The Mother of All Detours: Pembroke Mall

Someone from HRT needs to 'splain that strange and confusing detour for all Pembroke buses. Here it is

ROUTE 20 OUTBOUND (towards the OCEANFRONT)

• LEFT Independence
• RIGHT Jeanne
• SERVICE Temporary Pembroke Transfer Point
• LEFT Betsy Ross
• LEFT John Jay
• RIGHT Constitution
• LEFT Independence
• LEFT Va Beach Blvd
• CONTINUE Regular Route

This adds 5-10 minutes. Why not ask Pembroke permission to use that back parking lot, which is hardly ever used anyways or permission for the old HQ parking lot since no one uses it?

For more: Avenging Archangel - This Obviously Isn't Going to Work

HRT Fare Study

I finally got my hands on the Fare Study. This mostly makes sense. I'm revising what I'd do as follows:

• Local Circulars (The NET, The Loop, VB Wave (Route 30 ONLY)): $0.50
• Local Bus (including VB WAVE Routes 31 and 32 since they're long): $1.50
• The Tide, Elizabeth River Ferry: $2.00
• Express buses, The MAX: $3.00

Passes for a higher price service are valid on a lower value service. For example, purchasing a Day Pass for use on The MAX would be valid on ALL HRT services. No transfers provided, instead purchase a Day Pass on board the bus. Price depends on what mode of transit (local circular, local bus, Tide/Ferry, or Express/MAX). If, for example, you purchase a Day Pass on the local bus, you may pay extra if you know you're getting on board a higher price service (for example, if you know you're transferring to The MAX). Simply inform the driver that you wanted a MAX Day Pass, for example.

Read the Fare Study

From the Link : An update on my fare changes stance

I was able to read The Link, HRT's employee newsletter, today and was able to read up on proposed fare changes. I was also able to chat with a driver and discuss what HRT's up to. With that in mind, this is what I'd do:

* Local Circulars (The NET, The Loop, VB WAVE Route 30, Jump over Jeff if it was brought back, Naval Station Shuttle): $0.50 / $0.25
* Local Bus (includes VB Wave Routes 31 and 32 since they are longer than a Local Circular): $1.50 / $0.75
* Express Bus, The Tide, Elizabeth River Ferry: $2.00 / $1.00
* Day Pass (Good for all services): $3.50 / $1.75

The fares are Regular / Youth-Senior-Disabled

DO NOT eliminate the 10-Ride cards. The transfers can kick the bucket (buy an All-Day Pass). Passes can be sold in incremental prices to reflect what service you want. For example, a 30-Day pass:

A $20 pass would let you on the Local Circulars only
A $30 pass would let you on the Local Circulars and Local Buses
A $50 pass would let you on ALL services
These prices are examples and aren't set in stone. If, for example, you have a Local Bus pass, you may insert it into an Express Bus farebox, then insert an extra $0.50 to cover the fare difference.

See Sound Transit's Pass Policy for more on covering the fare difference. Scroll down to "How to use PugetPass On ST Express Bus". This could also be the policy for Day Pass holders.

HRT Fare Changes: My Opinion

HRT is going to hold a public hearing at the end of the month to for a minor (well, compared to what I would want to have seen) change. Here's what I'd like to happen:
(keep in mind that the fares below are just examples)

* Local Circulars (The NET, The LOOP, and VB Wave for example): $1.00
* Regular Bus Fare: $1.50 (including The Tide and the Ferry)
* MAX Express Bus: $3.00

Here's an example:
Suppose I board the 36 at TCC wanting to goto Downtown Norfolk. Since I know I'm going to be transferring to the MAX at Pembroke or Silverleaf (exact stop TBD), insert $1.50 into the farebox and get a transfer. When I arriver at Pembroke (I'll use Pembroke in this example), transfer to the Downtown MAX. When I insert my transfer into the farebox, I'll owe $1.50. I can insert that $1.50 and ask for a transfer which will be encoded to show I paid the $3 fare.

Sources:

* Sound Transit Transfer Policy
* Sound Transit Monthly Pass
* TriMet Transfer Policy
* TriMet TV: If the Fare Machine is Broke (Light Rail ticket vending machine)

HRT Rumor Mill

Rumor has it that Route 17 (The NET) is going to start costing $0.50. Along with The Loop in Portsmouth, it better accept my standard 30-Day Pass as well as all HRT bus fare media. Ditto should happen to the Wave (Routes 30, 31, and 32). I don't mind these buses having fare, but they should accept HRT farecards. Anyone out there who will confirm/dispell/deny these rumors?

Pembroke Detour Updated

The detour for all buses in Pembroke has changed and this will shave several minutes for all routes.

* All routes, All directions: FIRST RIGHT to Corporation so you're across the street from bus shelters. LEFT onto Constitution. CONTINUE on Regular Route. Basically, you're doing the Pembroke Loop backwards. BE ON THE ALERT for passengers who will stay in the shelters until the bus approaches.

Oops on the 36

Yesterday, the 36 that left Pembroke at 5:10 PM forgot to service Constitution and Columbus. The detour threw the driver off as he went straight down Independence Blvd. Oops. Hopefully there were no passengers needing him.

Route 36 drivers, the correct Detour route is:

FIRST RIGHT into Corporation, so you're across the street from Bus Shelters
RIGHT onto Constitution
LEFT onto Jeanne
LEFT onto Independence
LEFT onto Va Beach Blvd
RIGHT onto Constitution
CONTINUE regular route

Public Hearing: Fare Changes Proposed - UPDATED

The public hearing for the Proposed Fare Changes HAS A NEW LOCATION. The date (Thursday, March 27th) and the time (1:30 PM) are still the same. The meeting HAS MOVED to the 15th Street facility located at 1500 Monticello Ave. This is served by Routes 1, 3, and (a block or two away) 23.

HRT Sued over Sexual Assault, Part 3

The Virginian-Pravda Article

We're having an active discussion on the Pilot comment board about this. I will be following this case and I do hope HRT and the driver are found innocent (since the incident happened AFTER the child left the bus)

The best comments can be found on Avenging Archangel's blog

Route 44C

Route 44 has a new route and schedule. Now, service to the Hospital is every HOUR. There is new service to the Wally World along U.S. 17 (the old Mid City Shopping Center) using U. S. 58 to Rodman.

Bring back 30-Minute service to Norfolk General so that people along the new "C" stretch can get to the Hospital

HRT Sued over Sexual Assault, Part 2

Now that I re-read the story, here's a problem: How the heck would she be asked to leave the bus at 1:45 AM? Was their a breakdown and the bus run late? See the Route 20 schedule. It's supposed to be at the Oceanfront at 12:57 AM. There's no merit for this suit against HRT. There's plenty of evidence to convict whoever raped the minor (give them Life (this way they have the rest of their life to think about what they did) and throw away the key). Everyone knows you have to get off the bus at the end of the line.

Avenging Archangel put it perfectly: "Yes, what happened was very unfortunate. However, IMO, the only potential case here would be based on what - if anything - was said directly between the driver and the girl at 19th Street. Did she ask for help and he refused? If not, you can't blame HRT or the driver."

HRT Sued over Sexual Assault

First, read the Virginian-Pilot article: http://hamptonroads.com/2008/03/hrt-driver-sued-over-sexual-assault-teen

Now, for my comment:

Don't get me wrong, this was a tragic event, but it was fully preventable and is not HRT's fault. As I write in the Pilot comment section:

It's HRT's fault that someone boarded the last #20 heading to the Beach? It's HRT's fault that "Jane Doe" never said anything? Let's see: she's never been on a bus before. Simple: tell the driver where you're going. She looked young and disheveled? So do plenty of other people who board the bus. All she had to do was say something to the driver and they would've pulled the bus over to the side and got on the radio and a supervisor would've been there pronto (or, in the event of an extreme emergency - this time I think would qualify - the police or paramedics would respond). HRT does have a Youth Crisis procedure; it is up to the passenger to say something. On most buses, this is posted right behind the driver in case they need to review what they need to do. Seeing that she got on at Little Neck heading towards the Beach – the last #20 leaves Pembroke Mall either direction at 12:15 AM and the last one leaves the Blvd & Little Neck Rd at 12 AM towards Norfolk and 12:30 AM towards the Beach – simply alert the driver and none of this would’ve happened.

Don't forget to read the entry on Avenging Archangel's blog.

Public Hearing: Fare Changes Proposed

HRT is looking to make some changes to fare as follows, starting September 1st, 2008

• 10-Ride: Eliminate
• Transfers: Eliminate
• All-Day Pass: New, $3.50

My thoughts:

• DO NOT eliminate 10-Rides or Transfers
• Although this isn't planned for right now, HRT: You may increase Cash fare when I can ride a bus at night and Sunday (I live in Virginia Beach and there's nothing after 6:45 PM - There is NO excuse, VB City Council)
  

For more information: Hampton Roads Transit Public Hearing

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
  

Bike Racks on the Trolleys

There is NO excuse as to why bikes aren't accepted on the trolleys. This is a picture from the Charlottesville trolley. It is the same Sportworks bike rack HRT uses. As always, click the image for a larger version.