Feeding The Tide, Revision 2

I've updated my Feeding The Tide map. This is what I think HRT routes should do when The Tide opens up. Routes are based off of the existing service. I sent a copy of this to HRT. Now to wait to see what they think.

· Route 15 CROSSTOWN

o Serves Military Hwy station

o NEW Two-way service on Poplar Hall Dr including the DMV

o On trips that today turn around at Military Circle, these trips will turn around at the Tide station

o Trips that continue to Robert Hall or Greenbrier use Corporate Blvd (formerly served by Route 23)

· Route 20 VA BEACH BLVD

o Extended to the Military Hwy Tide Station using a route similar to Route 15

o No longer serves Sentara Leigh (use Route 23)

o No longer serves Newtown Rd (use Route 27 or 28)

o Provides two-way service on Poplar Hall Dr including the DMV

o Cutback trips that today start or end at Military Circle now use the Tide Station

· Route 23 PRIN ANNE RD

o No longer serves JANAF (use Route 15) or Best Square (use Route 15 or 20)

o Serves Sentara Leigh Hospital

o Serves the Newtown Tide Station

· Route 24 OCEANFRONT EXPRESS (relabeled)

o Starts at the Newtown Tide Station

o During peak use, runs often (every 15 minutes?)

o Eliminated when The Tide is extended to the Oceanfront

· Route 25 NEWTOWN RD

o Starts at the Newtown Tide Station

o Provides service to TCC-VA BEACH along Princess Anne Rd using its existing route

o Runs on evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays as well

· Route 27 NORTHAMPTON BLVD

o Starts at the Newtown Tide Station

o Runs up Newtown Rd. Upon hitting Baker Rd, uses existing route to Shore Dr & Pleasure House

o Runs on evenings and Sundays as well

· Route 28 PEMBROKE TIDE SHUTTLE

o New, Temporary Route

o Provides shuttle service to Town Center and Pembroke East using Greenwich Rd, Cleveland St, Columbus St, and Constitution Dr

o Will be eliminated when The Tide is extended to Town Center and the Oceanfront

o Runs during the same hours as The Tide

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Now playing: analoq - Super Mario Bros. 3 aquacadence OC ReMix
via FoxyTunes

Bike on the Train

Now all I can hope that my bike can be taken on the train (like all other light rail routes I know of). Can't wait :)

It's Official

The Signing took place! The Tide is for real!

See VA Pilot article

Hampton Roads Transit Trip Planner

Need to get around the area and I'm not available?

Try the HRT Trip Planner Powered by Google. Need to speak to someone (good luck), dial 222-6100

Feeding The Tide

(click the map to enlarge)

This map is a rough draft of what I think feeder bus service should look like. I'm not looking at times yet, just what connects where. Existing routes are changed from their existing service

• 15 Crosstown: Changed to use Hoggard Rd and Corporate Blvd to meet The Tide at the Military Hwy station
• 20 Va Beach Blvd: Meets The Tide at Military Hwy Station. At night, also meets The Tide at Newtown Station.
  
• 23 Princess Anne Rd: No longer serves JANAF or Military Circle. Instead, continues down Kempsville Rd (Norfolk) to Sentara Leigh and the Newtown Tide Station
• 24 Laskin Rd (Ft. Story Express): Meets The Tide at Newtown Station. To continue to Va Beach Blvd, Ride The Tide to Military Hwy and catch the 20
• 25 Newtown Rd: No longer serves Military Circle. Instead, starts at Newtown Tide Station and continues down Princess Anne Rd (Va Beach) to TCC
• 27 Northampton: No longer serves Military Circle. Instead, starts at Newtown Tide Station and continues up Newtown to Baker. Resumes existing route to Shore Dr & Pleasure House
• 28 Pembroke Tide Shuttle: New route. Connects the Newtown Tide Station with Town Center and Pembroke. Would be discontinued when The Tide is extended to Town Center and the Oceanfront.
  

Note that the 61 is being left off of this map because it does not connect to either Tide station.

The Tide is In

And I will be on the ceremonial First Train ;)

Learn more at The Tide website

HRT Operators, Hang up While Driving

HRT Operators, please hold your 10-5s to when you are not driving. This is for your safety and for the safety of your passengers

Ride the SLUT

The SLUT (South Lake Union Trolley)..let's be glad we're calling our system the TIDE. Still, I'd ride the SLUT :)

I'd Ride the Tide

Here is a comment I left on a recent Virginian-Pilot article concerning The Tide:

I'd ride the Tide! Bear in mind: this *starter* line was designed to be extended. I look forward to being able to ride the Tide to Hampton, Newport News, NOB, ODU, ORF, PHF, VB, and connecting to the Richmond2Hampton Roads Commuter Rail. As a comparison, look to Portland's Metropolitan Area Express (MAX). The cries were "no one would ride it". Look at how popular the MAX is now. Also, Pierce County, Washington's Tacoma LINK. It exceeded it's 2010 rider expectations the year that it opened! I am a current HRT user and yes, the system needs work (and I don't hesitate to speak my mind to them). I'm not being paid to say anything, I'm just someone who's seen what riding buses can be like when it is does properly (see Sound Transit)

Links:

• TriMet (operator of the MAX)
• Sound Transit (operator of the Tacoma Link and operator (under contract with King County Metro) of the Central Link)
  

Kirn Tide Station

I had a dream where I needed to do research. I was at the JANAF branch library and they sent me to Kirn. So, I hopped onto the #15 to the Military Hwy Tide station and boarded a train into Downtown. I hopped off of the train at the Kirn Library/MacArthur Station and boarded an escalator to the "Library Lobby". I entered the newly reconstructed Kirn Memorial Library and took an elevator to the next floor up (Library Floor 2) and went into the computer lab and did my school project.

Norfolk and HRT, if you are reading this: take heed. Don't simply replace the Kirn Library with a Tide Station. Rebuild the library above the station. The building would also function as a shelter for Tide patrons waiting for their trains during foul weather.

Tropical Storm Gabrielle

I just got off the phone with HRT. Service as usual, even with the storm, on Monday. Too good to be true. I'm assuming that bus service will be canceled on Monday.

Mr. Townes and Transfers

Mr. Townes has this stupid idea of getting rid of Transfers and wants us to pay $0.75 per bus ride. DON'T YOU DARE THINK ABOUT IT!

Trolley Base

So the question is: when will Trolley Base routes "officially" honor my 30-Day Pass?

Here's how the Puget Pass works (this is the bus pass from Washington state):

• In my case, I selected the pass worth $1.50 in bus fare
• If I boarded a bus that cost $1.00, simply show the pass to the driver
• If I boarded a bus that cost $1.50, simply show the pass to the driver
• If I boarded a bus that cost $2.00, simply show the pass to the driver, insert $0.50 into the farebox, and ask for a transfer which will be punched to show that I paid the upgraded fare

When I show my pass to the driver, they hit a button on the farebox in acknowledgment (an example being when HRT drivers hit the "A" key when a passenger requests a Transfer)

HRT Bus Book

I am now working on We Go There Too which, when completed, will be a schedule book of HRT routes and information. HRT, if you are reading this blog, then I welcome your assistance. To see an example of what I had in mind, refer to Get Ready to Ride Transit Guide which is the schedule book of Sound Transit (where I used to live).

Yes, I did see the old booklet HRT used to produce, but it's not enough. When completed, I will be releasing my book under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States license.

HRT Service Changes

Effective Sunday September 2nd, HRT will be making some minor adjustments:
As a reminder: I do not work for HRT, nor do they endorse me in any way. This is me putting out a service change notice because I know HRT won't.

• Robert Hall: all buses will meet on the Dollar Tree side. This way, you will no longer have to cross the street to transfer. BE SURE TO CHECK THE DESTINATION SIGN AND FULLY READ IT (for example, make sure the 13 BATTLEFIELD also says 13 TCC-CHESAPEAKE or 13 DOWNTOWN NORFOLK, depending on where you're going to get on the right bus). No buses will show up on the K-MART side (currently, the 13 TCC, 57, and 58 do)
  
• Route 18 BALLENTINE BLVD will be attached to Route 9 CHESTERFIELD
• MAJOR CHANGE: Route 18 will NO LONGER serve SHOOP PARK
• Be advised that Routes 30 (Atlantic Ave), 31 (General Booth Campground/Museum/Ocean Breeze WAVE), and 32 (Hilltop/Lynnhaven WAVE) are done for the season
• For service along Atlantic Ave, use Routes 20 or 33 along Pacific Ave
• For service to between the Oceanfront and Hilltop, use Route 20
• To continue on to Lynnhaven Mall, transfer at Hilltop to the 29 heading towards TCC
• For service to the campgrounds, Ocean Breeze, and the Marine Science Museum use Route 33. Refer to bus stops below:
  
• Marine Science Museum: Main Building at the signal
• Ocean Breeze: General Booth Blvd & Birdneck Rd
• Campgrounds: General Booth Blvd & Birdneck Rd OR General Booth Blvd & Oceana Blvd
• As always, fare is $1.50/$1.00 youth 17 and under (ID REQUIRED)/$0.75 Seniors (age 60 and over - ID Required) and Disabled (ID Required)