HRT User Citizen Advisory Committee Appointment

It's official: The Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads made a move to support my nomination to the User Citizen Advisory Committee as a representative for Virginia Beach.

Virginia Beach Citizen 2 for UCAC

I have a recommendation for the other "dead" seat, my friend Amy Ouellette. She lives along Route 25, specifically in the Beach. On weekends, she's trapped at home and is understanding the truth about city council (that is, if it's not the Ocean Front, it's not important).

A Replacement for 15th and 18th Street

http://hamptonroads.com/2007/12/hrt-board-hires-arlington-firm-replace-buildings

Have a read. It's about time. BTW: Trolley Base needs replacement as well

Happy New Year: HRT Service Changes

Two minor changes will happen for the start of the new year:

• Route 2 will have adjusted time tables
• Route 20 will have adjusted time tables

Another change will happen in Portsmouth:

• Route 47 will serve, in both directions, the new Wally World on U.S. 17 at the site of the old Mid City Shopping Center

My comments

• Route 2 needs to be completely redone. Turn it around at Hampton & Little Creek. Use Baylor Place (the side street running behind Church's) to turn it around. Use that street to turn the 15 around too. Have a dedicated shuttle (TRANSFER REQUIRED) continue up Hampton Blvd to the NEX and continue onto the base after departing the NEX. During Midtown Tunnel Crunch Hour, reroute the inbound trips onto Colley Ave starting at ODU - no later than 38th Street.
  
• Route 20 needs to run every 15 minutes ALL DAY from 4:45 AM to 8:45 PM, every 30 minutes until 11:15 PM and one last trip at 12:15 AM on weekdays and 30 minutes from 5:15 AM to 8:15 PM and every 60 minutes until 12:15 AM on Weekends INCLUDING Sundays AND Holidays
• Route 47 does not have additional time to deviate off of High Street. It's rushing as it is now that it has to go to Churchland Library instead of Churchland Shopping Center. Route 44 doesn't have the time either. Perhaps a 44 vs 44A (similar in idea to Route 6 via Liberty vs. Route 6 via Berkley).
• For example, trips leaving the Hospital on the hour would do regular route to High & FL, continue on High to Fredrick, left on Fredrick to Wally World, right onto Turnpike back to regular route. Trips leaving the Hospital at 1/2 past would use the existing route. Again, this is only an example. But as Operator 6362 would say, "If HRT did anything that helped the passenger or made sense, it would be an accident."
  

The South Lake Union Trolley

It's official, the South Lake Union Trolley is OPENING TODAY!!!!! It's time to Ride The S.L.U.T.! Look for me roaming around the buses with my S.L.U.T. shirt :-D

Problems with Route 12 (Indian River Road)

This morning, Route 12 dropped me off so that I could catch the 15 to Greenbrier Mall. The 15 just breezed on by. When I was coming back from Greenbrier, Route 12 went on regular route (it was supposed to detour by making a left onto Providence instead of making a left onto Auburn Dr). I immediately dialed 222-6080 (Norfolk Dispatcher) and 1) Verified that the 12 was supposed to detour onto Providence - where I was waiting with my loaner bike (it was on Detour) and 2) informed Earl (the Dispatcher I spoke with) that the bus did turn onto Auburn. I was put on hold for a moment when Michelle came on the line. She told me that that driver was instructed to return to Military Hwy & Providence Rd to pick me up. That 12 never returned. The other passenger who was waiting with me called Customer Service (222-6100) who spoke with the Dispatcher who said a Supervisor would come with a van (remember: I have a bike) in about 10-15 minutes. The van never showed up. FINALLY, the 4:05 bus showed up and allowed us to ride free (he heard the whole mess over the radio). It was the 3:05 bus we were trying to catch.

Yes HRT, I am posting the Norfolk Dispatcher phone number AND I am calling out names for a reason. I believe on duty today was Michelle and Earl (at least, they are the ones I spoke to). Earl, you met me one time at Ocean View Ave @ 15th View when you paid a visit to Southside Run 531 ages ago.

To all Route 12 operators: be advised that due to road work on College Park Blvd & Auburn Drive until further notice Route 12 is on a minor detour as follows:

• Heading to TCC:

1. Drop off ALL Route 15 passengers at the first stop after making a RIGHT onto Military Hwy
   
2. LEFT onto Providence
3. Wherever you can safely stop immediately after the turn, honor Route 15 transfers
4. At Providence & College Park Blvd, continue down Providence on Regular route

• Heading to 20th & Seaboard

1. At Providence Rd & College Park Blvd, continue STRAIGHT on Providence
2. RIGHT onto Military Hwy putting you on Regular Route
3. ALL transferring will take place at Burlington Coat Factory

PLEASE NOTE: This detour has been in effect since September. I should not have to create a post like this.

It's Official

I just got back from the Harbor Park Tide Station. It's now official, The Tide is now officially under construction with a scheduled opening of 2010 and I can't wait :)

The Tide Groundbreaking

Need transportation to Harbor Park? Route 17 (The NET) will run to Harbor Park from 10 AM to 4 PM. Basically, "Saturday Game Day" route.

Email I received:

Hi Michael,

Just wanted to let you know that the Route #17 (The NET) will be running to Harbor Park on Saturday for the Groundbreaking event from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. We will run the Saturday route as we always do, but will deviate to Harbor Park for this event.

Thanks!

Marie Arnt

---

From: Michael Ragsdale
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 12:23 PM
To: Marie Arnt
Subject: Transportation to the Groundbreaking

Is the #17 (NET Bus) going to run its Saturday (Game Day) route to provide bus service to/from Harbor Park on Saturday, December 8^th for the Tide Groundbreaking? I would like to be able to attend but walking from St. Paul’s Blvd is too far. Also, when the event ends at 3, I will be having to break my neck trying to catch the #6 or #13 leaving Charlotte at 3:15 or 3:20 respectively. This is why I hope the NET bus will run to Harbor Park. It normally only goes to Harbor Park on weekends when there’s a Tides game going on.

Michael Ragsdale

Route 15

This message is to the Street Supervisor who gave Route 15 (the 2:15 PM bus at the Naval Exchange on December 1st) Greenbrier Mall permission to dead-head to Military Circle:


You do realize that on Saturdays that Route 15 runs every TWO HOURS. You left passengers at Wards Corner and Evelyn Butts & J as well as all intermediate stops having to wait for 90 MINUTES. You have NO AUTHORITY to have these people be that late to work. I understand that the previous driver reported a 10-34, but that is no excuse to dead-head when the bus is every 2 hours, but what really needed to be done was to 10-33 even though the bus was 10-30 by 30 minutes

While I'm thinking about it, the new MAX better have bike racks.

Yes, I am VERY 10-13 right now.

You're Invited

The Tide Groundbreaking Ceremony is Saturday, December 8th 1-3 PM at Harbor Park and HRT is inviting everyone. For more information, see the HRT Rider Alert.

4702

Miss D, I will be seeing you Friday if I can get up early enough

Black Friday

I'm going to be on a BRIGHT and EARLY bus. Either thew 5:45 or 6:45 bus. My only complaint is that it's a SATURDAY schedule. Now how are people on Routes 25 & 85 supposed to get to the sales?

A List of Gripes

Virginia Beach Dispatch/Virginia Beach Base
===============================

• 2502 (Jerry): WHY THE HELL DID HRT ASK HIM TO COME IN ON HIS VACATION!?
  
• 2581 (Mona): She is on time at TCC, yet no one will wait (Especially 2982)
  
• 2941 (Moyera): On the Inbound 26 trip (Heading to Lillian Vernon), she doesn't serve Lynnhaven Mall
  
• 2982 (George): He'll always leave before he is scheduled and gets furious when he is held up for any reason
  

Norfolk Dispatch/Norfolk Base
======================

• As always, Why is there no service to the Airport? *
• Why is Baker (Rt. 33 due @ TCC @ 9:45 AM) always given his bus late?
  

System Wide
=========

• Why can't I get around on evenings/Sundays? *

* These questions are to be answered by the respective City Councils. "I need a car" is NOT a valid answer.

Virginia Beach Dispatch

So, "Trolley Base" is now Virginia Beach Dispatch...interesting information. With the mindset of people now a days, for HR anyways, I'm surprised to hear that changes are coming to HRT. Some of them make sense (like having drivers learn all routes), some don't (like no more transfers).


==============================
2982, give this 25 as much time as possible

The Grand Illumination

Going to Downtown? BE SURE TO CATCH AN EARLY BUS. Trying to leave Downtown? Catch your bus at the Radisson. NO TRIPS TO CHARLOTTE OR THE DOWNTOWN LOOP.

This is from 18th Street (HRT Southside Dispatcher). I just got off the phone with Customer Service (and they consulted with the Dispatcher).

======UPDATE======
This is the route of buses in the Downtown Area:

1. LEFT onto Brambleton Ave
2. RIGHT onto St. Paul's Blvd
3. DOES NOT SERVE STOP ON CHARLOTTE STREET
4. RIGHT onto City Hall Ave
5. RIGHT onto Monticello Ave
6. SERVE STOP @ MacArthur Center (by Dillards)
7. SERVE STOP @ Monticello & Charlotte (on Monticello Ave)
   
8. LAYOVER STOP @ Radisson Hotel (bus will wait until it's time to leave Downtown here)
   

These directions are good for Routes 1, 2, 3, and 20. I'm not sure about Routes 6, 9, 13, or 45. As always (for a Saturday evening), Waterside & Commercial WILL NOT BE SERVED.