Hampton Roads Transit Trip Planner

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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)
  

Route 35 Sandbridge

Starting with this post and all posts below: These are ideas of routes that I think HRT should do

Route 35 Sandbridge
Weekdays from TCC to Little Island Park

T1 Tidewater Community College	2 Kellam High School	T3 Princess Anne Rd & Elson Green	4 Sandbridge Market	5 Little Island Park
		5:15 AM	5:30 AM	5:45 AM
5:48 AM	6:00 AM	6:15 AM	6:30 AM	6:45 AM
6:48 AM	7:00 AM	7:15 AM	7:30 AM	7:45 AM
7:48 AM	8:00 AM	8:15 AM	8:30 AM	8:45 AM
8:48 AM	9:00 AM	9:15 AM	9:30 AM	9:45 AM
9:48 AM	10:00 AM	10:15 AM	10:30 AM	10:45 AM
10:48 AM	11:00 AM	11:15 AM	11:30 AM	11:45 AM
11:48 AM	12:00 PM	12:15 PM	12:30 PM	12:45 PM
12:48 PM	1:00 PM	1:15 PM	1:30 PM	1:45 PM
1:48 PM	2:00 PM	2:15 PM	2:30 PM	2:45 PM
2:48 PM	3:00 PM	3:15 PM	3:30 PM	3:45 PM
3:48 PM	4:00 PM	4:15 PM	4:30 PM	4:45 PM
4:48 PM	5:00 PM	5:15 PM	5:30 PM	5:45 PM
5:48 PM	6:00 PM	6:15 PM	6:30 PM	6:45 PM
6:48 PM	7:00 PM	7:15 PM	7:30 PM	7:45 PM
7:48 PM	8:00 PM	8:15 PM	8:30 PM	8:45 PM

Saturdays from TCC to Little Island Park

T1 Tidewater Community College	2 Kellam High School	T3 Princess Anne Rd & Elson Green	4 Sandbridge Market	5 Little Island Park
		5:15 AM	5:30 AM	5:45 AM
		6:15 AM	6:30 AM	6:45 AM
6:48 AM	7:00 AM	7:15 AM	7:30 AM	7:45 AM
7:48 AM	8:00 AM	8:15 AM	8:30 AM	8:45 AM
8:48 AM	9:00 AM	9:15 AM	9:30 AM	9:45 AM
9:48 AM	10:00 AM	10:15 AM	10:30 AM	10:45 AM
10:48 AM	11:00 AM	11:15 AM	11:30 AM	11:45 AM
11:48 AM	12:00 PM	12:15 PM	12:30 PM	12:45 PM
12:48 PM	1:00 PM	1:15 PM	1:30 PM	1:45 PM
1:48 PM	2:00 PM	2:15 PM	2:30 PM	2:45 PM
2:48 PM	3:00 PM	3:15 PM	3:30 PM	3:45 PM
3:48 PM	4:00 PM	4:15 PM	4:30 PM	4:45 PM
4:48 PM	5:00 PM	5:15 PM	5:30 PM	5:45 PM
5:48 PM	6:00 PM	6:15 PM	6:30 PM	6:45 PM
6:48 PM	7:00 PM	7:15 PM	7:30 PM	7:45 PM

Sundays from TCC to Little Island Park

T1 Tidewater Community College	2 Kellam High School	T3 Princess Anne Rd & Elson Green	4 Sandbridge Market	5 Little Island Park
6:48 AM	7:00 AM	7:15 AM	7:30 AM	7:45 AM
8:48 AM	9:00 AM	9:15 AM	9:30 AM	9:45 AM
10:48 AM	11:00 AM	11:15 AM	11:30 AM	11:45 AM
12:48 PM	1:00 PM	1:15 PM	1:30 PM	1:45 PM
2:48 PM	3:00 PM	3:15 PM	3:30 PM	3:45 PM
4:48 PM	5:00 PM	5:15 PM	5:30 PM	5:45 PM
6:48 PM	7:00 PM	7:15 PM	7:30 PM	7:45 PM

Route 24 Laskin Express

Summer Service between Downtown, 68th St, and Ft. Story on Weekdays

T1 Monticello & Charlotte	T2 Hilltop	T3 19th & Pacific	5 Atlantic & 5th	T6 68th & Atlantic	7 Ft. Story
	6:15 AM	6:30 AM	6:33 AM	6:45 AM
6:15 AM	7:15 AM	7:30 AM	7:33 AM	7:45 AM	8:00 AM
6:45 AM	7:45 AM	8:00 AM	8:03 AM	8:15 AM	8:30 AM
7:15 AM	8:15 AM	8:30 AM	8:33 AM	8:45 AM	9:00 AM
7:45 AM	8:45 AM	9:00 AM	9:03 AM	9:15 AM
8:15 AM	9:15 AM	9:30 AM	9:33 AM	9:45 AM
9:15 AM	10:15 AM	10:30 AM	10:33 AM	10:45 AM
10:15 AM	11:15 AM	11:30 AM	11:33 AM	11:45 AM
	11:45 AM	12:00 PM	12:03 PM	12:15 PM
	12:00 PM	12:15 PM	12:18 PM	12:30 PM
11:15 AM	12:15 PM	12:30 PM	12:33 PM	12:45 PM
	12:30 PM	12:45 PM	12:48 PM	1:00 PM
	12:45 PM	1:00 PM	1:03 PM	1:15 PM
	1:00 PM	1:15 PM	1:18 PM	1:30 PM
12:15 PM	1:15 PM	1:30 PM	1:33 PM	1:45 PM
	1:45 PM	2:00 PM	2:03 PM	2:15 PM
1:15 PM	2:15 PM	2:30 PM	2:33 PM	2:45 PM
2:15 PM	3:15 PM	3:30 PM	3:33 PM	3:45 PM	4:00 PM
3:15 PM	4:15 PM	4:30 PM	4:33 PM	4:45 PM	5:00 PM
4:15 PM	5:15 PM	5:30 PM	5:33 PM	5:45 PM
4:45 PM	5:45 PM	6:00 PM	6:03 PM	6:15 PM
5:15 PM	6:15 PM	6:30 PM	6:33 PM	6:45 PM
5:45 PM	6:45 PM	7:00 PM	7:03 PM	7:15 PM
6:15 PM	7:15 PM	7:30 PM	7:33 PM	7:45 PM
7:15 PM	8:15 PM	8:30 PM	8:33 PM	8:45 PM
8:15 PM	9:15 PM	9:30 PM	9:33 PM	9:45 PM
9:15 PM	10:15 PM	10:30 PM	10:33 PM	10:45 PM	11:00 PM
10:15 PM	11:15 PM	11:30 PM	11:33 PM	11:45 PM	12:00 AM
11:15 PM	12:15 AM	12:30 AM	12:33 AM	12:45 AM	1:00 AM

About this radical change: The 15 minute runs during lunch hour are for people who work at the Ocean Front who have hour long breaks and want to eat (or do whatever) at Hilltop. As for late nite service, this is to (for example) cater to the tourists who are staying at the Ocean Front and want to be at Harborfest. It also caters to the troops on Ft. Story

London Blvd

Now that I've thought about it, have a look at Pierce Transit's Route 53/53A:

• Route 53: TCC via Cirque Dr
• Route 53A: TCC via 40th W

See it on the Pierce Transit Website

The actual destination signs read:

• 53 TCC - 53 VIA CIRQUE
• 53A TCC - 53A VIA 40TH W

With that in mind:

• 47 HIGH ST - 47 CHURCHLAND
• 47A LONDON BLVD - 47A CHURCHLAND

And:

• 47 HIGH ST - 47 DTN PORTSMOUTH
• 47A LONDON BLVD - 47A DTN PORTSMOUTH