is routinely 10-30 by about 5-10 minutes or more due to the extra Cedar Grove leg.

Yes, something needs to be done and something needs to be done pronto. I started messing around with Google Maps and apparently it takes about 10 minutes to get from US-13 & Corporate Blvd to the Military Circle bus shelters. A driver posted to Avenging Archangel (I'm going to honor their request to keep their identity withheld, though yes I think I know who the driver is) suggesting elimination of the Best Square and Front Street legs. They also suggested Route 25 take over the Best Square leg.

I'm not sure the best solution, but I know something needs to be done.

Speaking of Cedar Grove: HRT, we'd (both passengers and operators & staff) would like to be able to take a 10-39 at Cedar Grove. Portos would be really handy. I'm not the only one suggesting this.

1403

Trolley Base, this bus has plenty of problems: no radio, broken back door, working interlock (which, when you're running late, slows you down), sometimes stalls.

To whoever isn't allowing Trolley Base to use Hybrids: The trolleys are so bad, it's time to put Hybrids on the mainline trolley routes (25, 26, 27, 29, and 33*) which, due to the nature of the Hybrid drive system, makes much more sense than on say Route 30.

* Trolley Base takes over Route 33 from 18th Street effective June 27th in exchange, 18th Street gets Route 85.

It's Time to Turn the A/C On

I know A/C doesn't usually start until May, but considering how hot it is today, it's time NOW.

Trolley Base: Since they're ready, let's start using the Hybrids so the riding public on the year-round Trolley routes can check them out. We don't need bike racks on the 30, 31, or 32. Besides: the hybrid system won't be as effective on the stop-and-go of Atlantic Ave.

Route 300 - A Review

I got to ride Route 300, the new Portsmouth Loop, and what a joy it was. The bus is amazing (see my Hybrid Bus post for more about the buses) and the route is wonderful. Portsmouth, you got something nice going (too bad it doesn't run on Sundays).

My thoughts:

• If it turns out that there isn't enough ridership to warrant the Loop every 15 minutes at the Naval Hospital, why not alternate between Naval Hospital and Crawford Pkwy.
• It's a wonderful idea going between County & Court and the Ferry Landing. Too bad you have to do the whole Loop to get from the Ferry Landing to County & Court.
• $0.50 fare? That's reasonable. The bus will take ALL fare media (10 Rides, 30 Day, Transfers, etc). Too bad it doesn't give transfers. The operator around lunch time on Bus 4000 had an idea: Why not encode the transfer so that it'll tell the other fareboxes the passenger owes $1.00? Then again, since HRT will be dumping transfers come September (maybe the 300 not giving transfers is a good thing)

Route 300 has its own distinctive bus stop sign (sorry about the "bent look", it's my camera)

City of Portsmouth logo on the bus

This is the Downtown Loop

I can proudly say, it's environmentally friendly. This distinctive hump is the hybrid system

Another Loop logo

Effingham Street going Inbound from the Naval Hospital. The driver left her "300 NAVAL HOSPITAL" sign on. Going inbound, it'll say "300 COUNTY ST".

The destination sign. Yep, I'm being reflected in the image

There is room for two wheelchairs
The bus interior, looking back. All seats wrap around the sides. The only forward facing seats are in the very back.
Last but not least: those darned Odyssey Fareboxes; the same kind that are nit-picky about $1.00 bills

Route 300

The Loop (Portsmouth) now has a number. It is Route 300.

The Loop, Portsmouth

Introducing The Loop, Portsmouth's newest way to get around. Finally, there will be service to the Naval Hospital (currently, the nearest stop is High St & Effingham St served by Routes 45, 47, and 50) weekdays & Saturdays.

For more information: The Virginian-Pilot

Yes, I have these requirements:

• It MUST take my 30-Day Pass
• It MUST accept and offer Transfers which work on all other buses
• It MUST take 10-Rides and the 7-Day cards